R50/53 Defective Lapis Seats
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
Hello all,
I've read tons of posts on min2 re: defective lapis leather seats.
I've not seens any posts here, so I'm wondering if anyone here, who has lapis leather seats, has the same defective leather problems.
It only seems to occur in lapis leather seats from my research.
Here's the rub....
This problem occurs mostly on the drivers seat....in the seat section or to put it bluntly....(where your **** ...resides
)
The leather is no longer smooth, it seems to be streached, crinkly, and just unsightly.
It's not from constant use,,,as I've owned many..many..many cars with leather seats and they have never looked like this after only (3) months..... or 3 years
I've been to my dealer and 2 others here on Long Island, and no one is willing to replace this one seat or the damaged piece.I haven't given up yet,.....just for the record
Most of the posts on mini2 are from overseas mini's and they seem to be getting....results ....in that they have had their seats replaced...etc.
I know a couple of us here do have lapis seats, and was wondering ...
1.who....has this problem...????
and if so...
2.what have you done about it...????
Peace
D
I've read tons of posts on min2 re: defective lapis leather seats.
I've not seens any posts here, so I'm wondering if anyone here, who has lapis leather seats, has the same defective leather problems.
It only seems to occur in lapis leather seats from my research.
Here's the rub....
This problem occurs mostly on the drivers seat....in the seat section or to put it bluntly....(where your **** ...resides
)The leather is no longer smooth, it seems to be streached, crinkly, and just unsightly.
It's not from constant use,,,as I've owned many..many..many cars with leather seats and they have never looked like this after only (3) months..... or 3 years
I've been to my dealer and 2 others here on Long Island, and no one is willing to replace this one seat or the damaged piece.I haven't given up yet,.....just for the record
Most of the posts on mini2 are from overseas mini's and they seem to be getting....results ....in that they have had their seats replaced...etc.
I know a couple of us here do have lapis seats, and was wondering ...
1.who....has this problem...????
and if so...
2.what have you done about it...????
Peace
D
3rd Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 238
Likes: 0
From: Charlotte, NC
Hi D-
I don't have lapis seats... or any other part of a MINI yet, but I do remember reading about this topic here.
It sounds like you may have a case for getting the seats replaced under warranty. I guess you just have to be persistent and perhaps involve MiniUSA if necessary.
_________________
Now scheduled for production: PS/B Cooper with premium/sport pkgs, xenon headlights, CVT
I don't have lapis seats... or any other part of a MINI yet, but I do remember reading about this topic here.
It sounds like you may have a case for getting the seats replaced under warranty. I guess you just have to be persistent and perhaps involve MiniUSA if necessary.
_________________
Now scheduled for production: PS/B Cooper with premium/sport pkgs, xenon headlights, CVT
4th Gear
Joined: Sep 2002
Posts: 434
Likes: 0
Well thank god I have the reg leather seats in my MCS and not the lapis...I have had the seat frames on both the drivers and passenger seats replaced after they broke......I'm wondering if BMW gave any thought to the seats in the mini or if it was just an after thought...I realize they were trying to keep the price at under 20K on the basic models, but jeez don't think it would have been a stretch to put in some descent seats........
pug poo picker-upper
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 9,803
Likes: 30
From: California
I have 15,000 miles on my MINI, and haven't had any problem with the wear of my Lapis seats. I clean and condition them periodically. The leather quality is way better than the leather in my Jetta (which feels more like the MINI leatherette in comparison).
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,892
Likes: 0
From: Long Island, New York
went to the dealer today...finally....
to discuss my....less than perfect...lapis leather drivers seat.....
service mgr took 1 look....
and stated .." i'm definately ordering you a new seat"....
it was indeed a good day
problem...solved....(using my best inspector clouseau voice)
Peace
D
_________________
2002 MCS:pure silver/black top,lapis int.,all pkgs,17"ROH rims,
to discuss my....less than perfect...lapis leather drivers seat.....
service mgr took 1 look....
and stated .." i'm definately ordering you a new seat"....
it was indeed a good day
problem...solved....(using my best inspector clouseau voice)
Peace
D
_________________
2002 MCS:pure silver/black top,lapis int.,all pkgs,17"ROH rims,
3rd Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 156
Likes: 0
From: Redondo Beach
>>went to the dealer today...finally....
>>to discuss my....less than perfect...lapis leather drivers seat.....
Not to dispute that some cars do have real problems, but I only recall reading about one person who had problems with their Lapis-leather seat. They provided a picture, and the leather did, in fact, look "stretched". Just for the heck of it, last time I was at my local dealer I checked their "demo" MCS. They've been using the same vehicle for several months now, and it has the Lapis seats. My experience has always been that if it's possible to break something, it'll show up first in a "demo" car. They usually get "thrashed". The Lapis seats in the dealer's MCS looked beautiful (even though some of the other parts of the car had obviously seen some heavy-handed treatment).
Years ago, when I bought my Porsche 911, I noticed that many of the Porsches that I had seen had "prematurely stretched" leather seats. Even Turbo's, with only 5000 miles on them. Yet, after 15 years, the leather seats in my 911 still looked like new.
So, what do we make of all this?
1. Problems with leather seats are not unique to MINI's.
2. Not ALL Lapis seats have problems.
3. "Good Care" seems to increase the odds of the seats staying like new.
4. Even BMW (or Porsche) can have an occasional lapse in quality.
Any way; I've seen nothing that indicates there are intrinsic problems with the Lapis seats;
certainly nothing to make me change MY order! (...but it's nice to know that with a little prodding, BMW will replace defective seats!)
-DavidG
("soon" to be owner of Indi MCS, with Lapis-blue leather interior...)
>>to discuss my....less than perfect...lapis leather drivers seat.....
Not to dispute that some cars do have real problems, but I only recall reading about one person who had problems with their Lapis-leather seat. They provided a picture, and the leather did, in fact, look "stretched". Just for the heck of it, last time I was at my local dealer I checked their "demo" MCS. They've been using the same vehicle for several months now, and it has the Lapis seats. My experience has always been that if it's possible to break something, it'll show up first in a "demo" car. They usually get "thrashed". The Lapis seats in the dealer's MCS looked beautiful (even though some of the other parts of the car had obviously seen some heavy-handed treatment).
Years ago, when I bought my Porsche 911, I noticed that many of the Porsches that I had seen had "prematurely stretched" leather seats. Even Turbo's, with only 5000 miles on them. Yet, after 15 years, the leather seats in my 911 still looked like new.
So, what do we make of all this?
1. Problems with leather seats are not unique to MINI's.
2. Not ALL Lapis seats have problems.
3. "Good Care" seems to increase the odds of the seats staying like new.
4. Even BMW (or Porsche) can have an occasional lapse in quality.
Any way; I've seen nothing that indicates there are intrinsic problems with the Lapis seats;
certainly nothing to make me change MY order! (...but it's nice to know that with a little prodding, BMW will replace defective seats!)
-DavidG
("soon" to be owner of Indi MCS, with Lapis-blue leather interior...)
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Coordinator :: Alabama Motoring Society & South East
Joined: Nov 2002
Posts: 10,170
Likes: 2
From: Burning-Ham Alabama
>>The leather quality is way better than the leather in my Jetta (which feels more like the MINI leatherette in comparison).
The "Leather" seats in your Jetta were mostly leatherette with the "seating surfaces" only being actual leather, or that is what my manual for my GTI said. If you look closely, you can tell that most of the "leather" panels are actually not leather at all. But that's VW for you. . . .
The "Leather" seats in your Jetta were mostly leatherette with the "seating surfaces" only being actual leather, or that is what my manual for my GTI said. If you look closely, you can tell that most of the "leather" panels are actually not leather at all. But that's VW for you. . . .
Thread Starter
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6th Gear
Joined: Jul 2002
Posts: 1,892
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From: Long Island, New York
DaveG,
So, what do we make of all this?
1. Problems with leather seats are not unique to MINI's.
I agree
2. Not ALL Lapis seats have problems.
Also agree
3. "Good Care" seems to increase the odds of the seats staying like new.
Still agree
4. Even BMW (or Porsche) can have an occasional lapse in quality.
Yup, I continue to agree :smile:
There are several cases (I define several as 5 that I found on mini2 so far and a couple here to docuement the lapis "seat" problem ). Also may I add...I've spoken to (3) dealers locally here, who admit to replacing..."some" lapis seats, but will not comit to a number.
Now mine you..it's only been reported in the " ****" section of the seat,as I mentioned in an earlier post. This section is actually a relatively small piece of material. My seats are 100% perfect , except for that relatively small section. It was explained to me from a friend in the leather industry, that the shoulder/armpit of the cow has a less than optimum quality finish, and this is the reason for this wrinkled look. It seems to be more pronouned on the lapis color for some reason.
No reason for you to change your order.....as it's not a raging problem, but it truly does exist. Being forewarned is being forearmed.
Peace,
D
certainly nothing to make me change MY order! (...but it's nice to know that with a little prodding, BMW will replace defective seats!)
_________________
2002 MCS:pure silver/black top,lapis int.,all pkgs,17"ROH rims,
So, what do we make of all this?
1. Problems with leather seats are not unique to MINI's.
I agree
2. Not ALL Lapis seats have problems.
Also agree
3. "Good Care" seems to increase the odds of the seats staying like new.
Still agree
4. Even BMW (or Porsche) can have an occasional lapse in quality.
Yup, I continue to agree :smile:
There are several cases (I define several as 5 that I found on mini2 so far and a couple here to docuement the lapis "seat" problem ). Also may I add...I've spoken to (3) dealers locally here, who admit to replacing..."some" lapis seats, but will not comit to a number.
Now mine you..it's only been reported in the " ****" section of the seat,as I mentioned in an earlier post. This section is actually a relatively small piece of material. My seats are 100% perfect , except for that relatively small section. It was explained to me from a friend in the leather industry, that the shoulder/armpit of the cow has a less than optimum quality finish, and this is the reason for this wrinkled look. It seems to be more pronouned on the lapis color for some reason.
No reason for you to change your order.....as it's not a raging problem, but it truly does exist. Being forewarned is being forearmed.
Peace,
D
certainly nothing to make me change MY order! (...but it's nice to know that with a little prodding, BMW will replace defective seats!)
_________________
2002 MCS:pure silver/black top,lapis int.,all pkgs,17"ROH rims,
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