Wrinkly Leather
Discussion
Opinions please.
My Cayman S is 7 months old and has covered 1800 miles. Just one seat panel on the passenger seat has a wrinkly crepe paper appearance. This seat is only occasionally used and the driver’s seat has no such wrinkles.
I find the appearance disappointing and would prefer all the panels to appear more or less the same.
Have others had a similar problem? I am unsure about what should be done about this and wonder if asking the OPC to replace the seat cover would end in a happy outcome.
My Cayman S is 7 months old and has covered 1800 miles. Just one seat panel on the passenger seat has a wrinkly crepe paper appearance. This seat is only occasionally used and the driver’s seat has no such wrinkles.
I find the appearance disappointing and would prefer all the panels to appear more or less the same.
Have others had a similar problem? I am unsure about what should be done about this and wonder if asking the OPC to replace the seat cover would end in a happy outcome.
As the leather is essentially new, I have worried that a potentially temporary fix might postpone further deterioration and have applied no treatments. Similarly I have resisted the temptation to apply heat. If something is to be done by the OPC, then I would prefer sooner rather than later. Many thanks for your suggestion.
I know this may sound strange but it could have been flees /ticks in the original hide when on the animal. Saw something similar on a program where they where selecting hides and some where rejected for similar reasons .A visit to OPC would be your first call if car is still under warranty to get their take ...but think it will get the response it is real leather much like it is real wood sir and every piece is different grain knots etc .
If your OPC agrees to replace the seat cover, when the work is complete you'll collect the car and notice the seat is a different shade to all the other leather. You'll then have to ask them to re-do it or to replace ALL the leather inside the car.
Case in point... I had cruise retro fitted by a local OPC. When the work was complete I collected the car and later noticed the new left hand steering wheel lower shroud (comes with the cruise stalk) was a different shade of grey...
...back to the OPC to see the service manager. Nothing he can do. "That's the way the kit comes sir."
Now, my piece of trim is fairly hidden and I'm just being anal (why shouldn't I be?) but if your wrinkly seat bothers you now it sure as hell will do so when it's a different colour. So, IF your OPC agrees to replace the cover ASK THEM TO PUT IN WRITING that they guarantee the colour match OR they will replace ALL the leather in the car.
Case in point... I had cruise retro fitted by a local OPC. When the work was complete I collected the car and later noticed the new left hand steering wheel lower shroud (comes with the cruise stalk) was a different shade of grey...
...back to the OPC to see the service manager. Nothing he can do. "That's the way the kit comes sir."
Now, my piece of trim is fairly hidden and I'm just being anal (why shouldn't I be?) but if your wrinkly seat bothers you now it sure as hell will do so when it's a different colour. So, IF your OPC agrees to replace the cover ASK THEM TO PUT IN WRITING that they guarantee the colour match OR they will replace ALL the leather in the car.
DJMC said:
If your OPC agrees to replace the seat cover, when the work is complete you'll collect the car and notice the seat is a different shade to all the other leather. You'll then have to ask them to re-do it or to replace ALL the leather inside the car.
Case in point... I had cruise retro fitted by a local OPC. When the work was complete I collected the car and later noticed the new left hand steering wheel lower shroud (comes with the cruise stalk) was a different shade of grey...
...back to the OPC to see the service manager. Nothing he can do. "That's the way the kit comes sir."
Now, my piece of trim is fairly hidden and I'm just being anal (why shouldn't I be?) but if your wrinkly seat bothers you now it sure as hell will do so when it's a different colour. So, IF your OPC agrees to replace the cover ASK THEM TO PUT IN WRITING that they guarantee the colour match OR they will replace ALL the leather in the car.
Many thanks for your helpful reply. I am sorry about the trim mismatch that you have suffered. If I end up asking the OPC to change the seat cover, I will also ask for written assurances. They may of course decline to do this, which will only reinforce my suspicion that there are quality control issues at Porsche, just as with any other manufacturer. In which case I might be better off putting up with the defect.Case in point... I had cruise retro fitted by a local OPC. When the work was complete I collected the car and later noticed the new left hand steering wheel lower shroud (comes with the cruise stalk) was a different shade of grey...
...back to the OPC to see the service manager. Nothing he can do. "That's the way the kit comes sir."
Now, my piece of trim is fairly hidden and I'm just being anal (why shouldn't I be?) but if your wrinkly seat bothers you now it sure as hell will do so when it's a different colour. So, IF your OPC agrees to replace the cover ASK THEM TO PUT IN WRITING that they guarantee the colour match OR they will replace ALL the leather in the car.
I see that the leather is slightly different but I think this is a feature of leather.
I've bought quite expensive leather sofas for my house and each time I've been advised that slight imperfections in the leather are natural. The leather you have is I'm told the highest quality as Porsche only do red interiors using the highest grade leather.
Hopefully as the leather 'wears' it will become less noticeable to you. It certainly is so much better than the leather used if you specify 'partial leather'
I've bought quite expensive leather sofas for my house and each time I've been advised that slight imperfections in the leather are natural. The leather you have is I'm told the highest quality as Porsche only do red interiors using the highest grade leather.
Hopefully as the leather 'wears' it will become less noticeable to you. It certainly is so much better than the leather used if you specify 'partial leather'
woodysnr said:
I know this may sound strange but it could have been flees /ticks in the original hide when on the animal. Saw something similar on a program where they where selecting hides and some where rejected for similar reasons .A visit to OPC would be your first call if car is still under warranty to get their take ...but think it will get the response it is real leather much like it is real wood sir and every piece is different grain knots etc .
Many thanks for your suggestion. I wonder if in fact the appearance is possibly akin to 'stretch marks' that we humans suffer. Having watched Porsche factory videos and the care that we are to believe is taken in examining hides, I am a little surprised that this example made it into production.Have you tried going over it with a hairdryer as trim companies use hairdryers/heat guns to heat up wrinkled leather to tighten it up?
There are a few vids on YouTube which give you a taste but pretty much looks like keep it 6 inches or so away and keep the dryer moving.
There are a few vids on YouTube which give you a taste but pretty much looks like keep it 6 inches or so away and keep the dryer moving.
Edited by kev.RS on Thursday 18th January 07:34
DJMC said:
OP, hope you don't mind, but I sent your photo to Aldridge Trimming (of Car SOS fame) asking what could be done to fix it.
Their reply today:
Many thanks DJMC. This would support my argument for a new cover. I think that I would ask to inspect a new cover before it was fitted to ensure the colour match and quality is acceptable. Their reply today:
Hi OO02ERO. Just had a good look at my 718BS (rhodium silver with bordeaux red leather, same as yours). Mine is just over a year old - about 10k miles - and to be honest my leather looks like yours in lots of places, particularly backrest and side bolsters (adaptive sports plus seats). It looks to me to be just a natural characteristic of the leather and probably a product of use, and I'm not sure I would worry about it. It might be worth looking over a few used cars with full leather interiors to see what they look like, if only because replacement is likely to be a hassle.
http://www.porsche-code.com/PJQV1IE3
http://www.porsche-code.com/PJQV1IE3
OP - I restore leather.
These are scars in the leather, so not defects as such. I suspect there are some mosquito bite scars present.
Whilst not defects I would suggest it's a poor hide selection on Porsche's part. Such a piece shouldn't have been used in such a visible section. To the rear or low on the front, maybe.
I would first try getting a hair dryer on it. Full heat, 4-5 inches away, keep moving the dryer about. This shrinks the fibres, and may make it a little tighter.
These are scars in the leather, so not defects as such. I suspect there are some mosquito bite scars present.
Whilst not defects I would suggest it's a poor hide selection on Porsche's part. Such a piece shouldn't have been used in such a visible section. To the rear or low on the front, maybe.
I would first try getting a hair dryer on it. Full heat, 4-5 inches away, keep moving the dryer about. This shrinks the fibres, and may make it a little tighter.
Many thanks for all of your helpful responses.
Riverside Red, you make a good point about ensuring a good colour match. Your experience with obtaining a good fit with the replacement cover is cautionary and I will need to be settled on the idea that a replacement will not mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire of another problem.
timg4d, your own experience is somewhat reassuring to me. What I have found is not a one off and perhaps an indication that Porsche quality control could be better. The difference between us is that I have a single panel that is affected, a bit like a sore thumb, although I accept that I am expecting high standards.
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah, your suggestion is helpful in that it perhaps makes sense of why I have become more aware of the defect in the damp weather. My windows often mist up after a trip (I wonder if this is a common problem in winter, my aircon is always on) and I wonder if dampness may have swollen fibres in the uneven leather, to accentuate the defect.
I really appreciate everyone's input and thank you.
Riverside Red, you make a good point about ensuring a good colour match. Your experience with obtaining a good fit with the replacement cover is cautionary and I will need to be settled on the idea that a replacement will not mean jumping from the frying pan into the fire of another problem.
timg4d, your own experience is somewhat reassuring to me. What I have found is not a one off and perhaps an indication that Porsche quality control could be better. The difference between us is that I have a single panel that is affected, a bit like a sore thumb, although I accept that I am expecting high standards.
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah, your suggestion is helpful in that it perhaps makes sense of why I have become more aware of the defect in the damp weather. My windows often mist up after a trip (I wonder if this is a common problem in winter, my aircon is always on) and I wonder if dampness may have swollen fibres in the uneven leather, to accentuate the defect.
I really appreciate everyone's input and thank you.
OO02ERO said:
Many thanks for all of your helpful responses.
Riverside Red, you make a good point about ensuring a good colour match.
If you go down the route of replacing the panel keep the original. IF there was a light variance in colour when replaced (as pigment batches, like say Dulux does, may differ) we could then obtain a perfect match (our Spectro is 99.98% minimum accuracy)Riverside Red, you make a good point about ensuring a good colour match.
Reds and browns are the hardest colours to match, silver aside. but you don't often see silver leather!
We could then, for a small charge supply you the correct pigment tint, and tell you how to apply it, or if near enough apply it for you.
Fermit The Krog and Sexy Sarah said:
If you go down the route of replacing the panel keep the original. IF there was a light variance in colour when replaced (as pigment batches, like say Dulux does, may differ) we could then obtain a perfect match (our Spectro is 99.98% minimum accuracy)
Reds and browns are the hardest colours to match, silver aside. but you don't often see silver leather!
We could then, for a small charge supply you the correct pigment tint, and tell you how to apply it, or if near enough apply it for you.
Many thanks for that offer Fermit.Reds and browns are the hardest colours to match, silver aside. but you don't often see silver leather!
We could then, for a small charge supply you the correct pigment tint, and tell you how to apply it, or if near enough apply it for you.
hollydog said:
I am a car trimmer . Although that is normal its a natural product and you will get bits like that. But Porsche are normally good at not using these pieces.
It will defo look worse if they change the cover. it will stand out a mile.
Out of interest why do you believe this? If the colour, grain pattern and stitching are correctly matched I see no reason why? It will defo look worse if they change the cover. it will stand out a mile.
I appreciate you do this for a living where as I restore, so welcome feedback. BTW, where are you located? I can always use good trimmers
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