Gang,

I'm having a problem and I wonder if other Cooper and Cooper S owners are too. I occasionally have one or two rear seat passengers and I occasionally carry big items in the rear of my Mini. Appreciate my suprise when after only 7 months the hard plastic seat covers on the rear of my leatherette front seats are scratched from normal usage! I've had many cars over the years; 80 fairmont, 87 sentra, 90 celica, 99 Passat & 94 Legacy wagon and I have never had this problem! I've asked my mini dealer and they think that it could be the texture of the material.


My question, Does anyone that uses their MC or MCS regularly notice this problem? My worry is that the interior plastic will fall apart before the car is ready :smile:

 

Yes- I have also noticed that the plastic rear shells of the front seat backs scratch rather easily.

 

It's really tough, I'm wondering if I can get a seat cover that works with the Air bags that will protect the seats from damage!

 

Just a tid bit of information. As of July 2003 production, MINI has replaced the scratch prone front seat plastic back covers with a much improved version of the plastic that now it is much, much more scratch resistant .

The new plastic covers are made of the same exact plastic texture material as found in the dashboard and door panels (Grained texture).

If you are waiting for a new 2004 MINI, it will already come with the new improved plastic seat covers. If you get the old scratchy ones replaced under warranty, you will get the new improved covers.

 

Coopers4us!

Cool!

_________________
'03 MC Pure Silver/Black #1,#3 Stock 16"

 

I can get seat backs replaced under warrenty if I have scrathes? Can someone confirm that? Has someone had it done?

 

Yeah... it's a scratchy situation.

My glove compartment got scratched from transporting my laundry in the front seat--thankfully, however, they werent' scratches so much as they were scuffs and I was able to rub out most of the damage. But travelling cross country with a thoroughly laden cargo area has left it's mark on the backs of my seats--they're ALLLLLLLL scratched up. I've tried several times but can't rub off the marks, so I assume they're there for good. I was sad about it for a few days, but I'm trying to look at them as battle scars and conversation pieces.

Good to hear MINI corrected the plastic for future models, though :smile:

 

I carry a baritone sax in the back of my MINI regularly, and it's over some twisty roads...

The result - scratches everywhere - backs of front seats, plastic panel on the inside of the hatch, etc... Yeah, they're scars of "experience", but maybe I'll look into replacement panels at some point in the future (or pad the OUTSIDE of my sax case)...

Has anybody found a good way of tying cargo down in the back of the MINI?

 

>>I carry a baritone sax in the back of my MINI regularly, and it's over some twisty roads...
>>
>>The result - scratches everywhere - backs of front seats, plastic panel on the inside of the hatch, etc... Yeah, they're scars of "experience", but maybe I'll look into replacement panels at some point in the future (or pad the OUTSIDE of my sax case)...
>>

Kewl, a Bari Sax being hauled arond in a MINI. My tenor fits very nicely in the boot without putting the seats down. I carry it in a gig bag, though. If I used the hard case it probably wouldn't fit. If I were gonna get scratches on my seat backs, I would want them from sAx......

 

>>Coopers4us!
>>
>>Cool!
>>
>>_________________
>>'03 MC Pure Silver/Black #1,#3 Stock 16"

Go to http://www.mini2.com. Do a search in their general discussion forums. There are pics in there showing the old and new plastic back seat covers.

 

Hey n_l,

A soft case would probably help with your baritone sax.

My snowboard scuffed the pastic seats and panels the first time I went riding with the Mini! for the rest of the season, I used my soft snowboard bag which I used when riding the west coast mountains. I got the yakima roof rack for my bike/board. Still doesn't help if I carry any bulky items...

 

I have the same problem. It doesn't take much to scratch the seat backs. I was pulling a cardboard box out of the back through the DS door (i couldn't lay the seat down at the time) and scratched the seat back.
So, does anyone really know if this is covered under warranty?

 

What about the door handles...we haven't talked about those yet. My passenger handles (darn passengers!!! ) are picking up a # of scratches just from normal use. I wish there were something like a clear bra for door handles!!

_________________
'03 IB/W Cooper

 

JDS,

I agree, The door handles are getting scuffed from passengers. The Driver side door handle has one scratch from my key !!! :smile:

-Ade

 

>>What about the door handles...we haven't talked about those yet. My passenger handles (darn passengers!!! ) are picking up a # of scratches just from normal use. I wish there were something like a clear bra for door handles!!
>>
>>_________________
>>'03 IB/W Cooper

SOMEONE REALLY NEEDS TO MAKE THIS! Lamin-X should make a shield for the downtubes and door pulls! Also I can confirm the seat thing. When I was working at the dealership, new cars were coming in with the new seat backs.

 

MINI replaced the passenger side silver painted door panel thingy under warranty in my MCS. Just insist that your dealer do it. It's a warranty item. I've got scuffed, scratched seatbacks, too, so I'm interested to hear if anyone's had them replaced under warranty.

 

Im going in for service on the 9th, I am going to see about getting the seat back replaced...

 

Reading this, I am going to call the dealer and ask for warranty replacement. The plastic back of my MCS passenger front leather seat is totally ruined by scratches. It looks like a 10 year old car, and I got it May 03. I will provide an update after talking with the Mini dealer in Denver.

 

>>MINI replaced the passenger side silver painted door panel thingy under warranty in my MCS. Just insist that your dealer do it. It's a warranty item. I've got scuffed, scratched seatbacks, too, so I'm interested to hear if anyone's had them replaced under warranty.
>>
>>


I am getting one Silver door panel and one dashboard downtube replaced under warranty on Monday. I am so glad I got the Anthracite trim in my '04 MCS, because the Silver trim (The parts that have no lacquer) are of very poor durability and quality.

I do not understand why MINI did not put 2 coats of lacquer in those parts subject to more use and wear such as the inside door pulls (Tubes) and the dashboard center tubes.

 

I am sure we will see that laquer on future cars. Its only a matter of time, and number of complaints/warranty replacements.

 

My seatbacks are all scratched and scuffed...from my kids' feet as they sit in the carseats. As much as I'm dismayed by the easily scratched plastic back there, there's just no way that I could see MINI doing anything about my seatbacks under warranty. I mean, if the owner didn't do something (even if only by accident) to scratch them, they wouldn't be scratched. It's not like I'm in the habit of sticking up for BMW-MINI and the poor quality of some MINI components...but this one (getting seat backs replaced under warranty) seems sort of over the top.

 

I thoguht about that too jsun. Can Mini really be held responsibly? Then I thought about all the other cars I've owned and how the plastic parts looks held up over YEARS. The did not look ugly and worn like my MINI looks in just the first month!

The parts that MINI has used for these seats are of inferior quality. MINI engineers recognize this problem and thus they have changed the parts for 04my as per info gathered by other posters. They should be be fair and compensate '03 and '02 owners who are discovering these issues. It would be the right thing to do.





_________________
'03 MC Pure Silver/Black #1,#3 Stock 16"

 

Whats the point of the plastic parts on the back of the front seats anyways. I was doing my second test drive of an MCS (because this wait is killing me) and I had a chance to sit in the back for a good 20 mins (Im 6'2 and it didnt bother me, had plenty of room to be comfortable) and I didnt like those pieces because my knee would sometimes brush past them and what not. I just assume that I will take them out unless they provide some critical service to the car. So what do they do?

 

May the force be with you. Let us know how it goes.

 

>>
>>May the force be with you. Let us know how it goes.


I traded the MC in for an MCS. The dealer took the car in "as is" and did not care about the scratches or scuffs.

I did ask the dealer here in the Boston area and they told me that they had never replaced the seat backs or had anyone complain to them about it. The also told me that it will not be covered under warranty.

Thirdly, my 2004 MCS DOES NOT have different plastic from the '03 MC I traded in. This time round, I'll make sure I'm more careful. Can you say seat covers???? :smile: