Help: Crack in Leather

mrkirsch23 · 01-30-2014, 08:35 PM

So living in Indiana we have had negative weather the past couple of days. My car was in the shop today and when I picked it up today I saw this! A crack in the driver seat. Idk if it was someone at the shop with a sharp item on them and it cut the leather or if its normal wear. I have an 09 e90 and the rest of the seats look brand new.

Regardless i'm not going to point fingers. I just want to fix it and stop it from cracking more. (The crack is about 2.5 inches long) Any ideas? Anything helps. Thanks guys.

Maniac0908 · 01-30-2014, 08:47 PM

I have a scratch on mine too. Would like to know how to fix. Mines not a tear. Just a scratch

alexwhittemore · 01-30-2014, 09:06 PM

That looks like it's actually leatherette, and it looks like a crack and NOT cut (so no fault of the shop). This also tends to happen on the driver's seat first, since the driver's seat is the most used one (every time the car is driven. Hopefully.)

It happened to my driver's seat as well, half way down the side panel of the bottom cover. Basically, if you sit down on the edge of the seat (as if to swing your legs in), it folds nearly in half against the plastic trim, and over time that wore mine through. I was still under warranty, one dealer said the warranty claim got denied and another dealer replaced it no problem.

As far as repair, there are vinyl seat repair kits that look promising, for example http://www.autogeek.net/3m-leather-vinyl-kit.html, but I've never personally tried them.

mike3000fl · 01-30-2014, 10:23 PM

Unless you know what you are doing those vinyls kits can make things look bad fast. I would find a good auto upholstery place in the bad part of down. Seen some amazing repairs.

MDesmond · 01-31-2014, 12:32 AM

I've used a Leather Magic Dye Conditioner for Dakota Black with some success on a spot that was wearing as you get into the driver seat and where the seat belt plastic guide rubs the leather... Haven't used "repair" material for a crack - this company seems betters than some others...

Teeeg28 · 01-31-2014, 02:32 AM

I am starting to noticing cracking in my aswell

tmdals0213 · 01-31-2014, 05:12 AM

you should start applying PERL http://www.autogeek.net/perl-coat.html for "protective measures"

NOT for the fix.

critical05 · 01-31-2014, 06:28 AM

Can't help with the crack but for the scratched leather, you can buy leather specific paint for touch up work. I found an european company that sells thru ebay. They had pigment already matched up for the bmw black leather.

You get a small vile and you just dab it on, i used a small artist brush. The part you touch is painted leather anyways.

f0xfire021 · 01-31-2014, 10:14 AM

I have an 09 as well, with leatherette, and have a crack on my driver's seat that looks identical to yours. I'd rule out that the shop did it, it's a common area to crack as others have noted. Best bet would be an upholstery shop or try and get it fixed under warranty. I was told that CPO does not cover it :\

01-30-2014, 08:35 PM	#1
mrkirsch23 Registered 2 Rep 3 Posts Drives: 2008 E90 M3 Join Date: Oct 2013 Location: Bay Area, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 BMW 328i [0.00]	Help: Crack in Leather So living in Indiana we have had negative weather the past couple of days. My car was in the shop today and when I picked it up today I saw this! A crack in the driver seat. Idk if it was someone at the shop with a sharp item on them and it cut the leather or if its normal wear. I have an 09 e90 and the rest of the seats look brand new. Regardless i'm not going to point fingers. I just want to fix it and stop it from cracking more. (The crack is about 2.5 inches long) Any ideas? Anything helps. Thanks guys. Attached Images
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01-30-2014, 08:47 PM	#2
Maniac0908 Major 167 Rep 1,416 Posts Drives: Alpine White 07 335xi Sedan Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Towson, MD iTrader: (2)	I have a scratch on mine too. Would like to know how to fix. Mines not a tear. Just a scratch
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01-30-2014, 09:06 PM	#3
alexwhittemore Lieutenant Colonel 110 Rep 1,951 Posts Drives: 2009 Crimson 328i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	That looks like it's actually leatherette, and it looks like a crack and NOT cut (so no fault of the shop). This also tends to happen on the driver's seat first, since the driver's seat is the most used one (every time the car is driven. Hopefully.) It happened to my driver's seat as well, half way down the side panel of the bottom cover. Basically, if you sit down on the edge of the seat (as if to swing your legs in), it folds nearly in half against the plastic trim, and over time that wore mine through. I was still under warranty, one dealer said the warranty claim got denied and another dealer replaced it no problem. As far as repair, there are vinyl seat repair kits that look promising, for example http://www.autogeek.net/3m-leather-vinyl-kit.html, but I've never personally tried them. __________________
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-30-2014, 10:23 PM	#4
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	Unless you know what you are doing those vinyls kits can make things look bad fast. I would find a good auto upholstery place in the bad part of down. Seen some amazing repairs.
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01-31-2014, 12:32 AM	#5
MDesmond Enlisted Member 0 Rep 36 Posts Drives: 2009 328i Sedan 6MT Join Date: Dec 2013 Location: DFW iTrader: (0)	I've used a Leather Magic Dye Conditioner for Dakota Black with some success on a spot that was wearing as you get into the driver seat and where the seat belt plastic guide rubs the leather... Haven't used "repair" material for a crack - this company seems betters than some others...
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 02:32 AM	#6
Teeeg28 Banned 48 Rep 519 Posts Drives: E90 "328i" N51 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: San Diego a.k.a. A Whales Vagina // Cal State San Marcos iTrader: (0)	I am starting to noticing cracking in my aswell
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01-31-2014, 05:12 AM	#7
tmdals0213 Major 211 Rep 1,407 Posts Drives: 2016 340i M-Sport Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: amazon.com/prime iTrader: (2)	you should start applying PERL http://www.autogeek.net/perl-coat.html for "protective measures" NOT for the fix. __________________ Diligentia Vis Celeritas
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01-31-2014, 06:28 AM	#8
critical05 First Lieutenant 36 Rep 311 Posts Drives: E92 335xi 6 spd Join Date: May 2012 Location: IA iTrader: (0)	Can't help with the crack but for the scratched leather, you can buy leather specific paint for touch up work. I found an european company that sells thru ebay. They had pigment already matched up for the bmw black leather. You get a small vile and you just dab it on, i used a small artist brush. The part you touch is painted leather anyways.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-31-2014, 10:14 AM	#9
f0xfire021 Private 8 Rep 86 Posts Drives: '09 e91 328xiT \| 6mt Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: North iTrader: (0)	I have an 09 as well, with leatherette, and have a crack on my driver's seat that looks identical to yours. I'd rule out that the shop did it, it's a common area to crack as others have noted. Best bet would be an upholstery shop or try and get it fixed under warranty. I was told that CPO does not cover it :\
	Appreciate 0 Quote