Upholstry wear on leather seats

[Electrician]

Hi Everyone,

I have just noticed the piping on my drivers (leather) seat has a small split in it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I am waiting for the dealer to tell me if this is covered by the warranty.

The car is just two years old and otherwise immaculate.

Cheers Tom

[Kenshin X]

Hi Everyone,

I have just noticed the piping on my drivers (leather) seat has a small split in it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I am waiting for the dealer to tell me if this is covered by the warranty.

The car is just two years old and otherwise immaculate.

Cheers Tom

pretty sure it wont be as its normal wear and tear on the seats. japanese leather is crap anyways. if u wanna keep the car, u can get it retrimmed in aussie leather for 1k for the front seats. i'm assuming the aurion's seats are japanese leather???

[Electrician]

Hi Everyone,

I have just noticed the piping on my drivers (leather) seat has a small split in it.

Has anyone else experienced this?

I am waiting for the dealer to tell me if this is covered by the warranty.

The car is just two years old and otherwise immaculate.

Cheers Tom

pretty sure it wont be as its normal wear and tear on the seats. japanese leather is crap anyways. if u wanna keep the car, u can get it retrimmed in aussie leather for 1k for the front seats. i'm assuming the aurion's seats are japanese leather???

[Electrician]

Thanks Kenshin X,

Guess I have been spoilt after having a Calais for fifteen years with Aussie leather. Still as new when sold. Thought I was stepping up buying an Aurion :(

[dutchie101]

I wonder if Jap leather is indeed Indian leather? The majority of the worlds "consumable" leather is now Indian of origin.... That doesnt mean its crap, the wholesale buyer can select an number of grades/finishes, and obviously, the cheaper option would be the go for almost all OS car manufacturers.

[69.NIX]

have you done any conditioning on the leather?

something like this >>>>> http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/product/duragloss/professional_leather_system

might just need some TLC

[Adamsy]

In reality it doesn’t matter if you have a chery or a Phantom your leather seats they still need TLC and often, i clean and conditioning my Leather seats around every 4 months paying particular attention to the driver’s seat especially the side where you climb in and out as this gets the most wear. Toyota will no doubt fix your seat but you really do need to look after your leather and it will look after you when it comes to spills and stains :)

[SecaBoy]

what do you guys use to clean/treat the leather?

there are so many products on the market, i've always been scared off it because i've never known which one is good and which one is sh!thouse.

[Electrician]

In reality it doesn’t matter if you have a chery or a Phantom your leather seats they still need TLC and often, i clean and conditioning my Leather seats around every 4 months paying particular attention to the driver’s seat especially the side where you climb in and out as this gets the most wear. Toyota will no doubt fix your seat but you really do need to look after your leather and it will look after you when it comes to spills and stains :)

Thanks guys,

I usually only use Mother's products. The upholstery is in new condition, (as is the rest of the car) apart from this small split. I have a very expensive leather lounge cleaning kit which I am tempted to use, but I'll wait until after I see what they will do for me.

[Adamsy]

My linkWell ive being using this Oakwood product here and it leaves the seats nice deep shine and the seats go a nice deep colour as well as being softer, few colleagues here have ZR6's and Klugers etc and they complain their seats get very slippery with the products they use where the Oakwood product leaves the seats almost normal if anything you hold in them better without it being sticky though. unless of course you don’t wipe there excess off properly but other than that it’s a good thing.

[Hiro]

I wonder if Jap leather is indeed Indian leather? The majority of the worlds "consumable" leather is now Indian of origin.... That doesnt mean its crap, the wholesale buyer can select an number of grades/finishes, and obviously, the cheaper option would be the go for almost all OS car manufacturers.

Anyone else find it ironic that the culture in which cows are sacred is also the primary producer of leather?

[GShadow]

I wonder if Jap leather is indeed Indian leather? The majority of the worlds "consumable" leather is now Indian of origin.... That doesnt mean its crap, the wholesale buyer can select an number of grades/finishes, and obviously, the cheaper option would be the go for almost all OS car manufacturers.

Anyone else find it ironic that the culture in which cows are sacred is also the primary producer of leather?

HAHA nice observation.

On a world scale Indian leather is not considered very good leather.

Treating / conditioning auto leather requires specialised products, auto leather is bonded differently to household / clothing / saddlery leather and the incorrect treatment can destroy the leather in the long term.

I would think Mothers should be good. I use Bowden's Leather love. Don’t try to cut corners on leather conditioning products!

Also as leather in a natural product it can have flaws that my not have been obvious when new but can show up through wear

[Foss]

have you done any conditioning on the leather?

something like this >>>>> http://www.carcarepr..._leather_system

might just need some TLC

Can you vouch for this product, Pete?

I use this at the moment, but not really happy with it.

[69.NIX]

have you done any conditioning on the leather?

something like this >>>>> http://www.carcarepr..._leather_system

might just need some TLC

Can you vouch for this product, Pete?

I use this at the moment, but not really happy with it.

I haven't personally used it on my car (fabric seats), but I have used it on a 350Z and its works a treat :)

[Foss]

That sounds good enough for me. Cheers. I think I'll give it a go.

[xpedite]

Thanks guys,

I usually only use Mother's products. The upholstery is in new condition, (as is the rest of the car) apart from this small split. I have a very expensive leather lounge cleaning kit which I am tempted to use, but I'll wait until after I see what they will do for me.

If Toyota do agree to fix it under warranty, try to get them to replace the entire squab cover instead of just repairing your existing cover. Also, for the record, the damaged seam pictured is called a 'french seam'. This type of seam has no piping sewn into it and can be a bit of a bugger to repair properly if the leather is worn right through (as opposed to just scuffed).

[Electrician]

Thanks guys,

I usually only use Mother's products. The upholstery is in new condition, (as is the rest of the car) apart from this small split. I have a very expensive leather lounge cleaning kit which I am tempted to use, but I'll wait until after I see what they will do for me.

If Toyota do agree to fix it under warranty, try to get them to replace the entire squab cover instead of just repairing your existing cover. Also, for the record, the damaged seam pictured is called a 'french seam'. This type of seam has no piping sewn into it and can be a bit of a bugger to repair properly if the leather is worn right through (as opposed to just scuffed).

Thanks Guys,

Yes it is the "French seam" and you are correct, there is no piping. It's only a small crack, but it looks as tho' it goes right through. I have only had the car since it was twelve months old. I don't know how it was treated before I got it. I make sure I get in and out without scraping across the swab. I've been using mothers leather on it and its not got worse, but it bugs me as the car is otherwise pristine.

Thanks for the comments.

Tom

[Electrician]

Thanks everyone with all the advice.

After six months the local dealership got permission from Toyota to replace the entire seat. They imported a complete drivers seat from Japan and installed it (complete with my led pan lighting) under guarantee.

My faith in both the Dealership and Toyota are completely restored.

And, yes, I am keeping the quality leather conditioner up to all the leather :-)

Cheers Tom

[Kenshin X]

shiiieeettt. After almost a year