Exactly my experience. Hope this helps other new owners. Just putting the seat-back back another notch did the trick.

 

Swap the left and right when you turn them around and you get to keep the vertical adjust function

 

... maybe don't let your agency know that.
I bet 20 years ago you'd never had a claim involving an airbag, but the game she is a changin'

 

Before I got my 09 MCS, I totally wrote this thread off as the headrests in my 08 were completely comfortable.

BUT, in my new 09 I can confirm that the headrests DO stick out further. It seems like there's 1/2 - 3/4" MORE padding in front of the headrests. Drives me CRAZY, and is super uncomfortable.

Odd change, eh?

 

I noticed that it stuck out a bit further than most cars, but I got quite used to it quickly. Not uncomfortable at all.

 

that adj sb height was one of the worst squeaks/rattles in my R53, once my dealer attempted to correct twice but never could. fixrd it to it wouldnt drive me too crazy, but.. it... was... there...

 

I guess the easiest way to eliminate that squeak was to remove the feature. The fixed height is the right height for me so I don't mind not having the extra rattle!

 

I was at the dealer this morning, so I tried out an 09 and its headreast does have more padding. It looks pretty werid it sticks out so much forward of the back rest. When I'm sitting normally my head was just touching the rest, usually there's some space behind my head.

I guess there's about 20mm extra padding (I expect they're built with mm) over an 08. Then I looked at an 07 (Tristan), that has about 20mm less padding than the 08. So the 09 has about 40mm (1.5") more padding than an 07. That may explain why some people notice it more.

I'm not sure I'd fit in an 09 if I were wearing a helmet, I'll have to test that out with Shawn, he's next up at the track.

 

So I'm not the only only one who can confirm this?!?! My guess they're trying to improve on their crash test ratings.

But man, it's driving me crazy and my neck is getting sore from leaning slightly forward! I wonder my if dealership will let me swap them out for a set from a used car?

 

I have an 09 and have driven 3,800 miles....don't even know its there and I an 6' tall....recline the seat back a little.

 

Ugh. When we were shopping for cars, we looked at the Acura CSX and RDX, and they have this same still of leaning-forward headrests. It's a simpler, cheaper way of achieving better whiplash protection (versus, say, Volvo's WHIPS which pushes the headrest forward only in the event of a collision), but I just don't find it comfortable.

 

I've never thought it was uncomfortable at all, honestly.

Then again, I never had an '07 or '08.

 

I'm having my dealer look at a modification on the headrests this morning in fact and will post an update should they find a solution. I too find them jutting forward a bit too much for my liking.

 

After trip to dealer for some accessories, I asked about the head rests. Basically, there is nothing they can do to alter shape, no big surprise there. However, after adjusting my seat some more, I feel actually quite OK now. It may have been the result of riding too long in a laid back Volvo.

I suggest playing around with the settings/position until just right.

 

Swap in the ones from the back seats; they are thinner and just forward less.

That wasn't enough for my wife, so I turned the front-seat headrest backwards for her. Looks a little odd when you know to look for it, but it works fine.

 

I've turned my front headrests around and although it works it looks weird with the headrests pointing backward slightly.

Never thought of using the headrests from the back seats. Think I'll give it a try.

 

They discussed this on episode 449 of White Roof Radio. Might be worth giving it a listen: http://www.whiteroofradio.com/woofcast-449/

 

Thank you great idea to swap them. Just that extra few centimeters makes a world of difference. I can't see any safety concerns either and they still look cool.