[435iFanatiker]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Can't imagine owning a $50K+ car without leather...mine was included in Premium package

What he said.

[S4NoMore]

I would have ordered leather if I ordered my car. Happily it has premium package anyway.

Before ending up with my F30 I actually put in an offer on a '11 E90 M Sport 335i with most options I needed, though it had leatherette. I thought hard about it and figured I could sacrifice given the rarity of 4-door 6-speed BMWs. I'm glad things worked out the way they did though, the new 328i makes great sense for me personally.

My opinion is that the leatherette is okay, but I'm the type to immediately notice the way it feels - more grippy, rubbery, less breathable. I don't hate it but I would absolutely spend the money on leather. Plus I notice the stitching accents are not there with leatherette.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

My old E39(sold at 100k miles) had Montana leather on standard seats, but those had bigger bolsters than the F30 standard seats(non-sport). The big bolsters are usually wear areas regardless of leather or not.

The Dakota leather does look/feel like it has an additional(synthetic?) top coat that is not present on the Montana, to the extent that Dakota does not absorb leather conditioner like the Montana. The upside for that is Dakota seems to wear better than Montana.

As far as breathing with Dakota, it probably cannot beat Nappa and such, but it does not have that foam-to-the-skin/pants feel like the Sensatec after long drives in hot days. For some reason, the MB-tex seems to feel not as foamy than Sensatec, maybe BMW can use the same suppler in future models.

Yes, when I conditioned the leather in my 335i it did feel a bit better, but it didn't take like other leather I've had.

In my E46 it had sport seats with nice bolsters on the sides and seat, and they were very similar in size to the sport seats in my 135i and 335i.
Larger bolsters can be higher wear areas but with the sensatec in my E46 there was 0 wear on them after 3yrs.
In my experience sensatec wears better, much better, and that's comparing sport seats with larger bolsters.

I never had a problem with sticking to the sensatec in the E46, mainly because when it's humid and hot I run the AC.
They felt no warmer or colder than the leather, tough they did feel softer as the sensatec feels thicker and cushier compared to the relatively stiff leather. I guess you either like it or don't.

I wanted to do a terra leather this time but BMW changed it up again and now it's saddle brown. In the picts of saddle brown that I've seen it looks too much a shade of...well....I'll be polite. I can't have that in my 340i.
I may go red again with silver or gray exterior since I can't get mineral white (corrected) with Msport. If I go with black, then I will likely go without leather.

[sr5959]

Originally Posted by RPM90

Yes, when I conditioned the leather in my 335i it did feel a bit better, but it didn't take like other leather I've had.

In my E46 it had sport seats with nice bolsters on the sides and seat, and they were very similar in size to the sport seats in my 135i and 335i.
Larger bolsters can be higher wear areas but with the sensatec in my E46 there was 0 wear on them after 3yrs.
In my experience sensatec wears better, much better, and that's comparing sport seats with larger bolsters.

I never had a problem with sticking to the sensatec in the E46, mainly because when it's humid and hot I run the AC.
They felt no warmer or colder than the leather, tough they did feel softer as the sensatec feels thicker and cushier compared to the relatively stiff leather. I guess you either like it or don't.

I wanted to do a terra leather this time but BMW changed it up again and now it's saddle brown. In the picts of saddle brown that I've seen it looks too much a shade of...well....I'll be polite. I can't have that in my 340i.
I may go red again with silver or gray exterior since I can't get mineral gray with Msport. If I go with black, then I will likely go without leather.

Why can't you get Mineral Grey with M-Sport?

[Aatish]

If BMW offered the awesome cloth option they have europe, I probably would've passed on the leather. But they don't, and my experinece with synthetic leather over the years hasn't been the most pleasant, which is why I wanted leather.

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by DHS

I do know what is in your driveway.

You bought a car obviously not doing any due diligence and now after the fact you blame BMW for your mistake. Maybe a used YUGO would make you happy. They had very limited options and leather was NOT one of them.

He only said the way BMW bundles cars (useful vs not so much) doesn't make sense or he disagrees with. That's all. I see nothing wrong in that statement whatsoever. This might have been a requirement in 2013..because in 2015 you can get leather and or the Cold weather package independently though.........

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by tex2670

This is the basic fact. Until people stop buying BMWs because they nickel and dime you with features that *should* be standard, they will keep doing it. Every Honda comes standard with a rearview camera, and in a couple of years, it will be required standard equipment. But it's extra on a BMW.

Except for the most basic Corolla, they all come with a smart key and LED headlights. Extra on BMW.

Sunroof--extra.

Leather--extra.

And the 3 Series had record setting sales numbers last year. And the OP still bought one. If the OP was really pissed about this, he would have bought something else.

So sure, we take his rant with a grain (or shaker) of salt...

Moonroof is standard on the GC. Just sayin

[CalCarNut]

Originally Posted by sr5959

Why can't you get Mineral Grey with M-Sport?

You can...per configurator.........

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by sr5959

Why can't you get Mineral Grey with M-Sport?

My bad, typo.
"I may go red again with silver or gray exterior since I can't get mineral gray with Msport."

Meant to write, "...since I can't get mineral white...". That's why I mentioned
...silver or gray exterior..., mineral gray that is.
Just slap me.

[RPM90]

Originally Posted by Aatish

If BMW offered the awesome cloth option they have europe, I probably would've passed on the leather. But they don't, and my experinece with synthetic leather over the years hasn't been the most pleasant, which is why I wanted leather.

What was/were the unpleasant experiences with sensatec?

[aksi]

When I had a loaner with sensatec, I found that it gets so f***in hot during hot summer in california.
I was more than glad mine doesn't have sensatec.
So from my experience, sensatec sucks

[Aatish]

Originally Posted by RPM90

What was/were the unpleasant experiences with sensatec?

Always found it to be a little harder than leather. Had some color issues with VW back when I was a lad. Also remember that one having issues with tearing and cracking. Might have been a VW prob, but it sure as hell left an impression on me. My dad also seems to agree with me on synthetics.

[iconoclast]

Originally Posted by roundel335

Can't imagine owning a $50K+ car without leather...mine was included in Premium package, but my wife's 128i M-Sport ($40K+) was ordered without Premium but with leather by choice.

could you imagine a 70k+ car without leather? MB doesn't have leather on most of their vehicles. it's mb-tex. it is optional on most vehicles but on a GL at $70k you get fake leather unless you pay up.

[moviebumm]

My sister had leatherette in her e46 and her e92. She doesn't mind but when ever I travel in her car, I hate the ride solely because of the fabric. Not only did I order leather seats but also the dashboard. I honestly wanted more leather than BMW puts into these cars. I wish BMW allowed Merino or Nappa leather in the USA for regular 2-4 series cars.

[TankerJoe]

Originally Posted by Aatish

If BMW offered the awesome cloth option they have europe, I probably would've passed on the leather. But they don't, and my experinece with synthetic leather over the years hasn't been the most pleasant, which is why I wanted leather.

Exactly! I'm actually considering cloth seats for the M2 in 2017-18...

[bavarianride]

Originally Posted by TankerJoe

Exactly! I'm actually considering cloth seats for the M2 in 2017-18...

Is BMW cloth fabric easy to clean? Maybe it has Scotgard on it? Past experience with cleaning up cloth has been unpleasant.

[Aatish]

Originally Posted by bavarianride

Is BMW cloth fabric easy to clean? Maybe it has Scotgard on it? Past experience with cleaning up cloth has been unpleasant.

Cloth in general is a little harder to keep clean than leather. That being said, occasional dry carpet cleaner and frequent vacuuming is what I do on cloth cars. I actually prefer it to cleaning leather as I don't need a bucket, shampoo, leather brush, and microfiber towels.

[TankerJoe]

Cloth has only been hard to clean when I dumped a coke on the seat. Now with cup holders, that's far less likely. Thankfully the seat underlayment in modern cars doesn't absorb water like the seats used to be comprised of. BMW cloth is extremely durable and easy to brush clean (when dry) if you get stuff like mustard on it.
I have the beige leather seats and I'm always having to wipe them down when the kids get into the car. I didn't want the black seats - daggone things get too hot in the summer. And, BMW didn't offer the brown leather seats, except in individual when I ordered the car in Jan '14.
I keep cars a long time and have seen too many ripped vinyl seats after the warranty period runs out, so vinyl was not high on my list.

[keylime503]

Originally Posted by RPM90

My bad, typo.
"I may go red again with silver or gray exterior since I can't get mineral gray with Msport."

Meant to write, "...since I can't get mineral white...". That's why I mentioned
...silver or gray exterior..., mineral gray that is.
Just slap me.

I've been wondering this for awhile now. Why can you not get Metallic White with Msport?

[CalCarNut]

BMW and it's games. You can't get a Jet Black M-Sport either..you have to upgrade to the metallic for $550. BMW isn't alone doing that..Audi etc all do it..paint color restrictions vs packages.....

[ipilcher]

Originally Posted by SoCalDave

BMW and it's games. You can't get a Jet Black M-Sport either..you have to upgrade to the metallic for $550. BMW isn't alone doing that..Audi etc all do it..paint color restrictions vs packages.....

I'm actually OK with the money grubbing. Refusing to sell an M Sport in any shade of blue is just obnoxious and weird.

[fshubert]

Had leatherette in my '07. Wanted the Dakota leather after that and did so for the next 3 cars. Had beige in the '09 and what a pain to keep clean, so kept it to a black interior for the '13 and '15.