HSE seat bolstering - anybody got the front seats with extra bolstering?

[spottedreptile]

Hi everyone, my first post on this forum :)

I have a 2010 D4 SDV6 in the SE configuration, which I am very happy with. I have the standard leather seats in almond trim.

I'm getting a bit older and things are wearing out in the back/shoulder department, and my front seats are also losing their youth.

I'd like to upgrade to a new HSE in a year or two, and noticed that there is a pack which contains extra seat bolstering for the front seats. I think it's one of the Windsor leather packs or something.

Anyway it's a $2999 or so option, so I am wondering if it's worth it. Has anyone got the extra bolstered seats and if so, are they any good? I'd like Range Rover seats but have to buy a Range Rover and that is not going to happen.

Opinions sought please!!

[sctsprin]

I'm the opposite, the side bolstering hurts my hip and is uncomfortable, I'd prefer a flatter wider seat:)

I'd like to know if the adjustable air side bolsters are available in Australia and if you can let them down to widen the seat

[plusnq]

x2. I find the standard HSE seat supportive enough but it is all personal preference. We also have a Honda Odyssey that has pronounced bolstering and I have to use a cushion when I drive it as it give me hip pain due to the bolster pressure.

[Melbourne Park]

...
I'd like to upgrade to a new HSE in a year or two, and noticed that there is a pack which contains extra seat bolstering for the front seats. I think it's one of the Windsor leather packs or something.

Anyway it's a $2999 or so option, so I am wondering if it's worth it. Has anyone got the extra bolstered seats and if so, are they any good? I'd like Range Rover seats but have to buy a Range Rover and that is not going to happen.

Opinions sought please!!

Firstly, in two years the Disco will be a completely different beast. So who knows what packages for the seats when the new model arrives.

Currently, the Windsor leather pack has the adjustable side bolsters. The benefit of the Windsor leather is IMO that it is softer leather; my tests showed that the seats felt a bit softer. That maybe the leather, or perhaps there is another layer between the leather and the support structure. I know with an NX Lexus, the top model has a better grade leather, and its seats also feel softer, due I think to the softer leather.

The air bolster is simply an air bag put into the side of the seat; it is only about 7" long, from the feel of it. When you push a side button on the bottom side of the seat, the bag either inflates or deflates. This causes the side bolster to harden, or soften. IMO it hardens into my kidney area. If one was very small, then a fully inflated setting might give more cornering support.

If you deflate from full to no inflation, the outer stitching moves outwards by about half an inch at the most. The main effect though is that the side of the bolsters look curved when inflated, and not rounded when not inflated. But when inflated, you would have to be very small - narrow across your width - to be comfortable. They really just add a bit of firmness to the side of the seat. Access is not effected.

I think the Windsor leather looks like a good quality English leather, and it appears easy to clean. It doesn't have micro holes or things like that, which probably is a good thing from a long term ownership point of view.

[TuffRR]

I have a HSE with the premium leather with side bolsters.


My observations are:
a) the premium leather is very very nice in comparison to the standard.
b) I'm a fan of the inflatable side bolstering. Its another adjustment to the seat which means you can adjust it pretty much any direction to make it just right. Obviously girth will influence how comfortable you find the bolstering, but I find it can go from non-existent to too tight and uncomfortable and everything in between.

[spottedreptile]

Firstly, in two years the Disco will be a completely different beast. So who knows what packages for the seats when the new model arrives.

Oh yes I am aware, but I might be looking at one of the runout models.


The air bolster is simply an air bag put into the side of the seat; it is only about 7" long, from the feel of it. When you push a side button on the bottom side of the seat, the bag either inflates or deflates. This causes the side bolster to harden, or soften. IMO it hardens into my kidney area. If one was very small, then a fully inflated setting might give more cornering support.

It sounds like the lumbar support in the old Recaros which was an inflatable bag too. Worked pretty well for about 5 years in my old Hilux. Thank you for that description, it helps me understand the type of bolstering. I am small in stature, so it might be of good use to me. I do get thrown around quite a bit in my current seats for that exact reason.

[Melbourne Park]

They could suit you then. Also the back support is also an air bag.

There is also a mixed colour pack for the Windsor - I doubt a run out would have them, but they would look damn good IMO. That would also make the car look like that last D4.

[spottedreptile]

They could suit you then. Also the back support is also an air bag.


Thanks for that. I guess from what you have said, that the air bolstering is only for the back part of the seat i.e. back and sides of the squab. No adjustable thigh supports?

[Melbourne Park]

Thanks for that. I guess from what you have said, that the air bolstering is only for the back part of the seat i.e. back and sides of the squab. No adjustable thigh supports?

The whole bottom of the seat is one piece, so unlike various good seated cars, the front thigh is not separately adjustable. However the front of the seat can be raised independently from the rear of the seat, so it does provide more thigh support that way. And unlike for instance a Lexus, there is a lot of adjustment available - there is a lot of distance the seats can move. This makes a big difference IMO.

[Smcconnell]

I also have a HSE with Windsor leather - It was a "must-have" for me because I didn't like the coarse, somewhat industrial feel of the standard seat.

Having said that, my car is 10 months old and I last week I noticed that the leather has began to wear through in places. There are now two 3mm holes next to the centre seam.

I shot off an email to the dealer, pointing out that it's way too early to have holes in the leather and the SM came back saying, that they'll have to refer it to LR to assess.

I don't expect LR to fight this - I think they'll come to the party and replace the seat, but I just wanted to give you a heads-up that the Windsor leather is beautifully smooth, but it's also quite soft and thin, so you might have to deal with problems of this nature, as well.


Steven

[Melbourne Park]

...
Having said that, my car is 10 months old and I last week I noticed that the leather has began to wear through in places. There are now two 3mm holes next to the centre seam.
...

Steven

Since its the same leather as what the majority of Range Rovers are equipped with, I'd say you'rs is either a bad piece of leather or a bad piece of workmanship. Let us know what LR do about it and what went wrong, and whether its a common issue. Mine looks like new and with my Prado Kakadu (the top model), its leather seats on a side panel of small leather, were crinkly with lines at 25K - my mileage now. With those, people have the panel replaced. My Windsor seats (in black) still look like John).


Doug