[Lucky13]

I would never do the rubbing alcohol on all the seats and only did it on 2 cars that had stains , cracks and fairly bad wear areas. The area in the OP picture is the same area I fixed on my 335 convertible with decent results. Added the color back to the areas like his where the top layer is basically gone. Yes the seats have a urethane/vinyl coating but obviously in a high wear area it gets removed pretty quick and exposes the leather. By all means try and get the dealer to repair it but based on that picture in any ther year or two you’ll end up needing some leather dye.

[mdputnam]

Attention People!
Apparently your BMW dealer did not go over the proper way to enter the car so as not to damage the side bolster

[Rayscott]

Most cars with leather I detail have this condition. Most of my customers have no clue as to why this happens.

[Sportstick]

Three years old!



You guys are animals!!

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

On top of bolster I just meant so your seat itself looks better. I've had cars with a wallet shaped dent worn into the actual seat.

Heh! And my chiropractor keeps telling me to put my wallet in my front pocket. I guess she knows more about cars than I thought.

[3.0L]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Three years old!

Oh yeah? How about 3 years, 6 months old. Heh!

[p912guy]

Originally Posted by Sportstick

Three years old!



You guys are animals!!

Just an FYI, it's not the OP's seat bottom bolster that is showing wear, it's the seat back bolster.

[Cumberlandjames]

I have the same thing on my 2016 M235. Noticed it last year with low mileage but assumed it was wear due to something I did. Not too impressed that a piece that will be subjected to repeated abrasion wears so easily. First car ever to have this. Has gotten slightly worse as time goes on. I keep dosing it with leather conditioner to try to keep it soft and pliable.

[aaaaah]

Mine has the beginnings of this at 24000 miles from the previous owner. The way I get in and out of the car doesn't have me touching the bolster.

Though I have thought about removing the buttons from my back pockets a few times

[cxp213]

Thankfully, the previous owner of mine took pretty good care of it. I have some light crease marks on the bolster but that's about all.

[CAMOETO]

I had this happen on some of my prior cars. I've learned to get into the seat without sliding on the bolster, no more abnormal bolster wear.

[XutvJet]

This is user error. I'm 6' 2" 175lbs and take care when getting in and out of the seat has to not rub against the upper and lower bolsters. Constant dragging of the body and clothes, can and often will damage the leather, especially on cars with deep upper bolsters. My driver's seat is perfect after nearly two years of use. My passenger seat has an abrasion in the area everyone is noting. The source? A 12 y/o son that got into the seat with his backpack on.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by XutvJet

This is user error. I'm 6' 2" 175lbs and take care when getting in and out of the seat has to not rub against the upper and lower bolsters. Constant dragging of the body and clothes, can and often will damage the leather, especially on cars with deep upper bolsters. My driver's seat is perfect after nearly two years of use. My passenger seat has an abrasion in the area everyone is noting. The source? A 12 y/o son that got into the seat with his backpack on.

It can happen with just one thing like that.

I was once pulled over driving home in my boxer shorts. Reason being was that I was in my father's convertible with grey leather, and the button on the back of my jeans broke leaving a sharp piece of metal on the back. After explaining to the cop he sent me on my way with an "ummmm... whatever you say. Just get home safely"

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

It can happen with just one thing like that.

I was once pulled over driving home in my boxer shorts. Reason being was that I was in my father's convertible with grey leather, and the button on the back of my jeans broke leaving a sharp piece of metal on the back. After explaining to the cop he sent me on my way with an "ummmm... whatever you say. Just get home safely"

Oh my F

Gotta watch the ladies bedazzle jeans!!! Ouchiee

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Dylan86

Oh my F

Gotta watch the ladies bedazzle jeans!!! Ouchiee

Ha - nope they were just normal jeans with a back pocket with a button. Nothing too crazy, sad to say.

Bedazzle - that reminds me. You guys see the Top Gear where they had to buy the best used car for the price of the cheapest new car? Hammond got an 8-series with snot and fecal matter in it, and Clarkson had "white powder" a rhinestone and vaginal fluid, speculated to be a vagazzle.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by BEM-S4

Ha - nope they were just normal jeans with a back pocket with a button. Nothing too crazy, sad to say.

Bedazzle - that reminds me. You guys see the Top Gear where they had to buy the best used car for the price of the cheapest new car? Hammond got an 8-series with snot and fecal matter in it, and Clarkson had "white powder" a rhinestone and vaginal fluid, speculated to be a vagazzle.

Remember that one, for sure! I met the Top Gear team recently at Area27, in Oliver BC, they loved the course (who wouldn't?). You should be seeing an episode soon!

[Fugly M3]

From the soon to be released next gen operating manual...

Entering Car Procedure (Left hand drive):

1. Park where you can properly open the door. Doors are properly opened at second or third notches. (Note that this also avoids door dings.)
2. Open door completely, or at least two of three notches.
3. Step in door gap area.
4. Turn body so that pelvis is facing directly outward toward opened door while butt is facing toward interior of car. (Hips will be aligned parallel to the rocker panel with right hip facing forward and left hip facing rearward.)
5. Ensure that left hip will clear seat back bolster before sitting down.
6. Sit down.
7. Lift feet into car (note that if door is properly opened, feet will not scrape/scuff door panel) as you rotate clockwise toward seated position. Ensure legs are elevated enough during this process to avoid seat bottom bolster wear.
8. You may elect to hold steering wheel/use armrest to slightly lift your butt as you turn so as to avoid wear on bottom of seat. This is optional but will be much appreciated by you and your seats if you're wearing more abrasive/color bleeding clothing...i.e., jeans. (Note that armrest and steering wheel wear will result, but that wear here is more acceptable and more easily remedied as replacements are less costly than seat repairs).
9. Commence to "Starting Car Procedure."

Note that failure to follow proper "Entering Car Procedure" may result in your new vehicle warranty being partially or completely voided.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci

Note that failure to follow proper "Entering Car Procedure" may result in your new vehicle warranty being partially or completely voided.

Ha - should see me when I go car shopping for dad. It's bad enough to see an old man who can't really move that well anymore get in and out of a car, but imagine someone 30 years younger and 50 lbs lighter impersonating that old person when getting in and out of cars for test drives.

More than once a dealer has spotted me in a showroom and asked me what the hell I was doing when I put the seat all the way back then tried to get in without bending my left leg at all while grabbing the roof and balancing on a cane I obviously don't need but bring along for "dad testing" purposes.

[Kolyan2k]

Mine was replaced under warranty, then i coded in "easy entry" or whatever to move the seat back, no more issues with bolster.

[snaketh]

Originally Posted by Kolyan2k

Mine was replaced under warranty, then i coded in "easy entry" or whatever to move the seat back, no more issues with bolster.

How did you swing that with the dealer? I'd imagine most dealers would claim wear and tear.

Even people with messed up headrests didn't always get a replacement from the dealer.

[3.0L]

Bottom (no pun intended) line is that some folks are rougher
on cars than others.

[Tpeterson]

Originally Posted by E46M54325Ci

From the soon to be released next gen operating manual...

Entering Car Procedure (Left hand drive):

1. Park where you can properly open the door. Doors are properly opened at second or third notches. (Note that this also avoids door dings.)
2. Open door completely, or at least two of three notches.
3. Step in door gap area.
4. Turn body so that pelvis is facing directly outward toward opened door while butt is facing toward interior of car. (Hips will be aligned parallel to the rocker panel with right hip facing forward and left hip facing rearward.)
5. Ensure that left hip will clear seat back bolster before sitting down.
6. Sit down.
7. Lift feet into car (note that if door is properly opened, feet will not scrape/scuff door panel) as you rotate clockwise toward seated position. Ensure legs are elevated enough during this process to avoid seat bottom bolster wear.
8. You may elect to hold steering wheel/use armrest to slightly lift your butt as you turn so as to avoid wear on bottom of seat. This is optional but will be much appreciated by you and your seats if you're wearing more abrasive/color bleeding clothing...i.e., jeans. (Note that armrest and steering wheel wear will result, but that wear here is more acceptable and more easily remedied as replacements are less costly than seat repairs).
9. Commence to "Starting Car Procedure."

Note that failure to follow proper "Entering Car Procedure" may result in your new vehicle warranty being partially or completely voided.

This is what I try to do whenever getting in my car. I had very much wear on the side bolster on my previous BMW with sport seats. It seems very dorky, but it is effective.