Left hip bolster, driver side
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jun 2014
Posts: 181
Likes: 1
From: Santa Barbara
2015 e63 wagon, tuned B5 S4, 1970 BMW 2002, Toureg(wife's)
Left hip bolster, driver side
Looks like today is when I list all the ways I'm screwing up this car. The drivers left seat bolster is already looking folded/wrinkled. I attached a pic, but it's night time and really hard to see, I'll post another with better light. But it seems to be from ingress and egress especially when it's too tight to open the door fully. Sometimes I feel myself putting weight on the very top of the bolster, and feel it give a little, but just noticed this today. If it's like this after 4 months, how bad is this gonna get in a few years? Anyone else have this problem?
Super Member
Joined: Dec 2010
Posts: 723
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From: Calgary, AB
2014 E63 S
I don't think this is that bad. You can barely tell.
You could consider the 'butt drop' seating technique.... easier on the side bolsters than sliding in. Getting out not much you can do really.
You could consider the 'butt drop' seating technique.... easier on the side bolsters than sliding in. Getting out not much you can do really.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 345
Likes: 3
2011 AMG E63
Looks like today is when I list all the ways I'm screwing up this car. The drivers left seat bolster is already looking folded/wrinkled. I attached a pic, but it's night time and really hard to see, I'll post another with better light. But it seems to be from ingress and egress especially when it's too tight to open the door fully. Sometimes I feel myself putting weight on the very top of the bolster, and feel it give a little, but just noticed this today. If it's like this after 4 months, how bad is this gonna get in a few years? Anyone else have this problem?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 570
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'14 C63 507, '11 C300, '96 Cobra, '91 Mr2
+1 -- that side bolster will tear before the bottom, had to get that repaired on a prior E-class. Car was maybe 5 or 6 years old. I'm pretty sure keeping up on the leather treatment would have helped to though, too -- especially for those of us living in the colder climates.
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Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,829
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'20 GLC300 SUV
Try this technique:
1) Set your seat to your preferred driving position. Commit this position to memory (spot 1, 2, or 3).
2) When exiting the car, slide the seat all the way back (the furthest it will go). Commit this position to memory. When exiting the car, rotate your legs to the left (your feet should be hovering over the ground). Lift your legs above the bolster as you're doing this (the extent to which you can do this will depend on your core strength).
Brace your right hand on the steering wheel and push/lift yourself up as you're lifting your left leg up over the bolster and putting your left foot on the ground.
3) When entering the car next, your seat will still be in the "back" position. This will allow you to turn and back into the car (butt-first). You can use your legs to lift your butt over the bolster (and you're now clearing the shortest portion of the bolster with the seat back). Sit down and rotate your legs into the car.
4) Use the memory button to put your seat back into the driving position.
Voila! You will now be making either 1) no contact or 2) very minimal contact with the thigh bolster on entry/exit.
I know the above sounds/seems absolutely ridiculous when you see it typed out like that but it is a surefire way to avoid the dreaded bolster wear.
1) Set your seat to your preferred driving position. Commit this position to memory (spot 1, 2, or 3).
2) When exiting the car, slide the seat all the way back (the furthest it will go). Commit this position to memory. When exiting the car, rotate your legs to the left (your feet should be hovering over the ground). Lift your legs above the bolster as you're doing this (the extent to which you can do this will depend on your core strength).
Brace your right hand on the steering wheel and push/lift yourself up as you're lifting your left leg up over the bolster and putting your left foot on the ground.
3) When entering the car next, your seat will still be in the "back" position. This will allow you to turn and back into the car (butt-first). You can use your legs to lift your butt over the bolster (and you're now clearing the shortest portion of the bolster with the seat back). Sit down and rotate your legs into the car.
4) Use the memory button to put your seat back into the driving position.
Voila! You will now be making either 1) no contact or 2) very minimal contact with the thigh bolster on entry/exit.
I know the above sounds/seems absolutely ridiculous when you see it typed out like that but it is a surefire way to avoid the dreaded bolster wear.
Junior Member
Joined: Sep 2014
Posts: 18
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2014 E63 Sedan
Yes, it does. :-) But I like the end goal. I'll pay more attention when I'm getting in and out and see if I start doing this.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
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'20 GLC300 SUV
Thanks man!
Haha. Good luck buddy. Hope it helps/works out.
The seats in my C63 are very heavily bolstered (I absolutely love them) and I have to use this method for entry/exit as well. At first, I'm pretty sure bystanders thought I was doing the robot getting when I was getting in/out of the car but now, it not only looks natural but it feels natural as well.
The best part is that the process has worked.
The seats in my C63 are very heavily bolstered (I absolutely love them) and I have to use this method for entry/exit as well. At first, I'm pretty sure bystanders thought I was doing the robot getting when I was getting in/out of the car but now, it not only looks natural but it feels natural as well.
The best part is that the process has worked.
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MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 1,204
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From: North CA
2021 E63S and 2025 GT63
Looks like today is when I list all the ways I'm screwing up this car. The drivers left seat bolster is already looking folded/wrinkled. I attached a pic, but it's night time and really hard to see, I'll post another with better light. But it seems to be from ingress and egress especially when it's too tight to open the door fully. Sometimes I feel myself putting weight on the very top of the bolster, and feel it give a little, but just noticed this today. If it's like this after 4 months, how bad is this gonna get in a few years? Anyone else have this problem?
This is how it looks like after a year and three months: side bolster is worse than seat, time to try zibby43 patent technique....
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Joined: Sep 2008
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From: Seattle, WA
99 ML430, 01 CLK55, 07 R63, 15 E63 Wagon
My lower bolster started wearing at 1,000 miles, before I even dropped it off in Europe during my European Delivery! I've tried to change my egress from the car (ingress I can do without hitting any bolster) so that I don't touch either bolster but it's tough. I find myself just laying down my jacket on the bottom sometimes before I get into the car so I won't wear the leather down even more! Keep in mind I have Mystic Red interior which is probably more noticeable than the black. I do have an original owner 63,000 mile CLK55 from 2001 with the same black nappa leather and it's definitely worn a little but after a certian point in time it just becomes shiny and that's about as bad as it got for me.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
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'14 C63 507, '11 C300, '96 Cobra, '91 Mr2
I tried zibby's method (patent pending) last night -- maybe I'm not doing it right, but you seriously need some strong core muscles to grab the steering wheel and lift yourself off over the bolster...
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2015
Posts: 345
Likes: 3
2011 AMG E63
It cost me 50 bucks to have my seat bolster repaired, how much does it cost to have a steering column repaired?
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 570
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'14 C63 507, '11 C300, '96 Cobra, '91 Mr2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,829
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'20 GLC300 SUV
As an alternative to Zibby43's patented solution, you can always try Tony's:
Considering salads - YouTube
Bobby may not have appreciated it, but it's worked for me.
Considering salads - YouTube
Bobby may not have appreciated it, but it's worked for me.
I should have explained this aspect better initially but I more or less use my right hand on top of the steering wheel to balance myself/give myself a little push as I rotate my legs to the left and pull my left knee to my chest. I always make sure the car is off when I use the steering wheel as bracing point as having the car off entirely "locks up" the wheel.
As soon as I can lift the entirety of my left leg (including my left "cheek") over the bolster, I place my left foot on the ground and use that to pull myself out (together with my hand). The right leg just follows after that; it doesn't come anywhere close to the bolster.
Some of my buddies have really nice Recaro buckets in their track cars. I've seen them using the same method (they have to do it just to get out of those heavily bolstered seats) with a slight variation; they pull themselves up using the door handle on the headliner.
Maybe I'll make a YouTube video with me getting in/out. At the very least, you guys will have some hearty laughs.
Last edited by zibby43; Apr 18, 2015 at 10:50 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 570
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'14 C63 507, '11 C300, '96 Cobra, '91 Mr2
What's your left arm doing this whole time? Grabbing the A-pillar or the roof?
Ok, you use the steering wheel to brace your body and rotate left, now you are pushing off the steering wheel with one arm as opposed to the two arms I thought you were using?
I can barely do it with two arms...
Ok, you use the steering wheel to brace your body and rotate left, now you are pushing off the steering wheel with one arm as opposed to the two arms I thought you were using?
I can barely do it with two arms...
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Feb 2008
Posts: 2,829
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'20 GLC300 SUV
What's your left arm doing this whole time? Grabbing the A-pillar or the roof?
Ok, you use the steering wheel to brace your body and rotate left, now you are pushing off the steering wheel with one arm as opposed to the two arms I thought you were using?
I can barely do it with two arms...
Ok, you use the steering wheel to brace your body and rotate left, now you are pushing off the steering wheel with one arm as opposed to the two arms I thought you were using?
I can barely do it with two arms...
And the hindquarter (did I just say hindquarter on MBWorld?) portion of my left leg just barely brushes the top part bolster as I'm getting out. Just having the seat all the way back when exiting helps a lot. And there's far less contact going on when exiting as opposed to entering.
Has moving the seat back and backing into the seat/swinging your legs in helped with the entering part?
