Am I too short for a Z3 (Not me but the Mrs)

[Kenhayes247]

Hello all,

Some advice required please. My wife stands at a lofty 5ft and not a lot. Sat in the drivers seat of the car, the seat will not go forward far enough for her to comfortably reach the pedals. I have checked the drivers seat against the passenger seat and both seem to move the exact same distance forward. Whilst I do not rule out a problem, from having a good close visual inspection there doesn't seem to be an obvious issue with either of the seat mechanisms.

So working on the basis that my wife is too short to drive the Z3 is there anything I can do? Ive considered buying her platform shoes, placing wooden blocks on the pedals to weekly sessions on a medieval rack, unsurprisingly she is not having any of it!

Working on the basis that the seats by design do not go forward far enough, is there anything else I can do? I am considering repositioning the seat rails forward if that's possible, anyone have any brighter ideas?

Witt and Satire gratefully received regarding this minor predicament but do please chuck in a workable suggestion as well.

Many thanks

 

[t-tony]

One option would be, assuming she can reach the pedals ok if she sits further forwards on the seat, try making a back support to put on the seat so she can sit forward. But make sure the seatbelt is long enough to reach and latch.

Tony.

 

[Kenhayes247]

One option would be, assuming she can reach the pedals ok if she sits further forwards on the seat, try making a back support to put on the seat so she can sit forward. But make sure the seatbelt is long enough to reach and latch.

Tony.

Thanks Tony,

For a shorter trip that might work actually, however I think that something more is required for longer journeys. We do tend to drive across Europe a routinely in the Zed and i don't want to be doing most of the driving.

 

[Kenhayes247]

One option would be, assuming she can reach the pedals ok if she sits further forwards on the seat, try making a back support to put on the seat so she can sit forward. But make sure the seatbelt is long enough to reach and latch.

Tony.

Maybe I should get her a booster seat

 

[andyglym]

I would caution sitting to close to the steering wheel, airbags, certainly of this ere, won't have a proximity sensor for your Long Haired General (magic that senses your location and deploys the airbag to suit your location). This could mean that the airbag would hit her and not her hitting the airbag. There has been more than one case of "vertically challenged" drivers receiving broken necks as a result of the airbag hitting them. 1970's platform silver boots could be a solution, you could wear bell bottom flares to match

 

[Kenhayes247]

Suggested the platform boots option which was met with a look of contempt.

 

[andyglym]

What about a movable peddle box? Not sure if it's doable.

 

[Kenhayes247]

What's that?

 

[andyglym]

What's that?

Clutch, brake and throttle, it's all connected to the "peddle box"

 

[IainP]

This is something that always comes up.
It’s dead easy to move the seat forward and up. As pointed out though, 18-20” is the minimum distance between the drivers head and the steering wheel. It’s not just a problem with short people having their head too close to the wheel. Their arms are bent more, that means the hands and wrists are propelled into the face. All bony protuberances, pretty much like getting smashed in the face with a bag of marbles. Usually just tooth loss now. Usually.
Almost always ends in a compromise of moving the seat and extending the faces of the pedals.
What height are you? How far can you move the seat forward and up to be comfortable yourself? That is the maximum youcan move the seat. Measure.
Then get seat as far forward and up as possible. Add cushions or whatever, but make sure there is 20” between your wife’s face and the wheel.
If she can’t operate the pedals you need to measure what extension you need. They are available in various styles, you you can make them up easily if you can weld.
You then need to check you can operate the extended pedals.

To move the seat you need a piece of steel of the correct thickness at the back, drilled and tapped with grade 10.9 bolts. At the front you need a bracket the same distance and thickness. I’d make it 25mm higher, most folk on here raise the front of the seat for more support. The front has 1xM8 stud, I’d add a couple of rivnuts and make the connection to the seat an M10. Sounds much more complicated than it is really.
You do have to remember to disconnect the battery before disconnecting the seat or you get the airbag light on.

 

[Kenhayes247]

Yes, thankyou for the detailed response. I will get my wife back in the car and start measuring. Now I have more detailed information I will see what the Art of the possible is. Many thanks

 

[IainP]

Back in the day I’m sure my father put pedal extensions on something my mother drove, 5’2” in shoes, maybe.

There are some hellish complicated designs out there, this is the most simple I’ve personally seen. Worked well.
3mm is the thickness of the pedal, so the standard pedal rubber is reused.

I’m a dental technician to trade, so the tooth loss thing isn’t just anecdotal. I do meet the patients on occasion.
Why I’m always horrified to see people with things stuck on their steering wheels. They’ve just built a homemade Claymore mine.

 

[Nodzed]

Find this odd. My wife is just over 5ft and a dash, and managed to drive our Z3 no problem with height or reach. You sure you have full adjustment on the seat?

 

[Kenhayes247]

Find this odd. My wife is just over 5ft and a dash, and managed to drive our Z3 no problem with height or reach. You sure you have full adjustment on the seat?

Well, I have only gauged the full forward movement of the drivers seat against that of the passengers and its the same. There seems
to be no mechanical issues hindering its reach nor obstructions or foulings.

 

[Shelly]

I’m only 5’1 and I can easily reach the pedals
My seat is forward , but not all the way forward, about 2 notches spare
Also my seat is up high , but again, not right up high , if my seat is low I can’t reach the pedals at all
You wife should be able to reach the pedals if you play around with the adjustments of the seat , it might take you wife a bit of getting used too , like it did me
My Z is my daily drive and I love it
Hope your wife can find a comfortable position on the seat so she can drive your Z

 

[Kenhayes247]

My wife's solution to the problem is for me to buy her a 207 cc that's she has seen. Not the cheapest option but viable which means I Could keep the Zed all to myself

 

[Shelly]

My wife's solution to the problem is for me to buy her a 207 cc that's she has seen. Not the cheapest option but viable which means I Could keep the Zed all to myself

Sounds like your wife would rather have a different car than a Z
When I first got into a Z I thought I’d never be able to drive it because of the seat not being far enough forward, but I wanted it so much I made sure my feet would reach the pedals, and I’m used to the driving position now
I’ve had Zs for the last 12 maybe 13 years and I’d never change to another car now , unless I really had too

 

[Kenhayes247]

The Zed stays and the 207cc would be an addition. She still gets to be a passenger in the Zed.

 

[bombur]

Sounds a good deal to me! Bought my Zed for all the family to use. But since Ive started doing bits to it Im more reluctant when my kids take it out. They have a knack of braking things of mine. My wife hasn't driven it yet- Im not pushing to be honest lol

 

[Kenhayes247]

Well, Its a done deal now. Went and bought the 207cc this afternoon, she will pick it up on Monday. Thank you all for all the information and advice. I may still look to see if I can sought out the seat issue but at least now it can move further down the list of things to do.