[Lynn_228i]

Sensatec Seating Vs. Leather Upgrade & Color Combinations

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Right now my lease is due in 2 months on my BMW 128 with Oyster leather (with black floors mats and light ceiling and black trim on the doors) seats and Alpine White exterior. The seats do get dirty but I love the lighter interior. I am going to try to order this week my new BMW and I am trying to decide what I want my car to have.

Can those that chose the Sensatec Seating, let me know if they would do it again and if they have the Oyster or the black? Does the vinyl seats get extra hot in the summer time and extra cold in the winter time so you really need to use the heated seats often? Anyone with the lighter color Oyster with the light floors and ceiling regret getting this or are you happy having a lighter interior? Is it difficult to keep clean? Anyone have Oyster Leather that chose to go with the black and Oyster combination that I have now and why they chose this?

For those that chose the leather, which color combination did you go with and do you feel it was worth the extra money?

[T.Maas]

I have the sensatec and when I drive my car my back always seems to get warm and sometimes a bit sweaty. It might be because of the warmth now that it's getting warmer outside, but the seats are really warm during the summer and theres just no breathability for your back. I don't know if the leather is more breathable, but I have no problems with the sensatec, those are just my nit picks for it. I wouldn't need to spend any money for leather other than to have a different color than black. I wouldn't need black leather over black sensatec. Defeats the purpose in my opinion

[Lynn_228i]

T.Maas, Thank you for letting me know your opinion of your seats and that you would not spend the money for the leather.

[propkaPT]

due to limited color options for the interior with msport i chose to save money on the premium package. Luckly with the 335i you don't miss out on too many things by NOT optioning in premium and im happy with my leatherette. I think if you have a black interior leather or faux leather it will get really hot in the sun. Nothing a 10 dollar sun shade cant fix

[Lynn_228i]

propkaPT,

Since you did not go with the Premium Package, do your mirrors have an automatic fold button or do you have to manually fold them?

When I had my Honda Prelude with the Furry comfortable black sporty seats that I loved years ago, I would have to put a towel on the seat after the gym as the seats were so hot. So maybe you are right that black seats get hot no matter what but they are easier to clean. I have the Oyster Leather right now that I love but I have to clean them frequently as they pick up the die from my jeans.

I do not need a Moon Roof that I rarely use but I do want folded power mirrors which should be standard on the car but it is not it seems as I tested a car at a dealer two days ago that amazingly did not have the mirrors fold automatically. I noticed this since I fold mine a lot and asked where the button was to fold them. Now I am trying to figure out if I could live with folding them manually before pulling into my garage as I keep a lot of storage on the sides and it is a tight fit.

[Ryan9095]

Originally Posted by Lynn_128i

propkaPT,

Since you did not go with the Premium Package, do your mirrors have an automatic fold button or do you have to manually fold them?

The car does not come standard with folding mirrors. I had assumed the same when I ordered my car without the premium package 2.5 years ago and it's a feature I miss.

[bri1042]

Really? My '13 328 is pretty base and I have the folding mirrors...

[knightsabers]

The oyster interior livens up the car especially for a dark exterior. If I had to choose again, I would've upgraded to leather.

Probably re-trim the dash in the future with black leather to achieve a two tone effect. Overall the oyster is quite nice, if the headliner was in oyster alcantara, it would look even better.

Maintenance wise isn't too bad, just got to keep wiping each time. During summer it can get quite hot but as with most leathers but should be cooler than black leather.

Here's a pic of mine in Oyster Interior to give you a rough idea.

[Ryan9095]

Originally Posted by bri1042

Really? My '13 328 is pretty base and I have the folding mirrors...

I have a 12' first year model doesn't have a lot of things... (when is my lease going to be over!!!)

Regarding the OPs question, I always opt for leather because I like colored interiors. I think it adds a little luxury/unique touch to the interior if you go for something like coral red or saddle brown. If you are planning on black/beige I probably wouldn't pay the money to upgrade the sensatec it looks spot on.

[BeachsideF30]

I had leather in both my e90 and my e92. I have sensatec or whatever in my f30. Can I tell a difference? Sure but it's not a deal breaker no one who's ridden has ever asked about it. The leather started to wrinkle and show it's age with time ESP the driver side bolster. I've read the leatherette holds up significantly better. As far as heat goes, I live in Florida so it's going to be hot no matter what u have. But I have 15% on my windows and llumar air blue on my windshield and that helps keep it significantly cooler inside. I haven't noticed much back sweat like others have mentioned.

[Bimmer-Mac]

Originally Posted by Lynn_128i

Sensatec Seating Vs. Leather Upgrade & Color Combinations

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Right now my lease is due in 2 months on my BMW 128 with Oyster leather (with black floors mats and light ceiling and black trim on the doors) seats and Alpine White exterior. The seats do get dirty but I love the lighter interior. I am going to try to order this week my new BMW and I am trying to decide what I want my car to have.

Can those that chose the Sensatec Seating, let me know if they would do it again and if they have the Oyster or the black? Does the vinyl seats get extra hot in the summer time and extra cold in the winter time so you really need to use the heated seats often? Anyone with the lighter color Oyster with the light floors and ceiling regret getting this or are you happy having a lighter interior? Is it difficult to keep clean? Anyone have Oyster Leather that chose to go with the black and Oyster combination that I have now and why they chose this?

For those that chose the leather, which color combination did you go with and do you feel it was worth the extra money?

For 2014, if you choose the Sport or M-Sport Line, you can get the oyster interior again, which comes with black interior and oyster seats. The oyster interior pictured above is of the '12-'13 Modern Line which was oyster seats with dark oyster dash.

[Lynn_228i]

knightsabers, Thank you for agreeing with me that the oyster interior livens up the car. I think it looks nice the way your car is with the dark oyster dash and the oyster seats. Thank you for sharing.

Thank you Ryan9095 letting me know that you opt for leather since you like to go with coral red or saddle brown as your interiors. I was at the BMW showroom today and the coral red was so pretty and so was the saddle brown on the seats. I also felt the different leathers and on some of the higher model cars that had the Nappa Leather, it felt so soft and nice.

BeachsideF30, thank you for letting me know that you feel the leatherette holds up better.

Bimmer-Mac, thanks for letting me know that if I choose the Sport or M-Sport Line, I can get the Oyster interior again with the two toned look. I really love this look and I am not tired of it yet. I think in the USA we do not have the Modern Line but the Oyster car looked nice also.

[Bimmer-Mac]

Originally Posted by Lynn_128i

Bimmer-Mac, thanks for letting me know that if I choose the Sport or M-Sport Line, I can get the Oyster interior again with the two toned look. I really love this look and I am not tired of it yet. I think in the USA we do not have the Modern Line but the Oyster car looked nice also.

No worries! Actually, the two-tone oyster/black is new for the 3 series, and I think its a great addition. Looks great with almost every exterior color. We have the Oyster/Black on a 135i M-Sport convertible and really love the interior.

If you are looking for a used 3, the Modern Line was available here in the USA for the first two model years. Not many sold, so they eliminated it for the Basic/Luxury/Sport/M-Sport lines.

[Technic]

Originally Posted by Bimmer-Mac

For 2014 4-Series, if you choose the Sport or M-Sport Line, you can get the oyster interior again, which comes with black interior and oyster seats. The oyster interior pictured above is of the '12-'13 Modern Line which was oyster seats with dark oyster dash.

Fixed.

It seems that Oyster/Black will be available in the MY2015 3-Series as well.

[Lynn_228i]

Bimmer-Mac & Technic, thank you! I really want the Oyster/Black combination again as I still am not tired of it and love the way it looks.

[zamboni]

Lynn_128i my recommendation is black interior and you don't have to problem to worry about, I had the black int on my 128i and it didn't bother me at all during summer.

[Lynn_228i]

Thank you Zamboni for letting me know that the black interior did not bother you at all in the summer.

[zamboni]

All of my cars had black interior and even M3 had special sun-reflective coating with the top down it's not that hot.

[Sherhart]

The Sensatec seats do seem to get hotter than my wife's leather in her Q7, but it's not that bad and a non-issue with the air on. If you plan to keep the car for a while, the Sensatec will definitely wear better. The bolsters on leather cars with 50K+ miles just look terrible.

Jimbo

[Kevin M]

I went for Sensatec because I had to take a car that was already produced to get my lease deal.

My parents have had leatherette in the past and it was totally fine. Real leather is only marginally nicer.

Several dealers have told me "only the cow can tell the difference, get Sensatec".

[utenigma]

I had grey leather in my '01 330, black sensatec in my '13 335

The seats don't get abnormally in the summer - not any hotter than any other part of the interior (I live in texas) nor any hotter than the leather seats in my old car. Actually the leather in my old car seemed to get hotter in the summer than this one does. My back does sweat a little if I'm really hot when I get in the car - maybe it's the sensatec, maybe it's the deep bolsters on the sport seats - hit the max A/C button and the problem corrects itself quickly

I chose sensatec b/c it wears so much better than leather. Before I got my 335, I parked next to an '03 325 in a mall parking lot that was completely ragged out. Obviously parked outside it's whole life and probably never washed once, dented, sratched, emblem peeling - complete embarrassment of a car and obvious the owner took no care of it. I looked inside and it had the tan sensatec interior, and the seats were flawless. My 13 year old leather seats that I took care of looked every bit of 13 years old. That sold me on sensatec in the next car I got.

And when I tell people the interior on the new car's not leather, they're shocked

[Lynn_228i]

Thank you Sherhart, Kevin M, & Utenigma for your opinions that are great appreciated.

Now I am upset since I cannot have powered folding mirrors without the premium package. Anyone miss their folding mirrors? BMW should have powered folding mirrors standard!