Hello, got a L&K 67 Superb back in November with 4k miles on the clock. I've since done 2k miles and the driver + passenger seat leather seems to be degrading rather quickly. (photos on the link below) 

I wonder if it's due to the Autoglym Lifeshine they applied, maybe it's reduced the elasticity of the leather? Anyone else notice this, have any ideas ? 

 

Thanks

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Z5kJHzBD5Q1u6Aky5

My only experience with leather seats is on a used 26k miles SE-L I tested. IIRC it looks nice and smooth all round. 

 

Not sure why yours creases like that. Still looks OK to me though. One of the reasons I picked a sportline because fabric is just better

 

 

1 hour ago, ChaybobbTidbit said:

Hello, got a L&K 67 Superb back in November with 4k miles on the clock. I've since done 2k miles and the driver + passenger seat leather seems to be degrading rather quickly. (photos on the link below) 

I wonder if it's due to the Autoglym Lifeshine they applied, maybe it's reduced the elasticity of the leather? Anyone else notice this, have any ideas ? 

 

I wouldn't call that degrading, it's "patina". And it tells you that the seats are real, natural leather

 

It could indeed be the product they applied made the leather softer and more prone to folding and creasing, less stiff and plastic.

 

But all the cars and furniture I have owned made of leather has eventually developed creases. It's a normal process and unavoidable, in my experience.

Edited 12 March, 20197 yr by digifish

I have leather in mine and would never buy it again.

Showing signs of stretching (like on your backrest) after only 2k ffs.

Taken to throwing a blanket on it!!

 

Why don't VAG do velour?

My Superb II had 225.000km's and only the drivers seat side bolster showed wear like on your photo. The general school of thought is, it's no use applying products after the cracks or creases are present. It's already too late. Basically you need to start applying products as soon as you can to keep the leather supple. Hard, dried out leather can crack and wear. Supple treated leather will move back to it's original position not allowing creases to become permanent.

 

Once a month all seats get a wipedown with Dr Leather leatherwipes, about once or twice a year I use a dedicated cleaner and a soft bristle brush. Spray on, agitate the dirt, wipedown with MF cloth. Then use leather sealant spray to protect the seats.

My drivers seat is the same on my 2 year old L&K. Don't think leather will ever stay perfect. Of course its not all real leather either.

9 minutes ago, tigermad said:

My drivers seat is the same on my 2 year old L&K. Don't think leather will ever stay perfect. Of course its not all real leather either.

Is it not real?  I know MB specifically state that their cars have artico which is a fancy name for vinyl. 

 

Tested a 40k miles Lexus GS450h and the semi-aniline leather still looks perfect. 

2 minutes ago, KeteCantek said:

Is it not real?  I know MB specifically state that their cars have artico which is a fancy name for vinyl. 

 

Tested a 40k miles Lexus GS450h and the semi-aniline leather still looks perfect. 

Nope its only part leather. I think some parts are a synthetic. I found out about it originally on this forum.

 

Maybe the Lexus owner never sat down whilst driving and stooped :-) 

Edited 12 March, 20197 yr by tigermad

@tigermad I think I read that the sportline seats are synthetic for the 'leather' bits. 

 

Weird if the do part leather on full 'leather' seats. 

Just found the post. Seatpad and back are leather, headrest etc isn't

7 minutes ago, KeteCantek said:

@tigermad I think I read that the sportline seats are synthetic for the 'leather' bits. 

 

Weird if the do part leather on full 'leather' seats. 

From the price and specifications brochure -

 

Leather upholstery - may contain some artificial leather.  

My leather seats on the passenger side front have the folds as the wife sits on the edger, compressing it, then slides into place. She also had a bent rivet on the back pocket of her jeans that scratched the leather but it has survived that.

 

My side is fine, I have longer legs and so plonk straight down onto the main seat pad.

Is it possible to get into the front seats without some sliding in sideways? Either that or bash your head when getting in. Even my 5' 2" wife bashes her head and then blames me.

 

Another annoying "characteristic" to use Skoda UK parlance.

The bits of seat that you sit on are real leather, the back of the seat is not real leather.

 

That's what I thought anyway, not sure where I got it from

That looks normal creases to me, it is where you get in and out, you will see it on all car seats on the door side especially. 

My driver seat looks like ****, car is 9 month old

What does 9 months old mean? 

 

Is that 500km or 50000km?

 

How many time per day are you in and out?

 

What were the seats like when new?

 

Perhaps epic of the seat would help

Funny how great minds think alike I was thinking the same thing the other day

 

Mine has just turned over the 40k mark and the drivers seat is not longer looking its best, I am OCD and they get cleaned regularly with cleaner and a conditioner every couple of months (should have cleaned them before taking photos this time :D). The side bolster is actually holding up pretty well as are the seat bolster.

 

The passenger seat doesn't get used too much and you can tell the difference between them in these photos, hopefully it won't affect resale value too much as I am looking to move it on this year.

 

https://photos.app.goo.gl/WQnMZx5HTD7kHijA6

 

Another point to mention is I have a child seat permanently in the back of the car which gets used daily by my daughter. I took it out the other day to carry a car load of work colleagues to an event (they loved it btw) and when I took the car seat out it had the expected compression marks. I clean the area thoroughly + a condition. I was surprised, less than few days of the car seat not being in all the compression marks had gone. Pretty happy with that.

  

Edited 17 March, 20197 yr by Zenbasses

The wear on yours looks marginally worse than on mine @ChaybobbTidbit. I'd recommend giving it a careful and gentle clean, then treatment with a good leather conditioner. I use the Autoglym versions (see below) but others are just as good.

 

 

Note - unless they are filthy (and from the photos yours aren't) do not use a brush on them. A microfibre will be plenty. The "leather" is thin, plasticised and in many places has been about as close to a dead cow as the local vegan chapter. Treat it gently and it will respond better. There are specialists who claim to be able to take out the ripples in the back using steam etc - I have no idea how good they are, but I would personally avoid unless I knew them personally and had seen their work on other similar seats (normally they work on classics whose leather is real different from what we have).

 

In practice the leather will degrade over time and all we can do is to make the degradation as slow as possible.

1 hour ago, Zenbasses said:

Another point to mention is I have a child seat permanently in the back of the car which gets used daily by my daughter. I took it out the other day to carry a car load of work colleagues to an event (they loved it btw) and when I took the car seat out it had the expected compression marks. I clean the area thoroughly + a condition. I was surprised, less than few days of the car seat not being in all the compression marks had gone. Pretty happy with that.

 

You should buy one of these.

 

If left in too long, those indents are less likely to disappear...

 

 

 

 

 

 

@silver1011 thanks, do you remember how much those were?

 

Thanks all for your comments, suggestions, pictures. 

 

I'm surprised at the general variability. It seems that mine have gotten worse quicker than average, bit disappointing!

 

9 hours ago, Bud said:

What does 9 months old mean? 

 

Is that 500km or 50000km?

 

How many time per day are you in and out?

 

What were the seats like when new?

 

Perhaps epic of the seat would help

30.000 km. get in and out 6-10 times.

Really poor quality. 

@ChaybobbTidbit

 

Not the cheapest, about £25 inc. delivery, but the fit is perfect and they're high quality. Padded, ISOFIX friendly, gel coated for grip etc.

 

http://www.superskoda.com/Skoda/SUPERB-III/Superb-III-Universal-pad-under-child-seat-original-Skoda-Autoas

On 17/03/2019 at 19:54, janmand said:

30.000 km. get in and out 6-10 times.

Really poor quality. 

I would say that is quite high usage, 40,000KM and many movements per day is a lot of wear.  Although from the pic you added we cannot see all of the seat  maybe should compare with someone who has a 3-4 yrs old car.

 

Have you got electric seats and have you thought about coding easy entry mode (I think its on the vcds), so the seat moves back and gives you a little more space to turn around before you get in/out?