I have a 2004 sedan with graphite leather. I treat my leather on a regular basis. I have recently noticed the outside position bolster on the drivers seat is starting to show signs of the leather cracking. Is anyone else having this problem? My car has 11500 miles on it. I can't imagine what it wioll look like ina few years if this keeps going? Almost makes ya wanna have vinyl blosters.

 

I'll say it once more, what you are seeing is normal for leather, that is nothing unusual, it will most likely look the same from now on, it's not cracking, but creasing, leather gets "crows feet", it will only crack if it dries out. IMO, that gives it character.

 

I guess I could cover the "crows feet" with some black polish. There is something to be said for the "pleather" interior that BMW and Audi offered. My wife has a 2002 Audi A4 with the "Pleather". It is perforated and not uncomfortable at all, even in so fla...although the air cond is always on in warm weather. The interior still looks great and the car has 40K on it. Meanwhile, My seat has crows feet at 11500 miles ARGH!

 

Just for the record:

I own a 10 Year old M3 with 140K miles, Leather looks fantastic (almost like new)
My wife's X5, 4 years old, looks Factroy perfect
My brother in laws 3 BMW's (1981 320S, 2002 M5, 2001 X5) all look great with No Crows feet.....

Gotta say this is not normal at least compared to BMW, and it's not a German vs Japanese thing, the leather in both X5's is sourced in the US from South Carolina (where they are made).

My guess it's:
a) Better Leather
b) Funky design on G sedan seats creating wear
c) lots of in and out of the front seat

I'll go with a), hey, there's got to be SOMETHING better about spending 16K more for a BMW that the G!!

 

That is not WEAR!

 

You sit on it--so you don't see it except when you 1st get in or when you clean it. Consider yourself lucky that you are safe in that seat--some people die in that seat in accidents--I try to strive for contentment, not perfection. Take care of your car the best you can--beyond that enjoy it. I find that if you actually picture the fact that one day you are going to die--it is kinda scarry--and it makes material things not important. But I am picky too, so that is why death and injury cross my mind (it's all over the news) and consider myself lucky to be healthy and safe. But--wow--I digress---but for what thats worth--my 2 cents.

 

No, but it CREATES wear, My sisters old ride (1979 280 ZX) had such funky shaped bolsters that every time you got in you rubbed against it, thus creating wear and the "dreaded" crows feet, ended up cracking and looked like S__t after 4 years.

Oh yeah and as for mr existentialist and the dying thing? whats up with that? I pay $35K for a car and the seat better look damn good for a LONG time!! we're all here on the forum cause we love our cars and get more from them than the avg everyday person. stuff like this IS listened to by dealers and Nissan mgmt and goes into better designs down the road, so bring on the meaningless issues like seat wear I say <end rant>

 

Calm down buddy--You can desire what you wish from your car as far as durability is concerned--there are people that spend twice that much for cars and still have similar problems. $35k for a car is not all that much. When you live long enough to see your parents and or grandparents suffer and die of incurable diseases it really changes your view of things--thats all. Especially, when you are a parent now. I do not appreciate that "mr. existentialist stuff." I am not telling anyone not to post concerns on this sight--I am just offering a feeling that I have now which is contentment not perfection--which is a phrase I try to live by now--and it helps me enjoy life more--because I too am a very picky person in business, in general--and that is a heavy burden to carry. Peace, out.

 

This is In order for leather to "crack" it has to become hard, dried out. And, please, don't be comparing a '79 Datsun (or any other manuf) to todays automobiles those old Datsun's had pretty poor quality upholstery. I doubt it was leather at all!

 

I'll accept crows feet around my eyes, not my car seat. I could see if I did not treat the leather on a regular basis. The car is about 11 mos old and I have treated the leather at least 3 or times. However, the car did sit from MFR date of July 03 until I purchased it late feb 04. This probably is on the normal side but I still don't like it.

 

The same reason you get "crowsfeet" around you eyes, is the same reason you get them in leather, it is skin afterall!