Cheap Seats

wingedtiger · Aug 1, 2004

All,

I have a 2004 330CiC with 15k on it. I was wondering if any of you have had issues with cheap seats. Mine is starting to wear on the edge where your butt might hit as you are trying to get in the car. I am not a large person and I don't have a big butt but. Of all of the cars I have ever had from an old ford pinto to a Mercedes SL600, I have never had this happen. I ordered everything you could get when I ordered this thing, Sport, Premium, 6 disk, lojack, alarm, wind deflector...... I would think for this type of money I would not have that type of problem. ANY HELP??????????

dpnguyen · Aug 1, 2004

I have leather seats also but haven't had that type of problem yet. Then again, I only have 6k on mine. Perhaps it's specific type of pants that you own now, but didn't have earlier in life...just a thought. Or, do you let the sun get to your seats with its nasty UV rays. I have tinted windows and use a winshield shade when I park outdoors.

Anyway, might want to try a leather conditioner. I bought a Premium Leather Care Kit made in Germany and sold at my local BMW dealer. Costs $30...cheap investment IMO.

Good Luck!

CaveDweller · Aug 1, 2004

wingedtiger said:

All,

I have a 2004 330CiC with 15k on it. I was wondering if any of you have had issues with cheap seats. Mine is starting to wear on the edge where your butt might hit as you are trying to get in the car. I am not a large person and I don't have a big butt but. Of all of the cars I have ever had from an old ford pinto to a Mercedes SL600, I have never had this happen. I ordered everything you could get when I ordered this thing, Sport, Premium, 6 disk, lojack, alarm, wind deflector...... I would think for this type of money I would not have that type of problem. ANY HELP??????????

I'd say it's a warranty issue. Take it in for service and get a new seat.

Kirby · Aug 1, 2004

Hi Terry - I have that same problem with 9,??? miles on the car. I have been debating whether I should hammer the dealer about it....

theBMWenthusiast · Aug 1, 2004

hasn't happened on my car yet, but im gonna check the seats for wear now...

wingedtiger · Aug 2, 2004

Hey Kirby, This really bites, I have had it replaced once at 5K and the next one is doing it. I can't really understand the substandard quality of a high end car. Like I said I have had the cheap and the $$$ cars. I also have a 2004 Lexus RX330 and it does not have that problem. 90% of the time I am in slacks, not jeans so I don't see how that could be a reason. I also wonder why the arm rest is not doing the same thing. Are they using a cheap grade of leather?

dzervit · Aug 2, 2004

16k and seats look like the day we got 'em. Are you primarly wearing jeans or other harsh materials? Not saying the seats shouldn't hold up, just curious... Also, have you maintained the seats properly?

wingedtiger · Aug 2, 2004

90% of the time it is slacks or a suite <10% jeans and the car is detailed at the dealer every month to include leather conditioning.

dzervit · Aug 2, 2004

wingedtiger said:

Huh... you got cheap seats! [:p]

Perhaps a bad run of leather? Time to pummel the dealer...

codex57 · Aug 2, 2004

It's the BMW leather. I've seen tons of BMWs with that problem. Part of the reason why i went with leatherette.

dismaldream · Aug 2, 2004

codex57 said:

same reason I "opted" for the leatherette as well

plus you save $1500 by not getting leather

just bought my first bimmer this past friday night

it has 103 miles on it now

and the sales lady was saying that BMW leather doesnt have any problems b/c its such high-end quality leather

suffice it to say, i didnt fall for it and saved myself the $

im just a 26 yr old kid and had to find ways to get the most with the cash i had.

i love my car

but a lot of people seem to be having this problem with the leather seats

with the $ saved, i was able to get the extended warranty at $1995

cdotger · Aug 3, 2004

I have the same problem with my seats.... I have 6k and wear on the outer edge... Dealer says it is from the seat belt but I'n not buying it.... Seems like bad leather to me.

-Carl

MrElussive · Aug 3, 2004

The 3-series leather does feel of nice quality, though.

How many of you in this thread clean & condition their leather accordingly?
How many of you in this thread have a lot of sunlight hitting your leather?

wingedtiger, when getting into the car do you put your weight on that outer edge, where the leather wore down? Maybe you are unintentionally putting too much stress on that outer thigh bolster when you get in and out of your seat??

cdotger · Aug 3, 2004

I clean and condition every other month, and no I park in a parking garage during the day so I do not get a lot of sunlight on my car.... The leather is not fading.... The problem is it is wearing... and becoming lighter at the seams around the bottom left side of my drivers seat.. on the back.

-Carl

salvo · Aug 3, 2004

Can someone take a pic? How bad are we talking?

mscoins · Aug 3, 2004

No problems after one year and about 6500 miles. I condition the leather every three months or so with BMW Leather Cleaner/Conditioner, don't expose it to a lot of sunlight, and try not to put weight on the side bolster.

hustler · Aug 4, 2004

jeez, why dont you just get sheepskin seat covers. on every bmw or mercedes we got, we got sheepskin, the seats still look new.

cdotger · Aug 4, 2004

I will try and take a pic tonight and upload it

-Carl

damo · Aug 4, 2004

I'm having trouble with my seats too, but in a different way -- rattles! Specifically, where the headrest connects to the main part of the seat there seems to be some "play" that allows the posts to rattle within the holes. Very annoying. Has anyone experienced this and found a solution? By the way, the rattle only happens when the passenger seat is empty and it is a new 2004 325i. Any thoughts would be appreciated. Thanks.

MrElussive · Aug 4, 2004

damo said:

That's an easy fix. Just take it to your dealership and they will fix it...they just put some special stuff on the area of the seat that stops the rattling...it's like vibration absorbing material.

Cheap Seats

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