Ok, so when I took a look at my MCS (and I was THE first person to take
the plastic off since it arrived), I noticed my leather seats look wrinkled
(drivers more than passenger). I told my dealer I wanted the seat replaced,
but he said this is "normal" and indeed, most of the cars on the lot
were about the same. I know this is a common Mini problem, he said
they cannot replace it until it physically tears or something.

Although, I haven't taken delivery yet, sooooo. Can I demand they fix,
am I being an A##hole about this??? I've owned many cars with leather,
and am not used to seeing this normally...

Note the pic

 

Well no 2 pieces of leather will have the same exact pater. I suggest trying leather from a younger cow, possible the cow that was used to make your driver seat was and older cow that smoked and drank to much. :smile:

_________________
The truth shall set you free

 

Just to offer some additional confirmation....

On Friday I saw similar (or worse) wrinkled leather on seats of 2 brand new MCSs at my local MINI dealer in Arlington, TX. I don't think I would like the look.

 

If you want my honest opinion, the leather seating option offered in the MINI is a blatant rip-off for the $1,300 asking price. I have seen it feel it and it is pure plastic in feeling.

Both of my MINIs were ordered with the $0 cost standard black Leatherette seats. No wrinkles, no problems, love them.

My wife's '02 Cooper has leatherette seats and still look brand new after 15 months and 19K miles of use.

I cringe at the tought of how the expensive plasti-leather seats will look like at the same age and mileage.


All leather equipped mINI seats look wrinkled and that is the way it is. Your only other option is to forgo taking delivery and ordering another car with Leatherette or Sport Cloth seats. Not sure if that is a feasible option for you since your car is already at the dealership.

 

Also, let me add that if you don't like the way your brand new Lapis Blue Leather seats look now, you wil not be a happy camper in 5K or 10K miles when they are used and worn out more.


Think about it. Save the $1,300 and order another car. Very tough call. Either that or prepare to live unhappy with low quality cowhide seats.

 

hey matt.

mine are the same way. i have a feeling you are going to have to live with it. good luck.

chad

 

>>Ok, so when I took a look at my MCS (and I was THE first person to take
>>the plastic off since it arrived), I noticed my leather seats look wrinkled
>>(drivers more than passenger). I told my dealer I wanted the seat replaced,
>>but he said this is "normal" and indeed, most of the cars on the lot
>>were about the same. I know this is a common Mini problem, he said
>>they cannot replace it until it physically tears or something.
>>
>>Although, I haven't taken delivery yet, sooooo. Can I demand they fix,
>>am I being an A##hole about this??? I've owned many cars with leather,
>>and am not used to seeing this normally...
>>
>>Note the pic
>>
>>

I don't mean to sound insensitive, but why did you order the lapis leather, knowining there has been so much talk on this site about the wrinkle problems.

On the other hand, I have leather in my suburban and it is wrinkled and looks great, makes it look more plush, the way leather should look.

If the leather is stretched so tight to look like Joan Rivers face, it will look plastic. I have seen the photos of the seats that owners have complained about and they don't look bad in my opinion. Leather naturally stretches. If it didn't it would probably tear.

Your seats are probably fine too, so just enjoy them. BTW I will be getting the cloth or leatherette when I order mine.

 

>>hey matt.
>>
>>mine are the same way. i have a feeling you are going to have to live with it. good luck.
>>
>>chad

Mine are the same way also. If it becomes a problem I will have the seat portion redone with some better quality leather. But you really don't see it in my MCS as my but is in the way.

Earl

 

I successfulyl had mine replaced under warranty after speaking to a BMW representative.

Link to MINI2 Thread

 

I don't think there is a problem. Leather isn't supposed to be completely smooth. On the other hand, the fake leather is smooth, and $1350 cheaper.

In the picture it looks nice to me, I'd just accept it and enjoy it.

:smile:


R.E.

 

Sorry to join the chorus of others who didn't choose leather for the reason you've discovered, but I saw many pictures from members complaining about your problem. If the lapis blue color is important enough, then stay w/ the current order and live w/ the appearance. It won't get better over time, as others have mentioned. If, on the other hand, you can't abide the wrinkles and have the option to order another MINI w/ leatherette or cloth, then you could do so and put up w/ the wait. Leatherette is an excellent no-cost alternative, as many have said. Tough choice. Getting new seat bottoms which are going to do the same over time doesn't seem like a great idea, and BMW will probably not go that direction anyway.

 

>>I don't think there is a problem. Leather isn't supposed to be completely smooth. On the other hand, the fake leather is smooth, and $1350 cheaper.
>>
>>In the picture it looks nice to me, I'd just accept it and enjoy it.
>>
>> :smile:
>>
>>
>>R.E.

Thats what I meant. :smile:

 

Well I ordered the Lapis Leather seats even after all the hub-bub, too bad for me......... well we'll see. Hopefully I get a great blue cow thats not so wrinkled

 

Isn't that why you orderd the leather? It's supposed to have some personality and no two pieces the same.

Otherwise it would be like my leatherette, no wrinkles and no real character.

Regards,
Red

 

I have the same Lapis interior.
I had the drivers side front seat replaced under warantee.. due to excess wrinkles.
I agree there is a certain "character factor" when dealing w/ leather...
Only you can make the choice of character vs. garbage

After owning the car for 1& 1/2 years.....the leather has held up relatively well.
For those who know me..I'm a fanatic bout cleaning the car and taking care of it.
I do not see the leather lasting... years down the road
The leather quality is inferior... but as I always say ..it's a $20K car.


Peace,
D

 

Thanks everyone for the advice. I actually debated about this last night (not sure if I lost sleep over it, or it was some other factors :smile:

Here was my conclusion. I've had a variety of cars with leather, all the way back to a 1989 Bonneville (which kids abused the leather on before me!), and I have managed to keep it in good shape. My cars are garaged at home, and (sometimes) at work.

I'm with mini-ero on this, I'm A.R. (**** retentive) about my cars that I own. Wash/wax regularly, follow maint to the "T (or + in the case of oil :smile:, and keep my interiors clean + feed leather :smile:

In all honesty, I do not keep cars over 4-5 years. Pretty much no matter what, so it will still be under warranty for the time I own it (or only slightly outside). I dig the MCS, but I suspect it will be a needy child past 100,000mi and/or 5 years.

Decision, going with it. Might be a pain in the ***, but I always do things the difficult way. just caus'

 

zfxr,

Good decision. The leather wears well with regular care. I've had my MCS for 15 months, and the Lapis is holding up quite well. Just remember to clean it every few months then apply Connoly Hide Food or Lexol, and you'll be fine.

 

I had the same thing with my car. The earlire cars must have had a different seat supplier (mines a 10/02 build). I had my drivers side seat cushion replaced because there was an unnatural crease in the middle (it really was a defect), and the one they replaced it with wasn't as tight as the old one. At my next service, I mentioned it to my dealer again and they replaced it again under warranty, but it was still the same. It still kinda bugs me, especiallty since the two seats don't match, but I suppose I can live with it. I prefer the "smooth" look much better. Although most will say the MINI's leather is cheap, I like it better than the leather in most americal luxury cars/SUV's.
Here's my passenger seat:


MINIDivision, are you listening??

_________________

 

From an Old Fart, who's had leather interiors, and cloth, and vinyl, since the '50's:
wkndracr's seats look normal to me. The driver's seat looks natural; passenger seat looks like nothing has ever been on it. If you want your seats to look like that one, you need vinyl.
I have the cordoba (tan) leather, and I think the seats look, feel, and smell great. The leather does seem to be rather thin, but I don't think I could really judge for years yet how they'll last. I'm not going to worry about that now!
If I knew how to post pix, I would; you may e-mail me for them.

 

All these seats look completely normal to me. This is leather.
Get yourself some Lexol conditioner and cleaner and take care of it. Leather is a *****, one of the reasons i got cloth. Leatherette is very easy and has the characteristics you people are looking for so get that instead. It's just slippery. another reason i got cloth.
If you are complaining about what's in these pics you are being silly, IMHO.
For those of you who have had much much worse, than just ignore me.

 

I've got 10,000 miles in 4 months in my Cooper and I've got the Profile leather. I like the leather and am glad I got it. Plus I got the additional lumbar adjustment which isn't avaiable with leatherette. Yep, my seat looks wrinkled, but doesn't make it look bad IMO. We'll see at 20,000, in uhm, what 4 more months?


>>For those of you who have had much much worse, than just ignore me.

 

>>All these seats look completely normal to me. This is leather.
>>Get yourself some Lexol conditioner and cleaner and take care of it. Leather is a *****, one of the reasons i got cloth. Leatherette is very easy and has the characteristics you people are looking for so get that instead. It's just slippery. another reason i got cloth.
>>If you are complaining about what's in these pics you are being silly, IMHO. :smile:

_________________
<IMG SRC="https://www.northamericanmotoring.com/albums/album04/fyy.thumb.jpg
">Life is better MINImized CWFAC 03

 

I dont really ming the way the seat itself looks, but in comparison to the other seat, I think it looks out of place. Maybe I'll just get the JCW seats at $2000 a piece
&gt;&gt;For those of you who have had much much worse, than just ignore me.

 

The cheaper solution is to get someone to sit in your passenger seat so it'll match the wrinkles! Worked for me!

&gt;&gt;I dont really ming the way the seat itself looks, but in comparison to the other seat, I think it looks out of place. Maybe I'll just get the JCW seats at $2000 a piece (yeah right)

 

hey that seat look like mine after 9 months of wear. Yes i have the same color pattern and love the look. now i am looking for someone to cover the steering wheel and doors when the lapis blue leather to match the seats.