Hi , i barley post over here but i always enjoy reading the comments and threads by this community As you will see below for some reason my Italia seat have been decaying. It doesn't bother me now because at first i thought of selling the car because of this ; but i couldn't let this car go. My 458 has been on show for over a month in the HOT middle eastern sun (before buying it of course ) i assume it might be the reason behind this also its in the place that has the most contact with clothes So what do u think i should do , and has anybody encountered this issue ? Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
It's not unique to the 458. I had a very similar problem with the F430. It's a high wear area and the leather is soft. There are ways to repair it. But, the best advice is be careful how your clothes touch the seat when you get in it.
No, it's not the sun. It is how you get into your car. If you just slide in without avoiding rubbing the seat bolster, this is what happens. I see it all of the time, and it happens on all models. You can get it redyed, where you'll never know that any wear ever occurred there.
Is it not were the lap part of the belt sits when you pull it tight to lock in?? If it is ,just a bit of care needed when you strap in? so as not to pull the abrasive edge of the seat belt against it
Good point but if it's not the reason Is it possible to slide the seat back before getting out? Or is it too much hassle? Or is there not enough space? If possible it seems not much effort if it avoids this kind of damage. Which also applies to jaguars! PS. andy c , went for the spider but if i change i would love to visit the factory at mac !
it seems to be a production problem and now I have it seen it on my brand new car passenger seat as well. told the dealer about it and he said it is normal... Visited Europe last week and seen a new 458 with the same problem... Italian quality control at it's best!!!
I have the same issues on both driver and passenger sides. The car is low and people tend to slide in and this is especially bad with jeans on Poltrona Frau. These leather is a lot softer than those I used to have on my 911s... Agree. You can hire a restorer to restore it to 85-90% new. I hope to share below 4 part video and you will have a good sense of what others do. It is a shame and I did want to change the seats but it will always come back. Allow me to share the below. Comments welcome. Part 1 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jhEg9kYaxGU&feature=related[/ame] Part 2 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JoKIi_128ZA&feature=related[/ame] Part 3 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HlOG9njVO_Y&feature=related[/ame] Part 4 [ame]http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WO8K5uq_hGI&feature=related[/ame]
See the same worn outs on mine's. I have it on both my seats, same areas as smsalsuwaidi (btw, how long have you had your car and how many kilos?). It hurts cos I cherish my car but it is an eyesore. It also puts shivers in me seeing others slide in and rub. The leather scrapes... Mine's, exact replica almost I'd say. When I saw this post, I feel obliged to share my same issues: Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login Image Unavailable, Please Login
I agree it's really just "wear" from normal use, and GOOD that you use it! Have your dealer take a look at it. It's very posssible those leather panels could be replaced, or the speedy repair would be to order a new upper seat skin, and change the whole trim piece out in half a day! That's a beautiful machine thanks for the photos!
Yes, it's only leather! A careful removal and reinstall of the entire cover is required......no big deal.
I have had white leather finishes worn off from that situation, did not think of it in the 458Italia. A little extra care does go a long way...
Having owned both a Maserati and a Ferrari, I can tell you there is a difference in the leather. My Maserati wears better than the Ferrari. But, the Ferrari leather is much softer with a different texture. The texture of the Maserati is "slicker" while the Ferrari is more porous. It's more of a "flat" finish. I always thought this would lead to higher wear patterns in the Ferrari. I found that to be the case in my F430. The best trick is to be really careful when you get in and out of the car. Move the seat all the way back and use your hands to protect the seat. If you keep sliding your pants and belt over that area, it has no chance but to wear. That's the penalty you pay for soft leather, low seats, and extreme side bolsters to hold you in place. Let's face it -- leather will wear. It's not vinyl where the material is the same color and texture all the way through. The trick is to make the leather last as long as possible or repair it if it becomes an issue.
Oh and i forgot to mention , i went and order a repair kit because at first i felt destroyed guess what after an hour work of painting my seat , i ended up with a yellow patch on my seat and washed it quickly after realizing this i started taking more care. unlike my mercs leather ! such a beast . ps: just came back from a spin , its the best car you can ever have ! Image Unavailable, Please Login
In addition to all the good suggestions re care in ingress and egress, seat belting etc., you can help by keeping a low friction leather conditioner applied to the area. Something that will tend to stick to the surface and facilitate sliding vs. soaking in. An example is Mothers Leather Conditioner.
What happened to your seats, happened to my drivers seat within 2000kms. It was clear to me that my back/butt was sliding across the side-ridge of the seat as I entered the car. Almost impossible to avoid it but certainly NOT something would expect in such an expensive car in such a short time of use. Since the gloss surface of the leather wore away, leaving a dull leather underneath (my leather is white), I searched for some way to cover it up. I found a white 'leather paint' from a shoemaker, something I didn't know existed and its very durable, hard to detect. Now when I get into the car. I place my open palm over the vulnerable area and slide my butt over the back of my hand. Ackward, yes, but no further wear.
Another technique is to lean your upper body in to the car and place the right hand on the center tunnel or right side bolster and the left hand on the steering wheel. Place your right foot on the floor under the steering wheel and pivot the body in to the seat without touching the left side bolster. I did this with a 355 for 10 years and a 430 for 5 years and the seats showed no wear on either car. It takes a little practice to get it right, but now I couldn't get in to a Ferrari any other way
