When I bought my Mini I opted for the vinyl seats since I quite admired how my neighbors 1970's 300d's vinyl interior looked after all these years, but my drivers seat has developed a nasty looking crack. The material is intact but the surface seems to be failing pretty dramatically. I don't remember doing anything that could have ripped it, I'm the only one who drives it (apart from the time it spends in the shop). Anyone experience anything similar? could this be from cold?

It looks so straight like someone slashed it but the material behind looks fine and there is a fine spiderweb of smaller cracks coming off of the main one..

 

That's surprising -- I have an 05 with vinyl seats and they still look like new (>65K miles).

I suspect a screwdriver in the back pocket or some such...

Edit: I just noticed the picture you added. Your vinyl material looks very different from mine -- if only they hadn't perforated it!

 

Yeah it is right on the side bolster, so screwdriver in pocket or tool belt is out of the question I really don't know how this happened or could happen. All I can think of is cold weather and cracking but really it is one hell of a crack.

 

That vinyl is usually tough. Let your dealer look at it.

 

I've got the leatherette and my Mini has been in -10 degree weather and no problems with the seats... (although getting dirt out of the perforated holes is a pain in the butt)

 

like I said I am pretty far north, Edmonton, where it will hit -40 or so once or twice a year. This break seems to be on the only part of the vinyl that is really stressed with any regularity so cracking from cold seems plausible.

I have a long coat with a zipper on the front, would a zipper do that? the break seems to follow the vinyl perforation pattern exactly that's why I'm wondering about freezing or some possible defect.

 

Shame your not closer, that could be repaired and last 2 or 3 more years and look pretty good.

 

can damage like this be easily repaired? I thought replacement would be the only option.

 

Yes it can be repaired I repaired both driver and passenger side, damage was not quite as bad as yours I however did not take any before pics but could post an after, also if you PM me I can tell you who does this repair since they are not a vendor on here the powers that be would surely frown on it..

 

Before you consider a repair, try going to a dealer for a warranty or goodwill seat cover replacement. -40 degrees or not, this should not be happening this early in the game. Maybe some inferior materials made it through the production line.

 

This is a much more coherent version of what I was trying to say above.

 

I had a leather/vinyl repair company look at the damage to my seat and they believe it was caused by a combination of cold vinyl and wear/degradation of the foam inside the bolster. To repair it will require replacement/restuffing of the foam in the bolster since mine is deteriorated and new vinyl on top. the vinyl is hard to come by since it is exclusive to BMW.

I will take it into the shop and discuss the problem with BMW when I have time.

 

I had cracking form in the very same spot on my 06 R50 Cooper. I know others have had the same issue. That tends to be a high-stress spot on the seat since you can't help but "squish" it as you get in and out of the car. That together with cold weather which makes the material less pliable and you get what you have there. My dealer gladly replaced the bottom seat cover and the car was nearly at the end of the warranty period...no problems. Take it in and I bet your dealer will cover it under warranty.