Seat covers for luxury cars with complex safety systems: Mixed opinions

Should an owner of these high-end cars install seat covers, particularly because most OEMs do not provide seat cover options as additional accessories?

BHPian adasisthefuture recently shared this with other enthusiasts:

I was searching for a discussion on this topic on this forum however, most discussions are only restricted to low-cost cars and hardly any specific to Mercedes, BMW, Audi, Volvo etc. These days, luxury cars come with multiple Airbag setups including Centre Airbags and Specialized Airbags apart from regular curtain Airbags (see SIPS - Side Impact Protection System offered by Volvo and a similar system by Mercedes S-Class wherein the seats move towards the centre and the Centre Armrest collapses to save the passenger from Side Impact).

With such complex systems involved, I request knowledgeable members of this forum to throw light on the following aspects:

• Should an owner of these high-end cars install Seat Covers, more particularly in view of the fact that most OEMs do not provide Seat Cover options as additional accessories
• If the answer to question No.1 is in the affirmative then, which type of covers are advisable as there are Custom Fit Options as well as Universal Fit options. The issue with most Custom Fits is that they require removal of seats for installation which is not at all advisable in cars with such complex safety systems in place.
• If the answer to question No.1 is in the negative, then what are the options available to protect and regularly clean expensive Genuine Leather (for example Nappa Leather) seats. There are some detailing outlets doing ceramic coating on the seats however as genuine leather is mostly porous, doing ceramic coating makes the leather hard over time.

Thank you.

 Here's what BHPian BANDHAV replied:

Numerous customization outlets can do Grade A work by changing/upgrading the upholstery for any luxury car. I also work for vehicle customization and interior upholstery rework is possible for all kinds of cars.

To put it into perspective, a Phantom VIII interior is currently being refurbished. The only technicality involved is special stitching to ensure the correct deployment of airbags integrated into the seat.

Here's what BHPian AJ56 replied:

1) Not just premium cars, any car with airbags integrated into the seat cannot be fitted with covers of any kind as it’s difficult to match the factory tear points built into the stock seats. Also, you’ll lose any ventilation and cooling/heating built into the seat. Seat massaging might work but it won’t be the same experience.

For eg. Even mass market cars like Accord, Camry and even smaller ones like Verna have had 6 airbags for many years now. The factory fabric/leather easily lasts 10+ years and on many cars, 15 years. Post which just replace the seat instead of messing with the factory systems.

The correct method would be a full strip and reupholstery, skills I’ve not yet seen any local shop possess (with a quality outcome at least). Unless we’re talking high end interior customisation from the likes of Brabus/Alpina, etc.

Goes without saying, unless the customisation is checked and approved by the mfg. the warranty on all related components will be void.

2) The only way to get a half-decent fit is to remove the seats and do a custom install. Removing seats on any car, specially newer ones is not advisable as you have a lot of wiring and sensors.

Sensors and motors for not just airbags but also occupant weight and position, temperature and ventilation, massaging functions, lumbar support, seat position adjustment and more.

3) Keep the leather clean (use an all-purpose cleaner like Koch Chemie Greenstar with a medium soft brush) and apply a good conditioner like 3D LVP to form a thin barrier between the leather clearcoat and whatever touches it.

It’s the buildup of grease/body oils and fine debris in the folds of the leather that accelerates its wear and tear.

Here's what BHPian Akshay1234 replied:

Seat covers certainly aren't a good idea in my opinion for any car with a lot of seat electronics and airbags, etc. If one has to change the upholstery, it would require removing the existing leather/fabric and then stitching new upholstery on to the seat.

Now there are a lot of factors in this right from the people removing/fitting the parts (they need knowledge and care, so as not to break minor parts), to the person doing the stitching (Who needs to be a bit OCD to ensure the finish), to even the leather/material used. When all these come together then its possible to get an almost factory fit and finish.

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