Leather seat wear and tear

[drcop]

I had posted this yesterday accidentally in the Cosmetics forum however I'll try here:

I am starting to get the wear & tear (cracking and fading) on my Fiona red seats. Can anyone advise what is the best fix for this before it gets worse—repairs and perhaps preventative measures?

[BigHunk]

Swissvax would be your choice, leather requires conditioning at least once a year otherwise you'll get issues like seen on your car.

Here is nice tutorial how to do it and results after treatment, also they have online shop, Canadian store based on your location.

[John in VA]

Moving the seat back to get in/out of the car will help decrease bolster wear. It will require some color/dye at some point.

[ppointer]

+1 for John in VA to prevent further damage. I have my #2 seat position set for several inches back. I get in the car at the #2 memory position, and hit #1 to move it forward. This has stopped any new damage to my seats.

[jkoral]

Originally Posted by ppointer

+1 for John in VA to prevent further damage. I have my #2 seat position set for several inches back. I get in the car at the #2 memory position, and hit #1 to move it forward. This has stopped any new damage to my seats.

All modern BMWs have EasyEntry built in so it does it automatically, but it has to be coded on. I enabled it with BimmerCode on my 2017 M2. Lots of threads on bimmerpost, first one that popped up: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1827447

[Hagasan41]

Swissvax makes some really great products. My go to is their leather cleaner in the video posted above. Colourlock is another great brand I use. Clean and condition especially on the high wear areas needs to become part of your detailing routine.
My seats still look brand new.

https://www.colourlock.com/BMW-Leath...008-us-BM-284/

Below are some steps you can take to repair and prevent in the future…
-Use the Colourlock dye to repair
-Apply Colourlock leather shield to help protect
-Change the way you’re getting in and out of the car. Instead of kinda rolling into and out of the seat you’ll need to use your hand on the door sill to kinda lift yourself into and out of the seat. Or as mentioned above utilize the M1 and M2 features.

[BMWCCA1]

A customer who was a physical therapist taught me this trick back around 1995, mostly to prevent back issues as we age but it also works for not chewing up your seat bolster:

Stand with your door open with your back to the car. Put your ass in the driver's seat while both feet remain planted on the ground. Swing your feet around into the pedal box. Voila! No seat damage. The sport seat on my 2013 128i still has a perfect bolster after over 100k-miles.

[jg4c]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

A customer who was a physical therapist taught me this trick back around 1995, mostly to prevent back issues as we age but it also works for not chewing up your seat bolster:

Stand with your door open with your back to the car. Put your ass in the driver's seat while both feet remain planted on the ground. Swing you feet around into the pedal box. Voila! Do seat damage. The sport seat on my 2013 128i still has a perfect bolster after over 100k-miles.

Exactly what I adopted doing after seeing some wear
in the exact same spot on the bolster that OP posted.
Started only after 6 months on my brand new 2022 M340
with Vernasca leather. Aggressively treated the spot with
leather conditioner. That combined with new way to enter
the car and problem solved.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by jg4c

Exactly what I adopted doing after seeing some wear
in the exact same spot on the bolster that OP posted.
Started only after 6 months on my brand new 2022 M340
with Vernasca leather. Aggressively treated the spot with
leather conditioner. That combined with new way to enter
the car and problem solved.

Thanks for making me see my typos (now corrected) and for confirming what should be obvious to everyone with sport seats by now!

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

A customer who was a physical therapist taught me this trick back around 1995, mostly to prevent back issues as we age but it also works for not chewing up your seat bolster:

Stand with your door open with your back to the car. Put your ass in the driver's seat while both feet remain planted on the ground. Swing your feet around into the pedal box. Voila! No seat damage. The sport seat on my 2013 128i still has a perfect bolster after over 100k-miles.

I've always put my right leg in first then used that method. I find it helps distribute weight while I get in, especially if there is not room to open the door much. Getting out, I post my left hand on the bottom trim above the sill.

[cbpip]

Leatherique is a great reconditioning treatment for leather. No petroleum products which will deteriorate leather and stitching. Uses emollients for softening and recognitioning the leather.

[Portimao Blue M440ix]

I find for myself being conscious of the bolster getting in and out helps. I use my forearm against the upper portion of the backrest area getting in and out to keep the rest of me rubbing against the bolster. My 2007 335i coupe bolster still looks brand new.

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by ppointer

+1 for John in VA to prevent further damage. I have my #2 seat position set for several inches back. I get in the car at the #2 memory position, and hit #1 to move it forward. This has stopped any new damage to my seats.

Why not just code easy entry? As soon as the car powers off the seat automatically pulls back. When enter and then close the door, the seat automatically moves back forward.

[BMWCCA1]

Originally Posted by bosstones

I've always put my right leg in first then used that method. I find it helps distribute weight while I get in, especially if there is not room to open the door much. Getting out, I post my left hand on the bottom trim above the sill.

That's exactly what my customer the physical therapist was warning against. How's your back?

[N1rve]

Originally Posted by M2siast

How do you do that?

Bimmercode.

[ppointer]

Originally Posted by N1rve

Why not just code easy entry? As soon as the car powers off the seat automatically pulls back. When enter and then close the door, the seat automatically moves back forward.

Yes, tried that. Doesn't work for either of my 2012 e92s or 2022 G30.

[louielouie]

Get the repair kit from Colourlock.

I used to have that seat movement thing. Turned it back off. Personally, I found it annoying

[MADBMWX5MC]

Originally Posted by jkoral

All modern BMWs have EasyEntry built in so it does it automatically, but it has to be coded on. I enabled it with BimmerCode on my 2017 M2. Lots of threads on bimmerpost, first one that popped up: https://f80.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1827447

I was wondering about that, thanks for the post

[DocL]

Originally Posted by John in VA

Moving the seat back to get in/out of the car will help decrease bolster wear. It will require some color/dye at some point.

And not wearing jeans helps too.

[bosstones]

Originally Posted by BMWCCA1

That's exactly what my customer the physical therapist was warning against. How's your back?

Doing great!