"Leather" Seat Cracks
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 19
"Leather" Seat Cracks
I have a 2017 SL. I bought it in April of 2017 and my seats are cracking. Anyone else have this problem? The driver's side has gotten atrocious and I noticed the other day that the passenger side seat is beginning to crack as well. Considering I've barely owned the car over a year and a half, I'm pretty pissed. I have driven it A LOT but still. Any suggestions/ solutions? What's the best option for repairing?
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 19
I live in Frisco, TX. A suburb just north of Dallas. I have it washed regularly (a couple times/month weather permitting) and have had the dealership detail it a couple of times since I purchased it. I'll snap a couple of pics.
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 603
From: Atlanta
Based on the angle of the cracks - and I’m no forensic expert - it looks like it’s something on you/your pants which is scratching/scuffing the seat. Those aren’t just leather cracks - those are scuff/cut marks.
Someone on the BMW 5-Series board had a similar - but less severe - issue with the outside (near door) bolster (with nappa leather seats). Turns out it was in fact something on his wife’s jeans (rear pocket).
Someone on the BMW 5-Series board had a similar - but less severe - issue with the outside (near door) bolster (with nappa leather seats). Turns out it was in fact something on his wife’s jeans (rear pocket).
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 19
Based on the angle of the cracks - and I’m no forensic expert - it looks like it’s something on you/your pants which is scratching/scuffing the seat. Those aren’t just leather cracks - those are scuff/cut marks.
Someone on the BMW 5-Series board had a similar - but less severe - issue with the outside (near door) bolster (with nappa leather seats). Turns out it was in fact something on his wife’s jeans (rear pocket).
Someone on the BMW 5-Series board had a similar - but less severe - issue with the outside (near door) bolster (with nappa leather seats). Turns out it was in fact something on his wife’s jeans (rear pocket).
Senior Member
Joined: Jun 2016
Posts: 603
From: Atlanta
1. Something sharp on the legs of your pants
2. Shoes/boots (like cowboy boots or high boots)
3. Dragging a bag out of the car the same way every time
4. Something else in the passenger seat, which exits via the driver’s door (a dog?)
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,130
It looks to me like the tears started out as tiny slices/cuts in the vinyl that worked into ugliness over time. Symmetrical pattern too, parallel, and similar lengths. No offense but are you a large man? Just wondering. I feel as the others have, so far. I don't think this is due to sun-baking. That should be a relative shady area there, below where your knees rest.
Thread Starter
Joined: Apr 2017
Posts: 19
It looks to me like the tears started out as tiny slices/cuts in the vinyl that worked into ugliness over time. Symmetrical pattern too, parallel, and similar lengths. No offense but are you a large man? Just wondering. I feel as the others have, so far. I don't think this is due to sun-baking. That should be a relative shady area there, below where your knees rest.
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,130
Here is a sequin story for those of you who are bored waiting for New Years: Once I was at a car show with my new Corvette. We were parked a little ways from the band that was playing Country. To my horror I noticed a young thing with sequined jeans swaying to and fro to the music with her butt within inches of my left front fender, and her back pockets were sequined!! I rushed over and discretely asked her if she would kindly refrain from doing the bumpity-bump so close to my car. I was nice about it and she just laughed and looked embarrassed. No damage done to her ego or my fender, although her ending her rather sensuous swaying was a bittersweet experience. :-)
Last edited by compyelc4; Dec 28, 2018 at 09:43 AM.
Newbie - Just Registered
Joined: Sep 2020
Posts: 2
Same
I have a 2017 SL. I bought it in April of 2017 and my seats are cracking. Anyone else have this problem? The driver's side has gotten atrocious and I noticed the other day that the passenger side seat is beginning to crack as well. Considering I've barely owned the car over a year and a half, I'm pretty pissed. I have driven it A LOT but still. Any suggestions/ solutions? What's the best option for repairing?
Member
Joined: Mar 2019
Posts: 274
From: Earth
The uniformity and how severe those cracks look makes me think something is slicing your seats up over time. Also like someone stated, other areas of the seat take in more direct sunlight than the thigh extension does. The rest of your seat in the photo looks fine. Though obviously, I don't know all the details.
Just anecdotally, I live in PHX and park out in the daylight during work hours and it gets 118 degrees and harsh sunlight out here and my seats still look fine.
Maybe something is rubbing on your seats? Do you share the car with anyone?
Just anecdotally, I live in PHX and park out in the daylight during work hours and it gets 118 degrees and harsh sunlight out here and my seats still look fine.
Maybe something is rubbing on your seats? Do you share the car with anyone?
Senior Member
Joined: Dec 2016
Posts: 1,130
You guys do realize that the original post is 1-1/2 yrs old! The reason I first suspected it was old was I was reading down the comments and I came to a comment that sounded like what I would write. It WAS me, and posted 1-1/2 years ago! Then I looked at the date of the original post. I am still interested in the resolution. Anyone know?
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