So I bought a used 06 mini cooper with gray leatherette seats last Saturday. Today I noticed a nice 1.5 inch part along the seam which is ripped. Looks like someone noticed this (dealer or previous owner) and snipped the extra thread off. Either way I wasn't the one to do it and I am beyond ticked off.

Anyways, I was wondering if anyone had ideas on how to fix it? I don't want it to separate more but I don't want it to be visible. Id probably consider superglue but there must be something better out there that is not terribly visible?

Any help you can give me is great. I hate having spent so much money and something like this happen. If I do a stupid that is one thing but hiding this from me is another! grrr....

 

Mmmm... I guess you could always stitch it back together yourself? Super Glue just sounds like a mess waiting to happen.

Honestly, this sounds like one of those things that bugs the hell out of you until you get used to it... either that, or the car catches a real problem which puts an unraveling seam firmly in perspective. This is coming from a fellow perfectionist, mind you.

 

I considered doing that but because they cut the thread so short it will just keep going. I'm really good with a needle and thread but its in a difficult place to sew and not the easiest stitch to do.

You cant really see it but I am afraid it will get worse if I leave it.

 

I would suggest, since you know how to sew, using a very small ammount of apoxy (clear or color match) to seal the tear & keep it from unravling the fabric more. Wait for it to dry. Then sew the seam to match the rest of the stitching in the seat.

I say use apoxy because of the flexibility it has over super glue. Super glue gets very brittle very fast & in some cases will eat plastic.

If nothing else, I would suggest sealing the raw edge of the tear with apoxy to keep it from fraying any further.

 

Consider having it fixed by a professional.

Most auto dealers either have someone on staff or an outside contractor who does upholsery repair. Call local dealers (not just MINI) and ask them for assistance in finding someone who does their work.

 

Something like this happened to my old Integra, I had a local upholstery shop fix it for $20. No worries.