I was looking at buying a 2008 528 pretty much loaded. The seat would not go back far enough for me. It had the head rests that could wrap around your head.
My 525 the seat will go back so far that I cannot touch the pedals. In the 08 it would not go back far enough that my knees could unbend for hwy cruising. I am only 6ft 0". Can anyone with those types of seats pipe in? I am sure there are taller people than me that drive a 5 series. Bad seat maybe?

 

Must be something wrong with the seat. I'm 6'3" and have no problems with my seats...

Edit: Though I doubt I could put them back enough to stretch my legs as you describe!

 

My wife and I are both tall (5'11" / 6') and though we rarely find the need to have the seats so far back that we can't reach the pedals

I find the driving position in my '07 530xi with "sport seats" nearly ideal - for us. And the same is true for '09 & '10 examples my dealer has provided as loaners during my service visits. Maybe there is a problem with the specific car you've looked at - something obstructing the seat rails ??

 

I was sharing that as an example of how far the seats in my 525 will actually go. I do on the hwy like to be stretched out, but, not so far that I cannot hit the brakes

 

Sounds like there is something wrong with the seats as others have said. Make sure to sit in one of the comfort seats. They are awesome on the LCI.

 

I have a 07 530XI with sport seats. I had the same problem at first. If you have the seat raised up to near the maximum height it will not go all the way back. If you lower it, it will go plenty far back.