Punch-Black leather peeling issue

[Noegel]

I've had my 2008 MINI Cooper S for about five months now, and the driver-side leather is peeling! Just a small circle, right where my butt would be sitting. Thing is... I don't carry a wallet.

I was wondering if this could be replaced under warranty. I clean my leather with Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil and Leatherique Pristine Clean, so there is no problem with the quality of my leather cleaners. I oiled them twice already and cleaned them once a month, so why is this top layer peeling?

The passenger seat is used almost as often as my driver seat, so there shouldn't be any issues retrieving a new seat, right? This isn't normal wear-and-tear, it has only been 13,000 miles... at this rate, the seat will be shredded by 100k!

Hopefully it won't be too bad at the dealer... anyone else experience this?

[djam43]

Yes I believe that is a flaw in the leather, I have a 07 with the same leather with no issues. I believe that would be covered under warrenty.

[tazio]

leatherette ftmfw!!

[RJKimbell]

Definitely a Warranty Issue!! Even the Leatherette had some problems with the Seat and Side Bolster's. They were replaced under warranty. I did not have this problem personally, just thought I'd pass along the info.

[misslindsey]

My dealer is awesome; the front of my passenger seat (cloth) got a little lumpy, like the stuffing was moving, and they put a new cover on the seat for me. I'd think peeling on properly-cared for leather seats would definatly fall under warranty. I expected them to either tell me that they couldn't fix it or pull the cover off, poke at the seat, and put it back on.

[konstantinos88]

It's very likely your dealer will replace it, no charge. If not, try the next closest dealers. Let us know!

[Noegel]

Whew! What a relief! I didn't notice it until I was detailing my car again, and I noticed peel! I was very angry.

Hopefully they don't give me too much smack... I'll just point out the rest of my interior. I know they won't be able to use the "Lack of Maintenance" argument... I'll force them to massage and stroke my luscious passenger seat!

Thanks for the responses, NAM! I'll drive up to San Antonio on my next day off!

[TheBigNewt]

Could you take a photo of your problem area on that seat for others to make note of?

[Noegel]

Photos sometime tomorrow hopefully.... just got off a 13 hour shift... paperwork.... but good fun before the report-writing!

I'll try to take a picture tomorrow... the problem area is small.

[melman8r]

My Punch black leather seat peeled after 2 months, the dealership replaced both the seat and the seatback covers under warranty. It just so happens that it is doing it again, the dealership told me they will not replace it again. We'll see... Next month I'm going to mention it again. They can bring the rep in if they like to look at it, but the bottom line is that this car is alot more trouble than my VW GTI and it's only 6 months old.

[Noegel]

UPDATE

Pictures Below:





They will surely cover this under warranty... you probably can't tell in the fuzzy pictures, but these seats are soft and luxurious. You can tell I take care of them. Leatherique Pristine Clean and Rejuvenator Oil ROCKS!

Sorry for the crumbs in the pictures... wife had an exploding bag of bread... long story.

[ColinMc]

I'm sure this will be covered under warrantee...but the same thing started happening to my 10 year old Taurus SHO after I used a different leather cleaner than I had before(so it happened all of a sudden on old leather seats and on the rear seat that no one ever sat in)...you sure your love obsession with Leatherique isn't causing problems?

[Noegel]

Um, no... the passenger side seat is absolutely flawless, and I've never used anything else on the car. The leather isn't old Ford leather, it certainly is a fine leather, better than the leather in any new Japanese cars I've been in recently.

This isn't old leather, it is brand new, and it shouldn't be acting like this, even if you alter cleaning products. I don't know leather too much, but it just doesn't sound right.

[ColinMc]

Lol, ok. Well my old ford leather seats didn't have any problems until changing leather cleaners after 10 years since the one i used to like was unavailable. Yours are peeling after how long?

So quality of the leathers aside...I know from when I had seats custom upholstered for my RX7 a few places I went to had leathers that had a coating on them to help make the leather last longer usually used in the seating/backing inserts. It looks like that is what's peeling off on your seat just from looking at the picture. It looks like the cleaner is getting under that coating around the perforations and lifting that coating off, then the rejuvinator is making things worse. Then the fact that you use that seat all the time is wearing off the coating that is weakened. Obviously i'm not certain that's what is happening, but it is one thing I was warned about with my RX7 seats from my upholsterer too. So take it for what it is...you can get this fixed under warrantee i'm sure but don't be surprised if it happens again in another 5 or 6 months. I'm not trying to be a jerk just telling you what has happened with my experiences and leather so it hopefully doesn't happen again.

[ClubmanS]

The leather in these cars is garbage. They should be giving you top quality hide for the asking price. Same thing with the 1st gen cars. Go leatherette or cloth. Much better and no added cost.

[ClubmanS]

You have to be careful when using leather cleaners because all leathers do not react in the same way or favorably to different formulations.

I would get the seat cover replaced under warranty and then get in touch with a local business that cleans and restores leather furniture and leather car seats for a more professional opinion on the type of cleaners you should use and how to go about cleaning them.

[ClubmanS]

Originally Posted by Noegel

UPDATE

Pictures Below:





They will surely cover this under warranty... you probably can't tell in the fuzzy pictures, but these seats are soft and luxurious. You can tell I take care of them. Leatherique Pristine Clean and Rejuvenator Oil ROCKS!

Sorry for the crumbs in the pictures... wife had an exploding bag of bread... long story.

Those seats look like they are 3 or 4 years old. Get the covers replaced

I'll post a pic of my leatherette seats on my 4 year old 2005 MCS. They still look new.

[dgcooks]

Originally Posted by ClubmanS

The leather in these cars is garbage. They should be giving you top quality hide for the asking price. Same thing with the 1st gen cars. Go leatherette or cloth. Much better and no added cost.

are there any issues like this with the other leather options or only the punch black? specifically the lounge carbon or tuscan beige?

[djam43]

To me, it looks like some type of chemical reaction / spillage in the area where it is ????. . I cant help notice that there is no damage in any other of the seat. An inspection of the underside would reveal more. I hope they replace it , for your sake. I have the punch black for 2 years now with no problems.

[melman8r]

UPDATE:

Mine has been replaced once already top and bottom, both are worn again. Mini refuses to acknowledge an issue. Mini is willing to "goodwill" the bottom portion for one last time, that's not good enough. I want both replaced, after all I will now be responsible for the seats in the future if I take their offer. What if three months from now the seam comes apart? I'm liable, they are taking no risk.

The dealer will NOT go to bat for me either. Very disappointing. I will be speaking with Mini.

[iwashmycar]

Originally Posted by ClubmanS

You have to be careful when using leather cleaners because all leathers do not react in the same way or favorably to different formulations.

I would get the seat cover replaced under warranty and then get in touch with a local business that cleans and restores leather furniture and leather car seats for a more professional opinion on the type of cleaners you should use and how to go about cleaning them.

gotta be very careful with cleaning products and all this stuff thats supposed to 'protect' and 'moisturize' it

I wouldnt apply any chemicals but once every few months... Softening it up too much will make it crease and crack prematurely, and probably even separate like that..

nothing wrong with a simple wipe-down with a soapy-water like product

[im1hapa]

Does Mini sell their own leather care products? I have seen Mini car wash, Mini wheel brushes, etc. at the dealer as I wait for my car to come out of service.

[Noegel]

Well, the dealer said this is a common issue with the Punch Black Leather..... hence, there is a two-month backorder on the product!

Jeez, had I known, I would have purchased the Lounge Leather... felt it in the show room on a Clubman, and the leather feels significantly more substantial.

Ah, well. At least it is warrantied.

[melman8r]

Originally Posted by Noegel

Well, the dealer said this is a common issue with the Punch Black Leather..... hence, there is a two-month backorder on the product!

Jeez, had I known, I would have purchased the Lounge Leather... felt it in the show room on a Clubman, and the leather feels significantly more substantial.

Ah, well. At least it is warrantied.

Would you mind telling me the name of the Dealer that said that? I'm in a dispute with Mini USA right now over there decision not to replace my leather a SECOND time in 8 mos. They REFUSE to honor the warranty!

[Noegel]

MINI of San Antonio. It is on backorder, and they will replace it free of charge when it comes in.