JohnsRX

after 2 years of enjoyable ownership, my car still looks and feels new but besides the normal need more power complaints, the ONE thing that really annoys me its the condition of the leather. The soft nice leather was first very nice to the touch and looked creamy and white. But now, the leather have lines in the stress spots, its not cracked but starts to look used. I only condition them once in a while, but my other german cars dont have this type of problem. They are not cracked, but i think after a while, they will soon be. I wonder if dealer can warrantee the front seats. They dont look bad, but they shouldnt be part of normal wear and tear of everyday use.

HarrierAWD

My '02 RX300 has the same issue. The driver side and front passenger leather seats are showing some "wrinkles." The backseat is OK because it's rarely used.

It does not look bad enough for me to worry about. If it can be covered under warranty, I may want to change out the front seats.

thisguy_06

same here with the seats, the front seats in my dad's rx is starting to have the obvious creases and it's ugly. I wonder if aftermarket leather seat replacement would also be like this. i just might persuade him to get new one if the marks get worst.

parula

I have to say my '99 had the same issues at least as I can relate my experience to those others reported here; cracks, and flakings of the paint or coating of the leather - what is on the surface? - I bought Leatherique to help soften and protect the leather on the '03 to try to prevent normal wear affects.

HarrierAWD

Hell NO! :-) I like being a fat lazy American. That fits the stereotype of SUV owners.

HarrierAWD

I had no idea that the leather was painted. No cracking or flaking for me yet. I use the Turtle Wax leather protector. It doesn't seem to do much other than making the seats slippery, and creating certain bowel movement sound when I move about in my seat.

Lexmexico

Harrier,

I took your advice a little over a month ago to use that the Turtle Wax product. Found it at a local supermarket, and WOW what difference. Looks and even smells new. Then, again, my RX really wasn't as clean inside.

RX300-BV

My one complaint is the poor turning radius on the RX300. I haven't notice the wear issue on the seats, but then again, we've only had our RX for exactly one year to this day.

MellonC00

the leather from my '00 model was actually torn without doing anything substantial. I have an '01 now and bought the sheepskin seatcover for it. I used the one from sheepskin.com for $50. You don't have to get the expensive one because the base model for cars with side airbags fit RX just fine. Hope this helps.

theanimala

Our '02 with 26K miles still looks new, so no complaint there.

I agree with RX300-BV, the turning radius just SUCKS.

But my biggest problem with the RX is that i see them EVERYWHERE! I guess a car this good means lots of people like driving them. I like driving my GS and not seeing one often.

Lexmexico

theanimala, YOU SEE THEM EVERYWHERE?

I see them nowhere. Since I have lived in Mexico City, I have only seen two RX300s. One when I was driving down, a Silversport from Texas with a Tourist Permit on it.

I know of one friend with one in Guajalajara. She and I both get looks at the car like it was a Ferrari.

I ain't complaining.

HarrierAWD

Glad you like it. I must admit that my leather seats still look and *smell* like new as well, other than the wrinkles. My RX is garage-kept, and I always try to face north when parking outside to avoid the sun. Maybe that helps, too.

I bought the Turtle Wax leather conditioner because it was the cheapest on the shelf. :-) Other brands wanted twice the money for smaller bottles. After 2 years (6 applications) I still have more than half left.

Wonder if anyone's been able to sweet-talk Lexus dealer into swapping those wrinkled seats?

JohnsRX

hmmm....i think i should complain to my dealer about it then, because my leather aint cracked but wrinkles are evident. Check out any German car and their seats dont wrinkle as early. Since u said urs smell and feel like new, im gonna talk to my dealer about it.
My car NEVER sees the sun unless im driving it, its garage kept and i almost always park it in a underground parking lot, i even have front windshield tint along with side limo tint, so UV isnt whats causing this. Its the stress points, and im actually skinny i think, so it isnt weight problem thats casuing this.
I use the Zymol leather lotion for my seats once in a while, it looks good for 2 weeks and i guess with all the butt rubbing, the wrinkles become evident again, i'll try to take a picture for u guys next week.

RickC

I think that is the basic nature of leather. Although I can't explain why the BMW's don't do that except maybe the quality of the leather. My truck also has leather and it is doing it too. However, most of the damage was done prior to me buying it. I haven't really notice it getting worse, and I have had the truck for two years, but only put 13k miles on it in those two years. I use Zaino Leather treatment. It even smells like leather when you pour it on a towel.

RickC

Philly#1 Lex

iTrader: (2)

Does leatherseats.com make a kit for the rx or anyone for that matter?

Philly