Leahter Seats in 2006 X3

I went to clean leather seats in Bmw after i got done cleaning seats in my Mazda Speed3.

I started to wipe seats with cleaner, only to realize that the seats started to peel off on the sides of the seats. It looked like i was scratching off a lottery ticket. Is there some kind of protective coating or r these seats not real leather.

I bought the 2006 X3 used with 28000 miles on it from dealership, its my first bmw any help on seats would be great. I have used same cleaner on all my cars that had leather seats over the years with no problem Lexol cleaner and conditioner

Silly question, but do you have leather or leatherette in your car?

they are heated leather seats, is what the window sticker says, but the sides on the seats dont look like leather

now on the leatherette was there a coating on them to make them look more like real leather?

cause as i was cleaning, it look like i was just taking off a very thin coating, then under that layer the seat is not discolored and looked normal but it looked like peeling skin or a lottery ticket getting scratched off.

The leather seats have a reflective piping down the middle of the seats, so check for that.

please post a picture, using flash, we will know as soon as we see them.