Slightly off centre driving position

[tranquility]

Has anyone noticed that the seat and the steering wheel are not perfectly centred to each other, i.e. the steering wheel is a few mms closer to the centre of the car? I can't remember if my old car was like that, but I wonder how common is this asymmetry in other cars?

I guess it's a bit of a pet peeve why BMW couldn't get it perfectly centred, esp since it's off by just a few mms.

I wonder if this is the reason that I can never seem to find the 'perfect' driving position...because there is none due to the off-centred steering wheel?

[braingirl]

I'll let you know when my car is delivered!
Have now been told it's built and in transit.


You sure it's not that your bottom is slightly offset compared to your arms?
Humans are never that symmetrical.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by braingirl

I'll let you know when my car is delivered!
Have now been told it's built and in transit.


You sure it's not that your bottom is slightly offset compared to your arms?
Humans are never that symmetrical.

Hey, are you saying that I'm deformed??!!!

Yes, I'm pretty sure, as I made reference points from the centre of the seat to the centre of the steering wheel. It's very slightly off, maybe not even 1 cm, but a few mms.

[braingirl]

That's rather OCD,

But another point - what is the angle of the seat/steering wheel?
Is it pointing directly forward or slightly towards the centre?

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by braingirl

That's rather OCD,

But another point - what is the angle of the seat/steering wheel?
Is it pointing directly forward or slightly towards the centre?

It's not OCD, it's a common observation whenever ppl test cars. The difference is not ridiculous but enough for it to be noticeable.

I think that the angles of both the steering wheel and seat are straight, but I'll await comments from others.

[braingirl]

I can imagine that if it is the case that all Z4s are built like this, it may start to wind me up, after spending so much money on a car.

Ps how did you measure reference points? Would it be different if RHD or LHD?

[vinlikesred]

grow asymmetrical biceps then

man u are lucky you have the car. mine is being built right now and wait is a torture. i'll take any z4 at this point - asymmetrical wheels are okay by me

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by braingirl

I can imagine that if it is the case that all Z4s are built like this, it may start to wind me up, after spending so much money on a car.

Ps how did you measure reference points? Would it be different if RHD or LHD?

Ok, just checked the car w/ measuring tape. It seems to be off by the following amounts:
-steering wheel is 1/2" closer to the centre of the car (using seat as reference pt)
-instrumental cluster (in front of driver) is 1/2" closer to the centre of the car (using the steering wheel as a reference pt)
-as such, the instrument cluster is 1" closer to the centre vs the seat

I don't get how BMW couldn't figure out how to align all 3 items instead of this 1" variance. Or could it be intentional, so the driver is angled towards the centre of the car?

EDIT: by the way, I know I started this topic, but don't get upset about the slight offset. I mean, it's not a totally uncommon occurrence, e.g. the Lamborghini Murcielago supposedly has its pedals or steering wheel off-centre.

[Dr Stig 2]

You would have a much easier task asking if ANY cars do not offset the steering wheel from the seat. There are very very few that have a perfectly aligned steering / seat arrangement.

I dont know why from an ergonomic of biomechanical perspective why it is still so, but in the old days when all cars had mechanical linkages between the steering wheel and the steering rack, the offset was more of a limitation on the design of the car, trying to move the steering wheel to the outboard edge as much as the chassis and bodywork would allow, while still making enough room betwen the seats to use the gears without whacking the passenger (anyone ever driven a 1960's english sport car?).
(That is the steering wheel was put as wide as it could be while still attached by an angled control axle to the steering rack, while this wasn't wide enough for the seats not to overlap so they had to introduce an offset by moving the seat furhter towards the outboard edge of the car)

As cars have trended to be larger each decade, this problem has not been as pronounced.

With electric steering (as we have in the E89) the argument should not be one of limitations of the steering linkages - as they are far more flexible.
It may be (and I am happy to be proven wrong or corrected here) that we are so used to having an offset that they keep designing a small one in the cars to "minimise the impact of change" for the driver.

ANyone else have a theory?

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by Dr Stig 2

You would have a much easier task asking if ANY cars do not offset the steering wheel from the seat. There are very very few that have a perfectly aligned steering / seat arrangement.

Perhaps. It is interesting why there is an offset...perhaps since cars in general are asymmetrical w/ the driver being on one side, makers have some sort of minute compensation by way of this offsetting?

I'd love to hear theories as well.

[mcbeee]

Compare a ford pickup to a Chev. They are inches off....

[tranquility]

Bump to see if any insight.

[Z4 Beemer]

A while ago I had some issues with my back and neck, and a chiropractor suggested it might be due to my driving position, and basically being in a twisted position behind the wheel.

I don't think the issue is with the seat and steering wheel, its the pedals that are offset. Compare where the BMW logo is on the steering wheel to the brake pedal....

[tranquility]

^Whoa, looking at your pic, I'm guessing that this pedal offset is worse for RHD vs LHD.

[CeEl]

Originally Posted by Z4 Beemer

A while ago I had some issues with my back and neck, and a chiropractor suggested it might be due to my driving position, and basically being in a twisted position behind the wheel.

I don't think the issue is with the seat and steering wheel, its the pedals that are offset. Compare where the BMW logo is on the steering wheel to the brake pedal....

I am not sure why that's a problem? You are hitting both accelerator and break with your right foot, right? So it would make sense that they both are on your left?

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by CeEl

I am not sure why that's a problem? You are hitting both accelerator and break with your right foot, right? So it would make sense that they both are on your left?

The pedals are offset to the right (of the steering wheel)...I'm guess all 3 since he's driving manual. Doesn't seem like the ideal position. The offset looks quite extreme, esp when compared to the pedal setup in our LHD cars.

[Z4 Beemer]

Yeah, sorry not the best of photos, but I was trying to emphasize they were all offset to the right. It would certainly be interesting to see how LHD cars are in comparison.

[Frank Costanza]

It's a problem I've noticed since day one. I never bothered starting a thread about it but after I first noticed it I did some back to back comparisons with my 540.

Turns out as someone posted above that the pedals are not lined up with the seat/steering wheel. It is very annoying for myself because my upper leg never sits in the seat but rather sits on the seat bolster and requires constant adjustment.

No such problem exists in my 5 series, or my dad's Lexus or any of the previous Mercedes we've owned.

I'm glad you started this thread because the problem is annoying enough to detract from my enjoyment of the experience. And in case some of you are assuming that I'm a big guy trying to fit in a small car I'm actually quite skinny @ 6 ft even / 160lbs.

[tranquility]

Just curious what is supposed to be the ideal pedal positions (for 2 and 3 pedals)?

I'm ok w/ the arrangement (2 pedals-LHD), my left foot sits nicely on the dead pedal and my right foot seems equal distance on the gas pedal.

[Frank Costanza]

Usually my right leg is ok. It's my left leg that can't line up w/ the dead pedal that's the problem.

The pedal box area is clearly setup for a 3pedal manual setup. If I don't try to let my left foot rest on the dead pedal and rather let it lye in the space between the dead pedal and brake it's fine. In my experience the dead pedal is too far to the left.

[tranquility]

Originally Posted by Frank Costanza

Usually my right leg is ok. It's my left leg that can't line up w/ the dead pedal that's the problem.

The pedal box area is clearly setup for a 3pedal manual setup. If I don't try to let my left foot rest on the dead pedal and rather let it lye in the space between the dead pedal and brake it's fine. In my experience the dead pedal is too far to the left.

That's odd, my legs seem splayed equal-distance from the steering wheel.