Leather Wear on Drivers Side Seat

[thatTARDISguy]

Hey Guys,

As I'm looking around and shopping for S5's, I'm noticing a quite few of them have some wear on the drivers side seat. Specifically, the sport seats.

Have any of you had any issues with it, or has anyone looked into repairing it? Any products anyone can recommend to protect the seats more?

Thanks in advance for all the help!

[Amorphic]

The side bolsters always seem to wear from frequent entry and exit. You have to be careful not to roll over the side or it can get worn and crack. Get a good leather cleaner/conditioner and use it every few months or so and it'll be fine. I use Zaino products and they are pretty slick.

[namvar]

I use Lexol.

But as my 2013 Q7 was being repaired the technician told me that the paint on leather seats are coming off because of removal of certain chemicals.

[QYKSLVR]

Stiff belts are a frequent cause for premature wear on the sport seat bolsters as you enter and exit the car. I used to wear a cordura belt frequently and it caused a lot of wear on my 11 S4.

[JamesRS5]

I swear by this stuff:

http://www.liquidleather.com/car-shop.html#gt11

The GT11 and GT12 cleaner and conditioner really are a great product. An old Air Force friend who used to restore old Jaguars and Bentleys put me on to it, they also make a scuff repair kit which colors the scuffs so they are no longer noticeable.
The best part of the product is the smell, your car smells like you've just had brand new leather installed or you have a cow in the trunk.

[HearMeSpool]

I'm using Maguires on mine. I bought my '12 on a lease return. I was surprised that the driver's seat had more wear than on my old B6 A4.

[MilesM]

The center section under you is what is wearing for me, and has shown wear since ~2k miles on the car. Just stretching of the leather, but no cracks or fading *knock on wood*

Feel it's sort of inevitable. Black hides it well, but the brighter colors will show

[Jeff V.]

I don't know if it's my height (5'8") or how I have the seat adjusted or what, but I slide across the thigh bolster every time I get in or out of the car. I'm actually trying to use it as justification for a flat bottom steering so I have more room

In the meantime, I'm glad to see some recommendations on how to better care for the leather. Does anyone have any tips for taking care of the Alcantara? Mine is in really good shape right now, and I'd like to keep it that way.

[thatTARDISguy]

Thanks for the input everyone! This is all extremely helpful!!

[CG3D]

Mine has some wear and cracking with the actual surface peeling some in a small spot. Just bought the LeatherNu kit to see if that stops it getting worse. I'd give it a try if it ever warms up here...

[na_v]

Thought to continue this thread instead of making a new one. Curious to see if anyone has any input on this,

2013 s5 with magma red interior have about 44000km on the clock.

Leather wear when i bought it

Leather wear now


I condition the seat with meguiars leather conditioner twice a month, I'm
Not a big guy 160lbs and the wear has gone horrible in my car. I bought it in August and now it's December and the wear is really bad. Is it just me or has others gone through this ? Any solutions to this ? I've seen other s5's 2010/2011 with the same interior and not even as close to as bad as mine is and they have 130+ On there cars . I've had an a4 for longer than this with no issues and have a Q5 which is nothing like this

Any input Is appreciated thanks


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[Vanimal]

Thought to continue this thread instead of making a new one. Curious to see if anyone has any input on this,

2013 s5 with magma red interior have about 44000km on the clock.

Leather wear when i bought it

Leather wear now


I condition the seat with meguiars leather conditioner twice a month, I'm
Not a big guy 160lbs and the wear has gone horrible in my car. I bought it in August and now it's December and the wear is really bad. Is it just me or has others gone through this ? Any solutions to this ? I've seen other s5's 2010/2011 with the same interior and not even as close to as bad as mine is and they have 130+ On there cars . I've had an a4 for longer than this with no issues and have a Q5 which is nothing like this

Any input Is appreciated thanks


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Seems to be uniform wear. I have a 2010 with the same type of wear. Granted my car had 85k, but I'm very OCD and use all Adam's polish products & clean the leather often to avoid shine. I even go as far as putting a towel down when I leave the gym & when I leave work. My car is well taken care of, even before me. My passenger seat used to be pristine, my guess nobody ever sat in it with the previous owner. After 2 years it shows slight wear on the butt area from my fiancé, kid sitting in it. S5/S4 uses a totally different and softer supple leather compared to the A4. A4 might even have a mix of vinyl in the leather? My 2010 has 85k, and you can still smell the nappa leather or whatever it is like it's new.

Here's my passenger

And my driver. Took this RIGHT after I got out of the car. So it smoothes out a tad after a few hours.



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[na_v]

Seems to be uniform wear. I have a 2010 with the same type of wear. Granted my car had 85k, but I'm very OCD and use all Adam's polish products & clean the leather often to avoid shine. I even go as far as putting a towel down when I leave the gym & when I leave work. My car is well taken care of, even before me. My passenger seat used to be pristine, my guess nobody ever sat in it with the previous owner. After 2 years it shows slight wear on the butt area from my fiancé, kid sitting in it. S5/S4 uses a totally different and softer supple leather compared to the A4. A4 might even have a mix of vinyl in the leather? My 2010 has 85k, and you can still smell the nappa leather or whatever it is like it's new.

Here's my passenger

And my driver. Took this RIGHT after I got out of the car. So it smoothes out a tad after a few hours.



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Makes me feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one, hahah. I didn't know the A4 used a different letter, so I guess it makes sense that the wear is more. It's just that the previous owner had it for 2+ years with limited wear, and I've had it for 4 months and it wore out quicker . How are you finding the Adams cleaner ? I've been using the Meguiars for a while and have no issues but maybe might switch if it gives good results.


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[Vanimal]

Makes me feel a lot better knowing I'm not the only one, hahah. I didn't know the A4 used a different letter, so I guess it makes sense that the wear is more. It's just that the previous owner had it for 2+ years with limited wear, and I've had it for 4 months and it wore out quicker . How are you finding the Adams cleaner ? I've been using the Meguiars for a while and have no issues but maybe might switch if it gives good results.


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I love it, all their stuff is great. If I run out a good alternative that pep boys carries is Griots. Stuff is awesome on all surfaces, no scent and keeps everything matte as it should be without shine.




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[MME1122]

I have a '13 S5, magma red interior, 32K miles and mine looks pretty much the same as yours lol.
A thought I had the other day was to try adjusting/refitting or steaming the seat cover. I was watching some car show on discovery and the guy doing the upholstery used a steamer to make the leather pliable as he fitted it, apparently it would tighten the leather up once it was on also. It isn't bad enough for me to bother doing that yet but I don't think it would be too hard.

Another note, I wonder if Audi does something when they sell CPO'd cars to remedy this. Because my seats looked essentially new when I got the car, it had 21K on it so I've put half that on and I can see it beginning.

[na_v]

I have a '13 S5, magma red interior, 32K miles and mine looks pretty much the same as yours lol.
A thought I had the other day was to try adjusting/refitting or steaming the seat cover. I was watching some car show on discovery and the guy doing the upholstery used a steamer to make the leather pliable as he fitted it, apparently it would tighten the leather up once it was on also. It isn't bad enough for me to bother doing that yet but I don't think it would be too hard.

Another note, I wonder if Audi does something when they sell CPO'd cars to remedy this. Because my seats looked essentially new when I got the car, it had 21K on it so I've put half that on and I can see it beginning.

Oh wow exact same situation , and ive never heard of the steam technique If the cost is not too big I might go that route once summer hits and see how that goes. Audi considers it a wear and tear item, but I have seen a 13 s4 with white and black interior get covered under warranty through the dealership but I'm guessing that's one in a million, thanks for
The help guys.


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[Porschephd]

The bolsters wear because people slide their arse across it as opposed to placing their arse in the seat. Common with high bolster cars. You want to keep them conditioned so they are pliable and don't fray. If the coloring is worn off you can use a water based dye. I have been doing it for years on my cars. The company I use is colorplus.com Joanne runs the place and very good at what she does. I have the silver pearl nappa in mine and had to touch up the bolster when I got the car at 38K miles. You want to send a sample in so they can match it. I sent her one of the rear headrest. The colors are slightly different depending on the batch Audi made hence why I sent a sample to match. I typically use an air brush to fade it in. You would be hard pressed to know I did anything to the seat. I would also suggest you get her conditioner as well. I have never seen anything like the stuff she sells. Its pricey but then again our seats are not cheap either.