Driver's Bolster Wearing Through?!!? ...What did you do???

[jorbon]

My 03 Titanium Silver 6-speed Sedan is otherwise 9/10 throughout... 83,000 miles. No noticeable dings, paint is great, rugs and mats near showroom, seats and original Alcantara wheel pretty much spotless and still nicely fuzzy. I refuse to call myself obsessive, but my kids sure do when it comes to where I park, whether or not they eat in the car, etc...

BUT, the driver's backrest bolster is now wearing through at the front edge, clearly from my rubbing past it as I get in and out. Damn. Hate that.

What have you other nearly-obsessives done about threadbare or worse alcantara? I've got a line on the right alcantara fabric (9002 color, "cover" with backing, etc) and am thinking I'll have a good local upholstery shop replace the worn bit...

Is there another way that I should be considering?

Thanks-

[ryankokesh]

I think that's about your only choice. :dunno

[KevinC]

Why not just go to a local auto upholstery shop and get it fixed professionally? I'm sure they'd do a good-as-new repair and couldn't possibly be prohibitively expensive. That's definitely the route I would take.

[Vas]

Replacing is your only option at this point.

[ELCID86]

I had mine fixed. You need to source some alc (upholstery shop may have one or get a rear seat bolster).

See my red car thread for before and after pics.



Thumbs, iPhone, TaT.

[Simmsled]

Be prepared... the Alcantara is ~$100 per yard.
Really not bad, but it isn't free.

[ecrabb]

Agree that replacing is probably the only option.

As for prevention, I have a little technique I use. My leather bolster is just starting to wear and I didn't want to make it any worse. So when I get into the car, I sort of reach back and lay my left hand on the bolster, then slide into the car. My body/clothes then brushes my hand instead of the bolster. FYI.

Cheers,
SC

[jorbon]

I had mine fixed. You need to source some alc (upholstery shop may have one or get a rear seat bolster).

See my red car thread for before and after pics.



Thumbs, iPhone, TaT.

Really great to see the before and after- thank you. Will buy the fabric and get it done. (Nice job on the restoration, btw.)

[ELCID86]

Really great to see the before and after- thank you. Will buy the fabric and get it done. (Nice job on the restoration, btw.)

Thanks. If you can find a rear sedan bolster that's enough fabric. Otherwise order some or have the upholstery shop get it.


---
"ZHP is a garbage option anyway- just some cosmetic upgrades with a different cam and diff to claw back some of the performance lost fitting those hideous and heavy wheels. Any 330 with a 3.46 diff will smoke a ZHP every time. The whole Mafia thing reeks of childish behavior." - an e46f member

[BimmerDude]

This solved my problems

http://www.ebay.com/itm/1998-2004-BMW-E46-Coupe-Sedan-Sport-Custom-Real-Leather-Seat-Covers-Front-/291643566236?hash=item43e74fa89c:g:UZIAAOSwQPlV~Yc I
1.buy this
2.install it your self
3.smile because technically you have an extra now

[ELCID86]

^ I wonder how the quality is? And...I'm sure he wants to keep the alcantara goodness!

[Oli77]

^^ how easy was the install? Don't you have to deal with "Hoag rings"?