Who got the 2013 M5 and did not get the "Backrest Width" adjustment buttons?

[hsiaochinsan]

Count me in too.

[singularity]

Why are only US car owners replying? How about others from Europe, Middle East and Asia? Looks like nobody has them except me.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by singularity

Why are only US car owners replying? How about others from Europe, Middle East and Asia? Looks like nobody has them except me.

Only American and Canadian owners are responding because the backrest adjustment has been excluded from only American and Canadian M5s!!

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by singularity

Why are only US car owners replying? How about others from Europe, Middle East and Asia? Looks like nobody has them except me.

Not only that, but you have a 2012 model year F10 M5. All of the 2012 model years have the buttons as far as we know.

We haven't heard anything about anybody who has taken delivery of a 2013 model year M5 for the European Market, or Asian Market really. I wish somebody would chime in who has a new 2013 M5 that lives outside of the United States and Canada.

[RPiM5]

Gents,

I have just emailed BMW NA Customer Relations. I have included what I wrote below. Please feel free to use it as a basis for your correspondance, but please don't just copy and paste it. Hope this helps, thanks.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------

To whom it may concern,

Greetings, I just wanted to take a minute to contact BMW North America
Customer Relations Department for an issue that I have with my F10 M5.
But first I would like to begin by stating how delighted I am with my new
2013 F10 M5. I was very fortunate and was able to take the new M5 for
delivery at the BMW Welt in Munich for European Delivery. What an
incredible experience that was for me. I drove my new F10 M5 in Europe for
over 2000 miles during my European Delivery trip and all that I have to say
is that the new 2013 F10 M5 is an amazing driving machine. It truly was one
of the best experiences of my life.

When I took delivery of my new F10 M5 at the Welt on the morning of
September 1st, I noticed that 2 buttons were missing from the both the
driver seat and my passenger seat which I thought were standard on my new
F10 M5. The 2 buttons are the adjustment buttons for the "Backrest Width"
adjustment feature for the ///M Sport seats. My owners manual states these buttons as being in the M5.

When I ordered my new 2013 F10 M5 it had the 20-Way seats included in the M5
as standard. I retrieved a .pdf file from the BMW website in July 2012 and
it stated that 20-Way seats are standard, and the last revision that is on
that document states May 3rd 2012. I have included that .pdf file in this
email. However, today the BMWUSA.com website now states that 18-Way seats
are now standard on the 2013 F10 M5, and the .pdf file that is now on the
website states this as well, however the revision date is also May 3rd 2012.


My question is why would BMW release two identical documents that state the
same exact revision date, yet with conflicting information? Also, like I
said, I retrieved the document which states 20-Way seats after May 3rd 2012.
The order for my M5 went in with the 20-Way seats in May 2012 and now I have
18-Way seats, which excludes the 2 "Backrest Width" adjustment buttons.
This is unacceptable.

My other question is, why would BMW give me a 2013 F10 M5 model that does
not have these buttons and yet the 2012 model year F10 M5 has them? If they
were on the 2012 F10 M5 model then they can be on the 2013 F10 M5 model,
correct? I will be most peeved if the 2014 model year F10 M5 has these
buttons re-included as standard. I am also vexed because my 2006 E60 M5 had
this feature as standard and now my 2013 F10 M5 does not. How does this
make sense? It is almost as if the model has regressed because of this.

My concern here is that BMW changed this feature on the F10 M5, which is
supposed to be standard, without informing any North American dealerships
and/or customers who ordered the 2013 F10 M5.

My objective here is to simply seek a truthful answer from BMW about this
and I would be willing to accept BMWs help in rectifying this with something
that was promised to me when I ordered the car and that I paid for. What I
really want as an F10 M5 owner is to have the buttons re-included on my
seats somehow. Whether this requires some sort of retro-fit or a complete
seat replacement, I am not sure, but any way that BMW could somehow put the
buttons back on the seat would be fantastic if BMW did this for me.

Lastly I would like to say, the F10 M5 has always been BMW's flagship
quintessential Sports Sedan, well at least until the 2014 ///M6 Gran Coupe
comes out, but besides that car, the F10 M5 should be the model that BMW
seeks to represent itself with as the pinnacle of BMW's top of the line
sedan. Without even as such a small detail as these "backrest width"
adjustment buttons, the F10 M5's top place among the competitors is
diminished.

I have always believed BMW to be a supremely honest and fair company that
seeks the very best for its customers when it comes to problems with their
products. I have been a long time BMW owner, and I have always received
outstanding service, management, and help from them. I hope that this trend
can continue. Thank you.

Sincerely,

Dave C.

[apple555]

I am in the same boat as all the other north american 2013 F10 bmw m5 owners. I took delivery of a AW/cohiba brown 2013 M5 three weeks ago and am very disappointed with not being able to adjust the lateral bolsters/seat width. I have owned previous M cars and this was never an issue. I have placed a call to customer relations in Canada and I am awaiting a response.

[emmfive]

Well written Dave.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Not only that, but you have a 2012 model year F10 M5. All of the 2012 model years have the buttons as far as we know.

There were 2012 M5s delivered in Canada. They do not have the adjustment. See the driver's seat pic on page 2 of this post with a Canadian 2012 M5:
http://f10.m5post.com/forums/showthr...=694097&page=2

[Needsdecaf]

Originally Posted by hinckley

We're all guessing, but I think it is simple de-contenting on the F10. The E60 had the adjustable side bolsters, as does the 5GT, 6 and 7 - all of which are structurally similar to the 5. I just don't believe that there is some structural reason that the North American (remember, they're not on Canadian models either) F10 can't have them.

I doubt it. Why decontent a 90k car when you can get them on. $60k GT? Makes no sense.

BTW, the GT is more similar to the 7 than the 5.

[uhn2000]

Originally Posted by apple555

I am in the same boat as all the other north american 2013 F10 bmw m5 owners. I took delivery of a AW/cohiba brown 2013 M5 three weeks ago and am very disappointed with not being able to adjust the lateral bolsters/seat width. I have owned previous M cars and this was never an issue. I have placed a call to customer relations in Canada and I am awaiting a response.

My BMW ///M contact got back to me that he has forwarded the request onto BMW Canada . My car is due to be built in October I am seriously considering holding the order till this is resolved. I was uncomfortable without the bolsters set properly when driving the car hard - I didn't bother to look and adjust them as it was really just a quick ride. It was a 2012 so not sure if it had it or not - going to drop by the dealership on the way home.

[AMPowerJ]

No surprise here but I don't have them either.

[deathray]

Originally Posted by RPiM5

Not only that, but you have a 2012 model year F10 M5. All of the 2012 model years have the buttons as far as we know.

We haven't heard anything about anybody who has taken delivery of a 2013 model year M5 for the European Market, or Asian Market really. I wish somebody would chime in who has a new 2013 M5 that lives outside of the United States and Canada.

I have a 2012 (april production I think) and am missing the buttons as well.

[hinckley]

Originally Posted by deathray

I have a 2012 (april production I think) and am missing the buttons as well.

I think it's pretty clear that this issue effects all North American 2012 and 2013 M5s, and only North American 2012 and 2013 M5s.

It's the same as the regular 5s. There hasn't been 20-way seats available in North America, and only in North America, since the introduction of the F10.

[tarmant]

Count me in as the buttons are not on my new ED M5 and I am very disappointed. I have the side bolsters on my 2008 M5 and also my 2011 335i convertible (backrest width adjustment)

[AGS]

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

It is my understanding that the reason the F10 sedans do not have the adjustable bolsters is due to crash testing and the seat / side airbag arrangement. If this is the case, I think you guys are hosed, honestly.

Originally Posted by Needsdecaf

Europe has different crash standards, of course. I'm not sure exactly the logic, as you would think it would be cheaper to engineer the bolsters so they could pass crash requirements in the US, but I'm not sure.

What I do know is that the 7 and 5GT both still have bolsters, but the F10 never has. Including the M5. It can't simply be decontenting, cost cutting or even a mistake. There has to be a reason behind it. Obviously it is not simply that adjustable side bolsters cannot be offered. In addition to two other closely related cars in BMW's lineup offering them, numerous other cars do (the Lexus you mentioned, many Porsches, etc.). It's something about the F10 specifically, and in the US, that doesn't work.

I was talking to my CA today and asked him about this. He said that the adjustable side bolsters were "removed from the 5-series sport comfort seats a few years ago." I asked him why and he could not remember, but he did recall that there was a specific reason beyond simply as a cost saving measure.

[richard in NC]

I have an answer, from none other than BMW NA himself. No names but he is at BMWCCA O'fest and I met him in Feb. I quote "We are sorry and are working on it". He won't say more.

[M54ccibo]

Count me in too Dave. ED M5 on 9/10...no bolster adjustments. Description when ordered was 20-way seats and manual states/shows buttons. Did you contact Jon S. about this? Should I too?

[RPiM5]

Originally Posted by M54ccibo

Count me in too Dave. ED M5 on 9/10...no bolster adjustments. Description when ordered was 20-way seats and manual states/shows buttons. Did you contact Jon S. about this? Should I too?

Yes, I have Jon S. working this as well. He sent the inquiry to his Factory Rep.

BMW NA customer relations has also emailed me back requesting my vehicle VIN and other info.

I have a feeling we will know something soon.

-Dave

[mhh]

Originally Posted by singularity

Why are only US car owners replying? How about others from Europe, Middle East and Asia? Looks like nobody has them except me.

My Australian spec car (built March) has them.

[uhn2000]

Went to the dealer today and he said they are on it! BMW Canada is looking into it.

[apple555]

i had the new car sales manager at autohaus email bmw canada today. I would recommend you hold your order until they have an acceptable solution. If i could turn the clock back three weeks I would have. The drivers seat in my car is not worth of 'worlds fastest production sedan'. I also am aware of the clunky sound from the back suspension when i go over speed bumps and have had to already replace my i drive computer and some fueses.

[uhn2000]

Originally Posted by apple555

i had the new car sales manager at autohaus email bmw canada today. I would recommend you hold your order until they have an acceptable solution. If i could turn the clock back three weeks I would have. The drivers seat in my car is not worth of 'worlds fastest production sedan'. I also am aware of the clunky sound from the back suspension when i go over speed bumps and have had to already replace my i drive computer and some fueses.

Thanks so much. I was actually going to put my deal on hold today but really not sure what to do. Hoping BMW Canada comes back with something acceptable.

BTW you are the 1st I hear of having to replace the I drive computer - thats super weird.