Seat mark oddity

[yofi]

After having the bike a couple of weeks or so and with just a 150 miles on the clock I noticed what I thought was a seat cover imperfection. I put off bringing it to the dealer’s attention partly because it was Xmas, and partly because I had just come back from having taken the bike in to have a transfer fixed on the bike, and felt that I was somehow being awkward (yes, I know).

Yes, I know I could/should have emailed the dealer a photo and/or made effort to get it sorted there and then.

Anyway fast forward to today for the bike’s first service, when I brought it to the dealer’s attention. The response from BMW was ‘not a defect, it's 'wear’.

Now, I’ve had the same comfort seat on my 1200 and have worn the same gear, with no effect on the seat. Also, whilst close-ups of the mark may give a different impression, in the flesh the mark is absolutely perfectly and totally smooth, with no sign of abrasion whatsoever. It’s as if the perforation effect holes are filled in, rather than worn down.

I’m not after told-you-so’s, rather I’d be interested in thoughts, and what could have possibly caused the mark. To clear on this, the mark is perfectly smooth, with no sign of wear of the holes per se. The nearest I can get to thinking about is some kind of chemical spill that has simply corroded a protective layer rather than corroded the seat.

 

[rovert57]

Looks more like the holes have not been formed in the vinyl when manufactured .

 

[stick]

That’s the first time I have seen a wear mark put material back rather than away , go back tell them to stop talking bollox and replace the seat .
It’s defective . Some dealers are great , others seem to make things hard and also make themselves look a bit stupid .

 

[Micko123]

I was inspecting my flapper valve with a plastic magnetic base Cree type torch and put it on my comfort seat (lens side down and still switched on) as I pulled my old carcass up from the floor, forgot about it for a few minutes and it had melted a small patch about the size of a 5p on the seat with heat from the Cree.

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[Wapping]

Does it ruin the ownership ‘experience’, as they say? If yes, then get it sorted (as they say) to your satisfaction. If no, then don’t.

Has the dealership met with your satisfaction? If yes, then you know the answer. If no, then you know the answer, too.

PS You can safely ignore post #4, unless of course you suddenly remember that you’d run an iron across the vinyl.

 

[Micko123]

It looks remarkably similar to the mark on my seat with heat damage from the torch though. The vinyl seems to fill in the little holes as it softens. There isn't a crater just a smoothing effect like the OP's. Maybe a cigarette burn by a careless person ?
It certainly didn't take much heat to smooth mine out.

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[Giles]

Maybe a really hot arse??


Wapping ... have you borrowed the op's bike ?

 

[Wapping]

I had a WC thing on an extended ‘try it out’ loan. I thought it was bloody horrible.

Maybe the OP has been to an Apine col, sat in some dog shite, not realised and blocked the holes that way? It’s worth investigating and, not least, a lesson to us all.

 

[CPJS]

After having the bike a couple of weeks or so and with just a 150 miles on the clock I noticed what I thought was a seat cover imperfection. I put off bringing it to the dealer’s attention partly because it was Xmas, and partly because I had just come back from having taken the bike in to have a transfer fixed on the bike, and felt that I was somehow being awkward (yes, I know).

Yes, I know I could/should have emailed the dealer a photo and/or made effort to get it sorted there and then.

Anyway fast forward to today for the bike’s first service, when I brought it to the dealer’s attention. The response from BMW was ‘not a defect, it's 'wear’.

Now, I’ve had the same comfort seat on my 1200 and have worn the same gear, with no effect on the seat. Also, whilst close-ups of the mark may give a different impression, in the flesh the mark is absolutely perfectly and totally smooth, with no sign of abrasion whatsoever. It’s as if the perforation effect holes are filled in, rather than worn down.

I’m not after told-you-so’s, rather I’d be interested in thoughts, and what could have possibly caused the mark. To clear on this, the mark is perfectly smooth, with no sign of wear of the holes per se. The nearest I can get to thinking about is some kind of chemical spill that has simply corroded a protective layer rather than corroded the seat.

Whereabouts on the seat is it? Is it it possible that it is wear? If it is not where you sit that is easily demonstrated to your dealer. Does the material feel thinner or thicker, if the dimples were 'filled up' the material would feel thicker, if worn it would feel thinner. There are many variables, unfortunately it up to you to prove that it is not worn.

 

[yofi]

Thanks for your thoughts guys, appreciated.

The appearance is exactly as rovert57 has described as if the holes haven't been perfectly formed. That is, the patch is smooth and not worn down. On the other hand, that's an interesting experience from Micko, as I was farting about over the period with applying PPF and may have had a torch out (no idea though).

Micko, is the patch on your seat totally smooth, such that there is no discontinuity in feel as you run a finger across the patch and either side?

Wapping, no, It's not at all something I will lose sleep over, and I have no particular criticism of the dealer.

I have to confess, however, that to have it thrown back to me by BMW as wear had me gobsmacked and I found myself a bit narked inside. I'm not the type to absolve myself of responsibility for any issues I may have caused with things that I purchase - it's just that for the life of me can't see what type of 'wear' it is.

 

[Giles]

something hot is certainly an plausible idea ...

 

[yofi]

Whereabouts on the seat is it? Is it it possible that it is wear? If it is not where you sit that is easily demonstrated to your dealer. Does the material feel thinner or thicker, if the dimples were 'filled up' the material would feel thicker, if worn it would feel thinner. There are many variables, unfortunately it up to you to prove that it is not worn.

It's farest to the back on the right-hand side. The material feels completely uniform on either side of the dimple and across the dimple. Completely smooth, and no discontinuity. I can't see how that kind of wear from sitting on it (with the same Rukka suit as I used for my 12000 that had no such issues) could be produced after 150 miles (600 miles when I brought it to the attention of the dealer) - it's just so totally smooth.

If it is 'wear', it's not from my backside but something I have done or used near the bike, as per Micko's experience.

And yes, I appreciate that it's something that I needed to have picked up upon delivery if indeed it was there. I am simply perplexed as to what may have caused it, though Micko's experience does suggest at possibles variables.

 

[yofi]

something hot is certainly an plausible idea ...

Giles, agree. I probably would have had my small torch out when doing the PPF, so it's a possible explanation. I am amazed though!

 

[Wapping]

....it's just that for the life of me can't see what type of 'wear' it is.

Then back to the dealership and fight! The onus is on them to prove that is fair wear and tear, not for you to prove that it’s not. Though if you had to, walk them out to their forecourt and ask the dealership to find another bike, of similar mileage and condition, displaying the same or similar wear characteristics. If they can, then (arguably) they win. If they can’t, you do.

There again, if you now somehow remember that you did somehow heat that portion of the seat..... I’d not tell the dealership.


PS How much heat does your ‘small torch’ generate?

 

[yofi]

Then back to the dealership and fight! The onus is on them to prove that is fair wear and tear, not for you to prove that it’s not. Though if you had to, walk them out to their forecourt and ask the dealership to find another bike, of similar mileage and condition, displaying the same or similar wear characteristics. If they can, then (arguably) they win. If they can’t, you do.

There again, if you now somehow remember that you did somehow heat that portion of the seat..... I’d not tell the dealership.


PS How much heat does your ‘small torch’ generate?

Very little, now you mention it! And it wouldn't have been upside down at the very least, as the bile is kept on a sidestand. In fact, that thought is helping me rule that one out.

To be absolutely 100% clear, I have never been a person not to accept my responsibilities over such things, and especially when engaging a dealer with whom I have built up trust and respect. If I had even the foggiest thought/idea that I may have caused it I would even dream of trying to hood the dealer. I'm not an angel, but in these sorts of things I couldn't be doing with the guilt of lying, more so to people that I have known over the last 4 years.

I have asked the dealer to have an explanation from BMW as to what sort of wear could cause a patch that is perfectly smooth and has no discontinuity of feel over the area and within just a few hundred miles. I think one of the problems is that it looks even more of a manufacturing imperfection in person than in the photos they send off.

 

[Wapping]

It was a joke about not telling them and about your solar powered epic awesome laser torch.

Good to hear that you are taking the fight to the stealership. These people need killing, as it’s the only language they understand.

 

[yofi]

BMW have again come back, suggesting it is heat damage, and have provided the example of a sun's rays off a car mirror. Seems perfectly logical to me, for a bike that was bought mid-winter and kept in the garage when not on the road.

However, I cannot rule out that there wasn't some kind of unsuspecting damage done by a torch or lighting used in the garage when doing the PPF, so I'll leave it there. Have no qualms with the efforts made by the dealership, and if I were that bothered I'd take it up directly with BMW.

Is a cautionary tale to others I'd suggest.

Just hoping the whole seat doesn't melt when I turn up the seat heating to setting 5.

 

[stick]

BMW have again come back, suggesting it is heat damage, and have provided the example of a sun's rays off a car mirror. Seems perfectly logical to me, for a bike that was bought mid-winter and kept in the garage when not on the road.

However, I cannot rule out that there wasn't some kind of unsuspecting damage done by a torch or lighting used in the garage when doing the PPF, so I'll leave it there. Have no qualms with the efforts made by the dealership, and if I were that bothered I'd take it up directly with BMW.

Is a cautionary tale to others I'd suggest.

Just hoping the whole seat doesn't melt when I turn up the seat heating to setting 5.

I'm sorry but the explanation given to me is a load of bollox on the dealers part , I have never heard of this happening to another seat , to me its been missed on both production checks and also at the PDI . My bikes over the years have been in serious heat and parked next to windows , car mirrors etc .
I really think the explanation given is laughable .My dealer over filled my bike twice now after service by 250 cc and say well is okay , I beg to differ , as another dealer was prepared to collect my bike , drain the oil and sort it out as he said the over fill was not correct.
Go back to them and insist on a new seat , its a premium product .

 

[Micko123]

I can be absolutely cast iron certain that the small amount of damage to my pillion comfort seat was caused by my torch being face down and left switched on, I very rarely take a pillion so it couldn'tbe wear. When I picked the torch up I noticed the mark immediately, it definitely wasn't there before.
I don't think it would have happened with the standard seat as that seems to be covered in a more substantial coarser fabric than the 'plasticky' softer of the comfort seat.

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[Micko123]

Yofi... we could always swap pillion seats... you could then have a matching pair of melted ones, and it may even increase your chances of a result from the dealership.
Only trying to be helpful to a fellow tosser in your hour of need.


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