Wear on driver's side bolster after 3 months

8262S · 10-12-2022, 10:14 PM

I have standard sport seats in Tartufo. It is my DD.

I have noticed that the driver's side bolster is showing some signs of wear from getting in and out of it. It also is getting a weird crease where it looks like the bolster gets compressed when getting into the seat.

I try to be really gentle getting in and out of it.

Has anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can do to recondition or protect the leather?

Or is this just a fact of life with a leather bolster like this?

Ugh.

Ugh again, why do some photos rotate when posted here…?

Wo-Wo · 10-13-2022, 02:55 PM

I’d say that’s worthy of a warranty claim.

8262S · 10-13-2022, 07:34 PM

I will be taking it in to have that looked at and make a warranty claim.

But for those who have had their cars for 6+ months, does your car look like this?

In the 3 months we have had this case, we have put 4,000 miles on it.

luckylingy · 10-13-2022, 07:58 PM

For ingress, do you step-n-slide, or sit-n-spin? Over 40+ years I've had plenty of sport seats with prominent side bolsters. The step-n-slide approach produces the wear marks you're beginning to see.

These days, in order to protect a bum hip as much as preserve the leather, I sit-n-spin. I drop my backside on the seat, lift myself off the seat as I rotate 90° to get my legs in, then settle back in the seat. Doing so applies the least friction on the outer side bolsters. No wear or creases anywhere after 11,000 miles / 11 months.

I doubt your dealership or BMW USA will approve a warranty claim on that, as it's normal wear and tear (especially with softer leather with finer grain). Leatherique offers dyes to match any OEM color (BMW or otherwise); if you go that route, follow instructions and apply multiple, thin coats vs. a single thick coat. The creases are 'patina', I'm afraid.

PHXATC · 10-14-2022, 08:48 AM

Some points to ponder:

Do you have a feature (comfort? I can't keep up with every car's feature anymore) that allows your seat to be pushed back as far as it can when you enter and exit, or open/close the door? If so, maybe ensure that is on so you aren't brushing against the bolster.

As was said above, it is the method you enter and exit the seat that is most likely causing the premature wear on the bolster. Use the sit and spin method as best you can.

Along with the sit and spin method (that cracks me up every time I say it) ensure you have quality protection on not only the bolster, but the entire leather surface (and vinyl) on the seat.

The leather is just dyed leather, no matter what it is marketed as. Painted, if you will, so you have rubbed some of the 'paint' off. Easily fixed either by yourself or the dealer. Speaking of dealer, if your car only has 4000 total miles on it and is only 3 months old, then I would deem this a warranty claim, if it were mine. They won't replace the entire seating surface, although they might repair it with some dye.

The good thing is, you have light wear and it is very unnoticeable unless you're staring right at it. Fix it up, modify your ingress/egress a little to be more careful, and protect the leather going forward.

If you're saying it is ridiculous to ask an owner to get in and out of a vehicle a certain way to prevent this early wear, then I agree, that is entirely silly when you have other manufacturers "leather" that can withstand much more abuse than simple ingress/egress. It is what it is, so work with it and embrace it. If it makes you feel any better, the 992 models of Porsche 911s also have owner's reporting the same thing. And some 991.2 models also - so it is not just a you thing or a BMW thing.

8262S · 10-14-2022, 09:10 AM

Thanks everyone.

I tried the sit and spin method last night in the garage. It didn’t work out so well.

Perhaps bc of my seat positioning I was not able to move my lower legs in — the bottom of my foot to knee is longer than the steering wheel column to floor. And I am average height.

I’ll see what the dealership says and report back.

No I am not super enthused with this wear after 3 months. But the rest of the car is fantastic!

Guess I am glad I didn’t get the bucket, huh? Every morning when I put my briefcase behind the drivers seat I think about wear on the back of the CF bucket. I’d guess that shiny finish, which looks great, is easily marred with even mild contact.

Forzanerazzurri · 10-19-2022, 12:01 PM

The crease is normal and will happen. The other stuff, not sure. Bolsters will wear fast if youre brushing them every time you get in and out. The problem is that these cars dont have comfort access. I just set up seat settings for 1 and 2 and 2 is the same but with the seat all the way back. Pain in the ass but hey the car was only 100k right?

superiaultra · 10-24-2022, 08:20 AM

I think it depends on a magnitude of things. How far your wheel is out, how close to the seat you are, if you have a M3 or M4, and how big you are. The sit and spin doesn’t work for me at all, I’ve owned all generation m3’s minus the F8X, and I do the one foot in, left hand on sill method. But if you are too close to the wheel and bigger guy, it’s inevitable you will hit that bolster.

10-12-2022, 10:14 PM	#1
8262S Captain 722 Rep 724 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Wear on driver's side bolster after 3 months I have standard sport seats in Tartufo. It is my DD. I have noticed that the driver's side bolster is showing some signs of wear from getting in and out of it. It also is getting a weird crease where it looks like the bolster gets compressed when getting into the seat. I try to be really gentle getting in and out of it. Has anyone else experienced this? Is there anything I can do to recondition or protect the leather? Or is this just a fact of life with a leather bolster like this? Ugh. Ugh again, why do some photos rotate when posted here…? Attached Images __________________ BMW M3 Competition xDrive, Dravit Grey over Tartufo Last edited by 8262S; 10-13-2022 at 07:04 AM..
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10-13-2022, 02:55 PM	#2
Wo-Wo Captain 297 Rep 701 Posts Drives: BMW M4 Comp Coupe Join Date: Jul 2013 Location: East Mids iTrader: (0)	I’d say that’s worthy of a warranty claim. __________________ Wo-Wo Detailing Accessories www.wo-wo.co.uk
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10-13-2022, 07:34 PM	#3
8262S Captain 722 Rep 724 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	I will be taking it in to have that looked at and make a warranty claim. But for those who have had their cars for 6+ months, does your car look like this? In the 3 months we have had this case, we have put 4,000 miles on it. __________________ BMW M3 Competition xDrive, Dravit Grey over Tartufo
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10-13-2022, 07:58 PM	#4
luckylingy Lieutenant Colonel 3234 Rep 1,661 Posts Drives: X3M Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Up North iTrader: (0)	For ingress, do you step-n-slide, or sit-n-spin? Over 40+ years I've had plenty of sport seats with prominent side bolsters. The step-n-slide approach produces the wear marks you're beginning to see. These days, in order to protect a bum hip as much as preserve the leather, I sit-n-spin. I drop my backside on the seat, lift myself off the seat as I rotate 90° to get my legs in, then settle back in the seat. Doing so applies the least friction on the outer side bolsters. No wear or creases anywhere after 11,000 miles / 11 months. I doubt your dealership or BMW USA will approve a warranty claim on that, as it's normal wear and tear (especially with softer leather with finer grain). Leatherique offers dyes to match any OEM color (BMW or otherwise); if you go that route, follow instructions and apply multiple, thin coats vs. a single thick coat. The creases are 'patina', I'm afraid.
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10-14-2022, 08:48 AM	#5
PHXATC Private First Class 82 Rep 104 Posts Drives: '22 911 '20 430i '20 Explorer Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Naples, FL iTrader: (0)	Some points to ponder: Do you have a feature (comfort? I can't keep up with every car's feature anymore) that allows your seat to be pushed back as far as it can when you enter and exit, or open/close the door? If so, maybe ensure that is on so you aren't brushing against the bolster. As was said above, it is the method you enter and exit the seat that is most likely causing the premature wear on the bolster. Use the sit and spin method as best you can. Along with the sit and spin method (that cracks me up every time I say it) ensure you have quality protection on not only the bolster, but the entire leather surface (and vinyl) on the seat. The leather is just dyed leather, no matter what it is marketed as. Painted, if you will, so you have rubbed some of the 'paint' off. Easily fixed either by yourself or the dealer. Speaking of dealer, if your car only has 4000 total miles on it and is only 3 months old, then I would deem this a warranty claim, if it were mine. They won't replace the entire seating surface, although they might repair it with some dye. The good thing is, you have light wear and it is very unnoticeable unless you're staring right at it. Fix it up, modify your ingress/egress a little to be more careful, and protect the leather going forward. If you're saying it is ridiculous to ask an owner to get in and out of a vehicle a certain way to prevent this early wear, then I agree, that is entirely silly when you have other manufacturers "leather" that can withstand much more abuse than simple ingress/egress. It is what it is, so work with it and embrace it. If it makes you feel any better, the 992 models of Porsche 911s also have owner's reporting the same thing. And some 991.2 models also - so it is not just a you thing or a BMW thing.
	Appreciate 1 Joachim328.00 Quote

10-14-2022, 09:10 AM	#6
8262S Captain 722 Rep 724 Posts Drives: G80 M3 Join Date: Dec 2021 Location: Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	Thanks everyone. I tried the sit and spin method last night in the garage. It didn’t work out so well. Perhaps bc of my seat positioning I was not able to move my lower legs in — the bottom of my foot to knee is longer than the steering wheel column to floor. And I am average height. I’ll see what the dealership says and report back. No I am not super enthused with this wear after 3 months. But the rest of the car is fantastic! Guess I am glad I didn’t get the bucket, huh? Every morning when I put my briefcase behind the drivers seat I think about wear on the back of the CF bucket. I’d guess that shiny finish, which looks great, is easily marred with even mild contact. __________________ BMW M3 Competition xDrive, Dravit Grey over Tartufo
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10-19-2022, 12:01 PM	#7
Forzanerazzurri Banned 6918 Rep 3,277 Posts Drives: E46 M3 Coupe/G80 M3CX Join Date: Jul 2021 Location: Alberta iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 BMW M3 Coupe [0.50] 2022 BMW M3 Competi ... [5.12]	The crease is normal and will happen. The other stuff, not sure. Bolsters will wear fast if youre brushing them every time you get in and out. The problem is that these cars dont have comfort access. I just set up seat settings for 1 and 2 and 2 is the same but with the seat all the way back. Pain in the ass but hey the car was only 100k right?
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10-24-2022, 08:20 AM	#8
superiaultra First Lieutenant 248 Rep 372 Posts Drives: Red M3 Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nevada iTrader: (2)	I think it depends on a magnitude of things. How far your wheel is out, how close to the seat you are, if you have a M3 or M4, and how big you are. The sit and spin doesn’t work for me at all, I’ve owned all generation m3’s minus the F8X, and I do the one foot in, left hand on sill method. But if you are too close to the wheel and bigger guy, it’s inevitable you will hit that bolster.
	Appreciate 0 Quote