On my 2012 XJ I’ve noticed that my driver seat has become progressively less comfortable. I can feel something (what I think is the piping) on the left-hand side pressing into my thigh.

I took the seat out and removed the bottom cushion to investigate. It could be that the sides of the seat bottom have flattened and now allow the piping to touch. Or it could be that I’m crazy (my wife’s theory). Anyhoo, changes were made.

the first was to remove the piping cord from inside the leather (see pic). I made a small slit in the leather covering the piping towards the back of the seat cover. This is the drivers seat so I made the slit on the left side piping on the inside. I also made the slit on the right side piping towards the seat center but if i could do it again I would make the slit on the center console side to hide it. Though, realistically, it is essentially invisible.

After making the cut, I pulled the cord out of the piping. You need to be judicious while pulling so you don’t break it, massaging it along its length so it will slide out. The leather piping retains its “round” shape without it but I will report back after some miles to see if the piping changes shape.

I’m also adding some foam to the seat bottom (pics in a future post) to add some height to the original seat cushion.


The cords removed

 

Here are a couple more mods made.
added breathable foam to seat center section
added headliner foam to seat bottom sides
cut-down seam on the back side of the seat bottom seams

This is the stock foam on the seat bottom

Here is the new foam on seat bottom

This is the foam I bought from fabric store, this needs to be breathable for the AC in seat (this is 1” and I separated into 1/2” section).

Stock seat bottom

New foam, this is 1” and I separated so it was 1/2”

 

And here is final mod.
I also suspected that the curved seam in the side of the seat bottom was aggravating. My old XJS with aftermarket seat covers had a similar seam and it bothered me.

after I had the seat covers off I took a new razor blade and cut as much as I dared off of that seam. You’ll see two seams on it, one on top where they sewed the foam to the leather and then a lower seam that connects the leather halves. You want to avoid cutting into that lower seam or the seat bottom is ruined.

you could also, if you wanted, make the indentation in the foam deeper to allow the seam to set into the seat foam further. (see pics above with red line in seat foam)

I decided to add two layers of headliner foam on either side of the seam to raise the cover a little and take up some slack from seat wear over the years.

Seam in question

Here is the underside before the foam/fabric is cut

Cut foam to reveal the seam

New razor blade slicing sim of the seam off. Be brave and keep your wits about you.

 

And here is completed driver seat reinstalled. (Bottom pic is passenger seat for comparison)

Driver seat

Passenger seat

 

Nice job! I like how you think.

 

So don't keep is in suspense - tell us how does it now feel with your modifications? Any specific mods you feel made the most difference?