Leather side bolster shredding

Black Bimmer · 11-17-2008, 08:08 PM

So the leather on my side bolsters is starting to show signs of wear. There are now several small tears on the seam of the upper and outer side bolsters (both driver and pass sides). I've tried to be very careful when entering and exiting the car so as to minimize rubbing, but I can't speak to what my passengers have been doing.

Point is, should the leather be wearing like this after only 3 months??? If so, is there anything I can spray on the leather to make it tougher? I'll try to post some pics later tonight.

See post 10 below for pics:
http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=10

smallseafishie · 11-17-2008, 08:13 PM

damn that sucks...

Over one year here but I have leatherette and it's still good as new.

Cloud9blue · 11-17-2008, 08:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Bimmer

So the leather on my side bolsters is starting to show signs of wear. There are now several small tears on the seam of the upper and outer side bolsters (both driver and pass sides). I've tried to be very careful when entering and exiting the car so as to minimize rubbing, but I can't speak to what my passengers have been doing.

Point is, should the leather be wearing like this after only 3 months??? If so, is there anything I can spray on the leather to make it tougher? I'll try to post some pics later tonight.

really??? i had a X5 with dakota leather for more than 4 years now. i pretty much jumps off the side of the seat every time i get off the car, which put huge amount of friction on it everyday. it still look like new to me.

yours definitely doesn't sound right to me.

cn555ic · 11-17-2008, 08:17 PM

thats why I always have a sports jersey that matches the exterior car color on the driver side seat, since there will be more wear and tear...It may look ugly, but it protects the side bolsters and back portion of the seat

bspears · 11-17-2008, 10:40 PM

I have two small tears on my passenger side after only 2000 miles. I think it is my teenage son jumping in and out of the car. I just found them yesterday. The drivers side is still pristine. I think I am going to try some Krazy Glue on the small flaps and see how it works.

demosthenes · 11-17-2008, 10:49 PM

Conditioning the leather helps avoid scratches and cracks by keeping it moisturized and soft.

Black Bimmer · 11-17-2008, 11:07 PM

I bought some Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner. Hopefully they'll toughen the leather up a bit.

BK · 11-17-2008, 11:11 PM

Yeah, definitely not normal and tough for me to picture (my 2.5 year old ZSP leather seats still look great). Do you have photos?

Majikthese42 · 11-17-2008, 11:16 PM

The driver's seatback leather on mine was replaced under warranty at less than 1000 miles for excessive wear. I'll hand it to BMW for stepping up to the plate on this -- but today's BMW leather isn't the leather from 20 years ago.

Black Bimmer · 11-17-2008, 11:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BK

Do you have photos?

Here are some pics. Not the best lighting, but it's the driver's side upper outer bolster. It's only cracked on the seams.

Cloud9blue · 11-17-2008, 11:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Majikthese42

The driver's seatback leather on mine was replaced under warranty at less than 1000 miles for excessive wear. I'll hand it to BMW for stepping up to the plate on this -- but today's BMW leather isn't the leather from 20 years ago.

maybe not even as good as the leather they have 4 years ago... humm, i will have to see till i get mine.

Cloud9blue · 11-17-2008, 11:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Black Bimmer

Here are some pics. Not the best lighting, but it's the driver's side upper outer bolster.

thats pretty bad, but you really need to clean the leather too

it is pretty hard to get grey leather that dirty.

Black Bimmer · 11-17-2008, 11:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AlpineCloud9

thats pretty bad, but you really need to clean the leather too

it is pretty hard to get grey leather that dirty.

Not to worry, Zaino is on its way! Oh, it's also not grey, it's jade grey which is almost white.

DFW_M · 11-18-2008, 06:12 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by smallseafishie

damn that sucks...

Over one year here but I have leatherette and it's still good as new.

3 years and 7 months with the leatherette here and it still look s like the day I took it off the lot...

Hoothout · 11-18-2008, 06:45 AM

it shouldnt be doing that, i would repair it

trixman · 11-18-2008, 07:44 AM

Mine is exactly the same (16 months old) from catching the sports seats getting in and out. Ask the dealer for a cheeky swap but they were having none of it.

Black Bimmer · 11-18-2008, 10:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PaCman328

it shouldnt be doing that, i would repair it

How can I repair it?

darkphantom · 11-18-2008, 10:40 AM

damn! I don't think the dealer covers this, do they? this seems like wear/tear

328skidpad · 11-18-2008, 11:03 AM

Thanks to the advice of other members.
I clean and condition my front seats every month and always retract my seat when I get out. 5 months post purchase the car still has the leather smell and the seats look like new.

FYI I never wear jeans in my car and have a habit of always wearing clean clothes...

cda888 · 11-18-2008, 11:07 AM

the words "extremely" and "minor" come to mind. No offense, but that just isn't that bad. But to keep it from getting worse, you will have to be more careful. Mine showed sifns of rubbing within a few months and since then I have been more careful and it has not gotten any worse.

macster · 11-18-2008, 11:08 AM

I had the same issue with my 5 series, Black Dakota leather, I wrote a letter to the dealer and they recovered the seat. This was after 17000 miles and less than a year old. The pen is mightier than the sword!
I also had issues with peeling on the steering wheel trim, that section was also replaced.

Good luck.

Majikthese42 · 11-18-2008, 11:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by darkphantom

damn! I don't think the dealer covers this, do they? this seems like wear/tear

Mine was so premature (under 1000 miles) that they did it. I don't expect that if the car had 10,000 miles on it they would have been so happy to replace it. BTW, if you're particularly anal, the leather cover lists for $681.65 and is offered for $545.32 from Tischer. Who ever said BMW ownership was for the frugal?

11-17-2008, 08:08 PM	#1
Black Bimmer Private 7 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2008 335 coupe Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	Leather side bolster shredding So the leather on my side bolsters is starting to show signs of wear. There are now several small tears on the seam of the upper and outer side bolsters (both driver and pass sides). I've tried to be very careful when entering and exiting the car so as to minimize rubbing, but I can't speak to what my passengers have been doing. Point is, should the leather be wearing like this after only 3 months??? If so, is there anything I can spray on the leather to make it tougher? I'll try to post some pics later tonight. See post 10 below for pics: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showpo...9&postcount=10 Last edited by Black Bimmer; 11-17-2008 at 11:47 PM..
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11-17-2008, 08:13 PM	#2
smallseafishie Colonel 110 Rep 2,017 Posts Drives: AW 07 e92 335i + AW 11 X5 35d Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Atlanta GA iTrader: (13) Garage List 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	damn that sucks... Over one year here but I have leatherette and it's still good as new.
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11-17-2008, 08:17 PM	#4
cn555ic 441 Rep 18,331 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: US iTrader: (6)	thats why I always have a sports jersey that matches the exterior car color on the driver side seat, since there will be more wear and tear...It may look ugly, but it protects the side bolsters and back portion of the seat
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11-17-2008, 10:40 PM	#5
bspears Private First Class 18 Rep 119 Posts Drives: 2011 M3E93 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Bay Area USA iTrader: (0)	I have two small tears on my passenger side after only 2000 miles. I think it is my teenage son jumping in and out of the car. I just found them yesterday. The drivers side is still pristine. I think I am going to try some Krazy Glue on the small flaps and see how it works. __________________ 2011 E93 M3 SSM Black Carbon loaded
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11-17-2008, 10:49 PM	#6
demosthenes Major 48 Rep 1,162 Posts Drives: E90 328i 6MT Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: SF Bay Area iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 328i sedan [0.00]	Conditioning the leather helps avoid scratches and cracks by keeping it moisturized and soft.
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11-17-2008, 11:07 PM	#7
Black Bimmer Private 7 Rep 63 Posts Drives: 2008 335 coupe Join Date: Jun 2008 Location: LA iTrader: (0)	I bought some Zaino leather cleaner and conditioner. Hopefully they'll toughen the leather up a bit.
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11-17-2008, 11:11 PM	#8
BK Smiling politely 165 Rep 7,931 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Washington DC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [9.00]	Yeah, definitely not normal and tough for me to picture (my 2.5 year old ZSP leather seats still look great). Do you have photos? __________________ E90 330i Black Sapphire 6MT \| 991.1 C4 Platinum Silver 7MT
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11-17-2008, 11:16 PM	#9
Majikthese42 Philosopher-king 20 Rep 1,113 Posts Drives: 2008 E91 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: People's Republic of New Jersey iTrader: (0)	The driver's seatback leather on mine was replaced under warranty at less than 1000 miles for excessive wear. I'll hand it to BMW for stepping up to the plate on this -- but today's BMW leather isn't the leather from 20 years ago. __________________ E91 6MT Alpine, Terra, Xenons, ZSP, ZCW, ZPP, PDC, CA, alarm, M shifter and M brake handle, Euro rear fog light switch, Euro aspheric mirrors, rear power outlets, Garmin nüvi custom cupholder mount, Lidatek, V-1 built-in remote display, tire pump, jack, floor mats.
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11-18-2008, 06:45 AM	#15
Hoothout Colonel 59 Rep 2,799 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW E92 328i Join Date: May 2008 Location: Brentwood, TN iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 e92 328i [0.00]	it shouldnt be doing that, i would repair it __________________ 2008 SG E92 328i iDrive,Premium Pkg,Sport Pkg,Cold Weather pkg,Black Dakota Leather,GP Thunder 8500k cornering,drl,and foglights, ,Blacked Out Grills,Painted Reflectors,Shadowline Emblems,Hardwired Beltronics V-995, AFE Intake, Muffler Delete, Berger tune
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11-18-2008, 07:44 AM	#16
trixman Major 33 Rep 1,269 Posts Drives: A Rental Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Creepy Crawley iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 BMW E92 335d [0.00] 2003 M3 CSL [0.00] 2007 E92 335i [0.00]	Mine is exactly the same (16 months old) from catching the sports seats getting in and out. Ask the dealer for a cheeky swap but they were having none of it.
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11-18-2008, 10:40 AM	#18
darkphantom Banned 595 Rep 5,946 Posts Drives: E93 335i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: The place for Bimmers iTrader: (4)	damn! I don't think the dealer covers this, do they? this seems like wear/tear
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11-18-2008, 11:03 AM	#19
328skidpad Lieutenant 49 Rep 494 Posts Drives: 328xi e350 Z4M X3 M40 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Princeton NJ iTrader: (0)	Thanks to the advice of other members. I clean and condition my front seats every month and always retract my seat when I get out. 5 months post purchase the car still has the leather smell and the seats look like new. FYI I never wear jeans in my car and have a habit of always wearing clean clothes...
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11-18-2008, 11:07 AM	#20
cda888 Private 2 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Utah iTrader: (0)	the words "extremely" and "minor" come to mind. No offense, but that just isn't that bad. But to keep it from getting worse, you will have to be more careful. Mine showed sifns of rubbing within a few months and since then I have been more careful and it has not gotten any worse.
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11-18-2008, 11:08 AM	#21
macster New Member 0 Rep 7 Posts Drives: 07 Mini, 08 CRV, 96 Eunos Join Date: Nov 2008 Location: Golf Coast iTrader: (0)	I had the same issue with my 5 series, Black Dakota leather, I wrote a letter to the dealer and they recovered the seat. This was after 17000 miles and less than a year old. The pen is mightier than the sword! I also had issues with peeling on the steering wheel trim, that section was also replaced. Good luck.
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