Worn/scuffed leather on new car

[Gynx]

Hi folks

Anyone had any experience with this issue and bmw uk?

Image attached to the post.

Scuffing on the upper right hand side bolster of the drivers seat presumably due to getting in and out of the car.

I'm about 10 stone, slim and 5ft 8 so the seat is fairly close to the steering wheel. It would be impossible for me to get in and out without touching the seat side in some way unless I slid it back and forward every time I got in/out which is unacceptable.

All metal parts have been chopped off my jeans.

I've got leather seats in the house which show no wear at all after 4 years so this is quite frankly ridiculous.

Car was bought new on 12/08/2014 and has done 1650 miles

Anyone experienced similar?

[ManiacGT]

I have white nappa leather (upgrade) which is now over 5 years old. It's required a little recolouring due to wear on the bolster but there's no actual damage. 13st and 6' here. I too catch the bolster a little when getting in and out.

Here's the wear at 4 or so years before colouring and then after recolouring.



After:

[Gynx]

I think after 5 years I would certainly accept some form of wear, but three months at 500 miles/month seems nuts. I'm trying to work out how to word it for claiming under warranty as I can see it coming they'll say it's caused by me getting in and out.

I've basically got in and out of the car 180 times and the drivers side seat looks about 6-7 years old

[paris1]

I get that you're not happy with this situation, but it seems like you're overstating the severity just a bit. Leather does wear and the grade of leather they use in these cars is not the best. From your description, it sounds like you've got the seat so close to the wheel that your squeezing in and out of the car is worsening the situation. Are you wearing jeans/denim pants? That kind of material is terribly abrasive and will contribute to the kind of wear in the picture. Have you treated the leather with any kind of conditioner in order to smooth out the worn area? Have you sought the advise of an auto upholsterer who might be able to advise you as to how to treat/protect the area from further wear? All in all, the picture doesn't appear to show anything I wouldn't expect to happen to this area given the circumstances you describe. I think you just need to stay on top of it and be a little creative in how you care for the seats while you own the car.

[BMWZ4RIDER]

Thast seem highly damaged for the short tenure of your ownership.
Have your tried to get thid covered under the 4 year 50K warranty.
Seemsx reasonable to have thi covered unless you are specifically gouging the bolster with each entry/exit.
My black leather after 3 year needed a small re-color but showed no damage to the material.

[Eltee]

If you do a search on this topic you'll find that this is a pretty typical problem. Goes way back. I had 3 used Z3s and the bolster was scuffed on all of them. My 2009 had it and my 2011 that I purchased this summer also has a little scuffing.

Some people have been successful in getting this covered under warranty but I think they have been the exception. In your case with it being so new I'd push the case big time.

[bigendbob]

Unfortunately it's the rubbish so called leather they use, the colour seems just printed on with no depth. I have beige and the bolster needs touching up every few months. At first it looks dirty, but then a wipe over reveals the colour has rubbed off.

[ManiacGT]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

Unfortunately it's the rubbish so called leather they use, the colour seems just printed on with no depth. I have beige and the bolster needs touching up every few months. At first it looks dirty, but then a wipe over reveals the colour has rubbed off.

Is it the cream 'Kansas/Dakota' (whatever its called) leather that you have or the ivory nappa like mine?

[nicknaz]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

Unfortunately it's the rubbish so called leather they use, the colour seems just printed on with no depth. I have beige and the bolster needs touching up every few months. At first it looks dirty, but then a wipe over reveals the colour has rubbed off.

+1

Seems like it is worse on the lighter colors as well.

Same thing happened to my oyster interior e90 OP. Take it in and politely make a lot of noise...

[bigendbob]

Kansas beige.
Managed to find some touch up leather paint, slightly lighter than the leather, but soon darkens down!

[Roadstergal]

I have the white nappa leather and had somewhat of the same thing happen to my seat. My car was over two years old and they replaced the leather on the seat without me even to have to put up a fuss. They should do the same for you as your car is so new. The service adviser wrote it up as premature wear.

[airmarc]

Originally Posted by bigendbob

Kansas beige.
Managed to find some touch up leather paint, slightly lighter than the leather, but soon darkens down!

Where did you find that????

[mbetoni]

I have the benefit of being on my 3rd Z4, two E85s and now my E89. With my first E85, after 3 years, my bolster was worn from getting in and out (Beige interior), and a bit discolored from use. I'm also a smaller guy, 5' 4" @ 135lbs, FWIW. With my second E85, I learned how to get in and out without touching the bolster at all, and had Saddle Brown. After 5 years, that leather looked near-new with no bolster wear and no discoloration when I sold it. Now, my E89 has Coral Red and I'm hopefully on the same path as my last Z4 with regards to wear. Being smaller definitely helps, I can avoid the bolster completely without moving the seat when getting in and out.

Also, though I LOVE some of the white leather interior combinations, after owning Beige in my first I simply have sworn off anything that light. No matter what you do, it will discolor/look dirty over time. This Coral Red seems to be going quite well thus far and with simple, regular cleaning I hope that will continue.

[paris1]

The 2013 my wife and I picked up out of state last month had 19k miles on it most of which was put on by a BMW rep; then it was sold to a woman who drove it for 7 months and decided she needed something with more seats. The coral red interior was a bit soiled when we bought it, but cleaned up nicely and shows no noticeable signs of wear.