Preserving my Leather Seats?

G

greer

New member
Hi guys,



To preseve the driver's side leather seat in my car if I put a towel down, will that keep the seat from being worn prematurely? Or will the friction from the towel do more damage?



I own a 2003 BMW M5 and I want to keep the seats in top condition.



Thanks,



Greer
 
greer said:
Hi guys,



To preseve the driver's side leather seat in my car if I put a towel down, will that keep the seat from being worn prematurely? Or will the friction from the towel do more damage?



I own a 2003 BMW M5 and I want to keep the seats in top condition.



Thanks,



Greer
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I think that you will be fighting with a towel to keep it on the seat or straight at least. I would look for a seat cover if that's what you want to accomplish.



Using some protectant on a regular bases would also be a suggestion for you.
 
Clean regularly... Condition often. Don't worry too much about wrinkles, they add character.



If the bolsters get too saggy and wrinkled, just hire an upholstery repair guy to make them new again.
 
It's you car do what you want



but I would much rather enjoy the leather,

clean & condition on a regular basis,

and repair/replace when needed
 
greer- Leather seats always get some degree of wrinkling/etc. and IMO it's unavoidable. The cushions will compress and the leather will follow the cushion. Putting a towel on top will probably just change how the wrinkles look and maybe not for the better. And I sure wouldn't want to risk having anything slip between me and the seat so I'd never do that.



I had to replace one section of my M3's (driver's seat) leather because the previous owner obviously rubbed it a lot getting in and out of the seat. Only a *very* snug-fitting seatcover would've protected against that, and I for one would rather sit on the leather than a seatcover. Like BigJimZ28 I figure it's there for me to use and, if necessary, replace.



Like joyriiide1113, I consider the appearance of wrinkles to be "patina", the inevitable result of use. But to minimize this, I'd just pay attention to how the seats are treated- no sharp edges or other things that'll result in pressure being applied over a small surface area. Watch that you don't slide over the bolsters; avoid friction against the leather as much as you can. Then just take care of them: regular cleaning (dirt is abrasive) and conditioning (but don't over-do the latter).
 
One other thing to keep in mind is avoiding any other leather that may come in contact with your seats. Leather jackets, leather belts and even leather handbags can and will transfer their color onto your leather seats. This is especially true when your car has light colored leather seats. Once the color has transfered, there is almost nothing that can be done to remove the discoloration.



Just some additional well intentioned thoughts.
 
mirrorfinishman said:
One other thing to keep in mind is avoiding any other leather that may come in contact with your seats. Leather jackets, leather belts and even leather handbags can and will transfer their color onto your leather seats. This is especially true when your car has light colored leather seats. Once the color has transfered, there is almost nothing that can be done to remove the discoloration.



Just some additional well intentioned thoughts.
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I have a black leather jacket and gray leather seat (tan leather in the wife's car)

and have never had an issue with this or even heard of it!
 
BigJimZ28 said:
I have a black leather jacket and gray leather seat (tan leather in the wife's car) and have never had an issue with this or even heard of it!
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bigjim,



Thanks for taking the time to reply. It looks like you have been one of the lucky ones.



Being a professional detailer, I have seen the transfer of color with leather happen time and time again. Maybe it is the type of leather, the age or the way the leather belt or jacket has been treated and dyed during the manufacturing process. It may also have something to do with the level of quality. Higher priced, quailty leather belts and jackets may not transfer color like more inexpensive types. Any way you look at it. It is a real problem that can be avoided.



Thanks again for your input.



Best regards,
 
Regular cleaning (neutral detergent) of dirt and body oils, followed by conditioning will preserve them. Blue Jeans can also transfer color to leather seats.
 
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