I've got a weird problem with the leather on the side of the driver's seat (right above the seat controls). A section of this piece of leather looks shiney (it actually looks like the finish is different). It doesn't look like anything is on the leather, it looks like it's in the actual finish. I've only had the vehicle for a couple of weeks, I haven't put any chemicals on the seat and have never had any food in the vehicle (other than in the boot) so I don't think it's anything I could have done. I tried to wipe it with a damp cloth but there was no effect.

Anybody else seen anything similar to this? How it LR's warrantee for their leather? I'm taking the vehicle in to get some mudflaps fitted so the dealer said they would take a look. I'll try to get a picture if anybody's interested.

It's the black leather, BTW

I have the same thing on my driver and passengers seats. I am thinking it was a bad die job or some sort of heavy duty protection they put on the leather in the high ware areas. I also have a strange light color spot on my front passenger seat near the head rest. That was a bad die job. I will see if the dealer can fix it by calling in a leather expert or something. I know I saw one at the dealership a few days ago.

That's not normal. Has anybody seen anything like this before? A bigger pic in in my gallery.

I have the same problem. I think the side panels are made of vinyl, not leather. Every time I enter and exit the car, the panel gets wrinkled under my weight. I think this wrinkling causes the vinyl to react this way. I tried to rub it too without any results. 2007 Freelander 2 HSE i6
stornoway grey
black leather

yes i have the same issue The first one !!!

Quagmire,

i just checked mine. Nothing like this to report...in fact nothing to report...5000 flawless km and counting. keeping fingers crossed!

Same issue here, but barely seen.

I just had my LR2 in for mudflap fitting today and I had them take a look at it. The leather expert said there was something wrong with the surface of the leather (actually vinyl) and it couldn't be repaired. The dealer ordered me a new seat bottom under warrantee. LR Calgary gets the big from me.

Now I know what the specs (on the website) mean by "Leather Facing" seats!

Wow! vinyl on the sides? that is upsetting cause here I am bragging to BWM owners how at least we don't have "leatherette" when in fact we just have a surface.

thank goodness I don't have this problem after 1500 miles.
Guess I gotta get over it and find happiness in my "surface"

K.

Just as an update, I had the seat cover replaced a couple of months ago. The problem has not returned on the seat they replaced, but the passenger seat is showing the same signs of wear. I'm thinking LR may of had a bad batch of vinyl.

Why did they find it necessary to use vinyl on the sides???? Does vinyl wear better as these side panels do get 'crushed' on entry and exit as we roll off the seats, and roll into them. Or would leather have been better!!! Any leather specialists out there??? or PVC specialists???

u2fan 1967 do not worry BMW does this also, all volume manufacturers sub vinyl in non contact areas. In 'cheaper' vehicles this even extends to the side panels on the seat facings on both cushion and squab and the centre sections on rr seats, lets not even get into head restraints or different quality levels of vinyl. Remember for all goods that claim to be leather that the same artificial tanning smell that is now impregnated into real leather can also be impreged into vinyl. The leather 'smell' came from a tanning process which is now rightly illegal. Though the punter will not accept that the product is leather without the smell. still pining for my 3dr, no removeable hardtop, no drop glass tailgate, no roof rack, no pockets everywhere to stow all that man kit

Another update on this one. I got the back of the rear passenger seat dirty. I took a damp rag to the vinyl portion of the back of the seat (There is a bit of vinyl that wraps around the back of the seat. It is visible from the boot.) and lo and behold, the finish came off. I didn't scrub too hard or vigorously. I tried it again on another (non-dirty) section of vinyl and I got the same result. I reported this to the dealer on my 12 month service. He wants me to talk to the LR rep when he comes to town. Looks like this is not limited to the seat covers.

Also, my passenger seat cover finally needed replacing as well. Both the passenger and driver seat cover are doing fine after the replacement.

I may have to get all the seats replaced at this rate. LR has been good about this issue, though.

Now that it's been a year, how many other people has this affected?

My drivers seat has this problem. I have a beige interior and the affected area turned blue.