Headrests - anyone else uncomfortable ?

[Sundayjumper]

I've had quite a few cars over the years and never had much trouble apart from headroom.

My wife got a 2013 Passat about 18 months ago and on the first long run I got neck pain from the headrest forcing my head too far forwards. Although our previous 2006 Passat had been fine I assumed it was just a modern VW issue.

About a year ago I bought a 2011 5-Series after a very short test drive because it was a BMW, and silver, and seemed nice. I've had a lot of BMWs over the years and always found them very comfy. But the first run of over an hour or so left me hurty. And then a trip up to Lancaster left both me & the wife with neck/back pain. Daily commute was bearable.

I've just started commuting again and it's not OK now. So I Googled a bit and eventually found this. Apparently the headrest thing is the law now. Well, American law, which I guess global manufacturers have to follow if they want global sales.

If you have the time to wade through it (spoiler - you probably don't, it's bloody long), there's some astonishing decisions in there. The main one for me is that the whole thing is based on matching a 50th percentile male and despite objections from major manufacturers they stuck with it. I'm just above 99th percentile for height and this standard would appear to mean any car from the mid 2000s onwards is likely to be cripplingly uncomfortable for me

https://one.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/ruling ... .html#doc6

[DeskJockey]

Interesting. I'm about your height (192cm) and have driven a fairly good selection of new cars (all the hire cars I use for work) over the last couple of years and I've never had that issue.

Wonder if it is a proportions issue.

[Simon]

Are you sure it's not just an adjustment issue? On the Merc I have uppy/downy as normal, and a button on the side of the headrest that allows it to go forwards/backwards too. I find that one 'click' from the back is the most comfortable position for me, but it goes a long way forward of there if I need it to.

[Jobbo]

If you have the time to wade through it (spoiler - you probably don't, it's bloody long), there's some astonishing decisions in there. The main one for me is that the whole thing is based on matching a 50th percentile male and despite objections from major manufacturers they stuck with it. I'm just above 99th percentile for height and this standard would appear to mean any car from the mid 2000s onwards is likely to be cripplingly uncomfortable for me

https://one.nhtsa.gov/cars/rules/ruling ... .html#doc6

I haven't waded through very much of that at all, but it starts off with a section about increasing the upper limit of headrest adjustment, and seems generally to be focused on what happens in an accident. It doesn't look like it's the cause of headrests being too far forward. I did notice BMW switched to very box-like head restraints with a front part which can come a loooong way forward; you'd have to be a hunchback to benefit from their full extent of forward movement. But pushed back, they're no further forward than previously.

[NotoriousREV]

The top of my spine is so curved that the only time my head touches any headrest would be during an accident.

[Sundayjumper]

I haven't waded through very much of that at all, but it starts off with a section about increasing the upper limit of headrest adjustment, and seems generally to be focused on what happens in an accident. It doesn't look like it's the cause of headrests being too far forward.

Wade further, there's a long section discussing the 50 mm maximum backset for headrests that has been imposed.

I did notice BMW switched to very box-like head restraints with a front part which can come a loooong way forward; you'd have to be a hunchback to benefit from their full extent of forward movement.

Yep, that's what's in my car. They're active, with a little charge inside to move them forwards in an accident - I'm actually slightly concerned that if it fires and pushes my head that far forward it'll do some serious damage to my neck !

But pushed back, they're no further forward than previously.

Not true. I'll dig out some pics to illustrate.

[integrale_evo]

It takes a while, but further down it does start going into backspacing behind the backrest.

I like the drive with the backrest quite a way back ( gangsta lean ) don't think I've ever had my heat touch a headrest unless I'm a passenger trying to have a snooze.

[Alex_]

It takes a while, but further down it does start going into backspacing behind the backrest.

I like the drive with the backrest quite a way back ( gangsta lean ) don't think I've ever had my heat touch a headrest unless I'm a passenger trying to have a snooze.

+1

[Sundayjumper]

Here's an F10 seat, the same as mine. Imagine a straight line running up the backrest and note how far forward of that line the surface of the headrest is:

F10Seat.jpg (146.53 KiB) Viewed 1893 times

Then imagine the same thing on this E60 seat:

E60Seat.jpg (214.62 KiB) Viewed 1893 times

It's quite a big difference.

I think I must have an unusually straight back / neck.

[McSwede]

I'm 6,1 and had an F11 but suffered no such issues. From what I remember the headrests moved up and down but could also be adjusted back and forth. I may be misremembering (Hilaryc) the fore and aft adjustment but I never had a comfort issue and I did nearly 60k in the year I had it.

[Simon]

Understood, but they also retract a bit from that position don't they? Isn't there a button on the side? That looks like it's not in the retracted most position...

[Sundayjumper]

Pretty sure that's as far as it goes. I'll try and get a photo of mine later to confirm.

And yes, I am aware of how to adjust it It just doesn't adjust far enough for me to be comfortable.

[Mito Man]

Sounds like the back of your head is really elongated. #Justabove99thpercentileproblems