leather peeling off?

[jksgoh]

Hey guys,
was just giving my interior a quick clean up today and i noticed that the leather of the right side bolster (door side) of the drivers seat had scratched/peeled off a little.

I first thought, ok i may have accidentally scratched it on my way in with a zip on a pocket or something similar. but im now having some doubts... firstly because the scratched area is in such a neat line right along the edge/seam, secondly there are a few tiny flaps of leather in which it has peeled off from below, and thirdly they seem to appear along creases.
Now if i was damaging it i would have thought i would be damaging it on my way in, and thus peeled off from the top, and not such a straight line along the seam. Also i would have suspected more damage where my arse sits for most of the trip if it were a zip... So im thinking that this part of the bolster is receiving quite a high amount of stress from me getting in and out and that it has started to crack/peel off a little???

Dont really know much about leather, and would greatly appreciate your guys opinions on this.

[Kris]

I have this as well, not as bad as that ive got a single mark. But I think its basically poor quality around that area.. I never drag myself in and like you have no zippers etc, Anyone else?

[Zuzu]

I had it on my 330Ci as well as it had the side bolsters on the sport seats.. Just thought it was wear and tear.. was very noticable on black leather... In the end I realised it was more of fatigue wear around the stiching from stretching of the leather..

Now I am not a big bloke.. 172 cm tall and 78kg..So I dont squeeze in and out.

Showed the dealer and he agreed about the fatigue, but by then was trading up for the 1er..Only had 30K kms on the 330Ci, so it was still fairly new.

[Guran]

Nothing like that yet on my 135i but it's only covered ~6000km. The driver's seat on my MINI looked like your photo ... after 120,000km! I bloody well hope this seat wear is not common, or if it is, that BMW will cover it on warranty.

[jksgoh]

well i guess the next logical step would be to ask a dealership and see what they think.
i've done about 13000 kms now, with quite a significant portion due to 150km journeys (so possibly not as much getting in and out of the seat as others), and i do make a conscious effort when entering or exiting the car...

[Blacky]

Is it leather?
Isn't there a post on here about the use of leather in the 1'ers, or lack there of?

[wkthyk]

Watch out when you open windows/door in rain, it eh leather get wet, dry it asap.

[cargeek]

Mine is worse and I have the same colour leather. I have assumed it was wear and tear. I am careful but I do have a friend who had an injured hip and I thought he may have damaged the leather getting in and out when he was driving.

[d3syd]

Call it patina...... it adds to the car's character.

[bfi2906]

Not sure it's the same issue, but may help. I just got out of an e46 Coupe. My garage is tight at home and at work - and I have a big arse. Bottom line - pun intended, is, I was dragging my "seat" over the side bolster of the seat every time I got in, or out of the car.

I drew the attention of the service guys to it, who were fantastic, and we managed it so that they asked BMW's "regional service guy" to have a look at it, just before it came out of warranty.

I made sure i was there for the discussion, and as soon as "said regional person" mentioned "wear and tear", I told him I that when the car was sold to me, i received no warning about people with "big arses" being likely to observe additional war on the seat bolsters. End of discussion!!! And drivers seat back cover replaces at no cost. Good job BMW!!!

After that, i programmed the seat memory to make it simple for me to run the seat back before i got out, and run the seat up as i was getting in. Thereby reducing the rubbing of my arse on the leather. No real inconenience. And to the day I got rid of the car, there were no signs of wear.

[BBK]

Has anyone had the leather treatment that BMW offers when picking up a new car?

Would this likely to help, or at least, be covered under warranty as it has I think a 5yr warranty?

[Binstar]

I've just applied my first lot of Zaino leather treatment this week, hopefully regular applications will prevent this kind of stuff happening.

[jksgoh]

hi guys,
think i've just found what is causing the leather to peel.
i think the bottom horizontal portion of the seat belt (the part which goes around your waist) is rubbing up against the side bolster especially when taking it on and off. WHen taking it on/off the bottom half of the seat belt tends to go up, which would explain why the leather has peeled from below and also why the marks sit just above where the seat belt sits when fastened correctly.
what do you guys think?

I only first noticed my peeling leather on the w/e and already (i.e. a few days) its noticeably worsened. i drive at least twice a day, which i guess is normal usage...

heres a pic, only got my phone on me so its a bit of a poor picture.

[AussieRacer]

I've just checked my old 120i and found similar wear, but it is over 4 years old. My 135i is showing no wear. I also noticed the 120i seemed to have slightly different stitching there that would seem to be more easily worn. So maybe a known issue that they modified the stitching for to help reduce....but hasn't helped you unfortunately.

[WOPALX]

Ive had the same issue on the drivers side seat, both on the base and the back.

Initially the back was replaced under warranty, initially they refused after a regional rep inspected it, however at the time I threatened them with sueing for false adverrtising when they advertised the nav DVD upgrade at the time had speed camera / blackspot's on it. I then got a call saying they had reconsidered the claim on the seat back.

About 6mths later the base was replaced again due to excessive wear on the stitching, this time they said it was a 'good will' gesture.

Good luck,

S

[TimMc]

Argh "good will". That's the term they used when they eventually put DataDots on my car after originally telling me it would come from the factory with them.

[BBK]

Datadots don't come from factory?!?!

[Binstar]

Not anymore, you need to pay for them separately, $695/

[BBK]

That's crazy! Do you know when this was introduced?

[mchaskell]

Most modern auto leather is spray coated with dye. What you are seeing is the clear top coat and pigments cracking (or abrading away). The leather under these coatings is a different color and is showing through the cracks.

This site has good info: http://www.rodenleather.com/faqs.html#Pigmented-Leather

[jksgoh]

thanks for the link mchaskell

im wondering if expanding the side bolsters with the little button on the seat is a contributing factor to the peeling leather? mine is usually at the upper limit...

[Kris]

jksgosh, keep me in the loop. I think mine is wearing too much, only 11000kms not good!