Leather seats

[Beck]

Hi all,

I picked up my 67 plate A3 this week and it’s in amazing condition. However, there are some weird markings on the heated leather seats.

Has anyone seen this before or know what could cause it? Wondering if the heating element could cause this kind of pattern as it’s so symmetrical.

Thanks for any ideas!

 

[AlS3BE]

Is that the passenger seat or drivers?

 

[Beck]

Drivers seat. Passenger seat is similar pattern but much more faint.

 

[AlS3BE]

Drivers seat. Passenger seat is similar pattern but much more faint.

If it was passenger I would have said something like a child/baby seat been strapped to it. I had something similar in my a6 as baby seats and their bases needs strapped really tight against the seat.
Not sure what else could cause that.

 

[NHN]

Heated seats elements maybe, its clearly something to take to audi as its far from normal.

 

[Fatbloke]

Looks almost like water damage, like the leather has swollen up at some point. Very strange.

 

[The_Ironist]

Yeah would also say perhaps water damaged as that’s where it would sit if a real bucket load got in. Maybe they left the windows open and the rain was mostly on the drivers side. Although I think it would have to sit there a long time to do any damage like that.

Alternatively perhaps the previous owners had rather large posteriors which pressed the leather right down to the heating elements haha

 

[Wibbly]

Yep, I would agree with water damage - maybe water left there to evaporate for some time? It looks to me like the texture of the leather is a little different to the left of the line too (the bit that was left wet?). I had a lot of rain come in once due to the 'automatic windows down' feature on the key fob (hold unlock) which activated with the keys in my pocket. That feature switched off now. Result was a little stretching of the leather, but no markings. But I went to a lot of effort to try and get the water and dampness out relatively quickly.

Maybe find and take it to a leather specialist and see whet they say...

 

[AlS3BE]

Alternatively perhaps the previous owners had rather large posteriors which pressed the leather right down to the heating elements haha

I’m 16st + and my seats don’t look like that.

 

[Potterswheel]

Could it be that someone has tried some sort of treatment which went wrong, I agree you need some sort of leather specialist, or an interior detailer.

you could also try posting this on the detailing forum some of those guys really know their stuff.

 

[Beck]

Thanks everyone for your replies.

Bad treatment crossed my mind but the idea of it being water damage would make sense, especially due to the pattern.

Will ask the detailers if it’s something they’ve seen and or know how to fix. Otherwise I will find a leather specialist I think as I don’t want to ruin them further.

Thanks again all!

 

[AlS3BE]

Maybe a steam cleaner. They can cause all sorts of issues especially on leather if it gets under the shiny surface.

 

[Wibbly]

Will ask the detailers if it’s something they’ve seen and or know how to fix.

Try here? https://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=11