[ska///235i]

just wondering the stock sensatec (fake leather??) seats are good enough or you must have the real leather...any thoughts?

my e90 has the real leather and its still like new after 8+ years

[Jamesons Viggen]

Lots of previous discussion on this, might just want to search. Its is very personal opinion based on both camps.

[ybbiz34]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

just wondering the stock sensatec (fake leather??) seats are good enough or you must have the real leather...any thoughts?

my e90 has the real leather and its still like new after 8+ years

Sensatec Pros:

- Wears better (BMW leather is notorious for wrinkling and stretching)

- Easier to clean

- Pretty much looks exactly like leather

Sensatec Cons:

- Not as soft/supple as leather

- Does not have that BMW "leather smell"

- Can get brutally hot because it doesn't breathe as well

[ofcounsel]

I took ownership of a 328i MSport with Leatherette last month.

For reference, before that, between my wife and I, we've owned:

2009 Ford F-150 Platinum (the most pimptastic towing machine ever!)
2008 BMW 335i Premium/Sport/Cold Weather
2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport
2007 Porsche Boxster
2004 BMW 330cic Premium/Sport/Cold Wather
2004 Volvo S60
2001 BMW 530i Premium/Sport/Cold Weather
2001 BMW Z3 Premium/Sport/heated seats

We've always had leather/heated seats. This MSport is the first time I've had leatherette. I would say it's hard to visually distinguish between the leather and leatherette. Sitting in it, the biggest difference it feels "grippier" than leather. And it doesn't have the smell of leather.

I gotta say that for the first few days after my purchase I was a little apprehensive about having leatherette. I was kind of against the leatherette, and was going to purchase a very lightly optioned MSport (only had premium), but my wife told me she wanted the car with back up cameras and leatherette insted.

I was skeptical, but after 1000 miles, I don't give it a second thought, and absolutely no one who's ridden in my car has asked me "is this leather?"

Overall, I'm impressed with leatherette.

In terms of the best seats of the bunch I've owned, I gotta say that the F30 Sport seats overall are very good.

The Ford has the most supple luxurious leather. The Volvo S60's were the most comfortable seats I've ever owned. The F30's are pretty close to perfect though... Even in leatherette.


But, if you have to have leather... then go for it.

[Sherhart]

Originally Posted by ofcounsel

I took ownership of a 328i MSport with Leatherette last month.

For reference, before that, between my wife and I, we've owned:

2009 Ford F-150 Platinum (the most pimptastic towing machine ever!)
2008 BMW 335i Premium/Sport/Cold Weather
2007 Volvo XC90 V8 Sport
2007 Porsche Boxster
2004 BMW 330cic Premium/Sport/Cold Wather
2004 Volvo S60
2001 BMW 530i Premium/Sport/Cold Weather
2001 BMW Z3 Premium/Sport/heated seats

We've always had leather/heated seats. This MSport is the first time I've had leatherette. I would say it's hard to visually distinguish between the leather and leatherette. Sitting in it, the biggest difference it feels "grippier" than leather. And it doesn't have the smell of leather.

I gotta say that for the first few days after my purchase I was a little apprehensive about having leatherette. I was kind of against the leatherette, and was going to purchase a very lightly optioned MSport (only had premium), but my wife told me she wanted the car with back up cameras and leatherette insted.

I was skeptical, but after 1000 miles, I don't give it a second thought, and absolutely no one who's ridden in my car has asked me "is this leather?"

Overall, I'm impressed with leatherette.

In terms of the best seats of the bunch I've owned, I gotta say that the F30 Sport seats overall are very good.

The Ford has the most supple luxurious leather. The Volvo S60's were the most comfortable seats I've ever owned. The F30's are pretty close to perfect though... Even in leatherette.


But, if you have to have leather... then go for it.

What he said. My choices were sport/tech with leatherette or base with premium and leather. I would have saved about $2K going the base + premium route, but I couldn't do it. I have to have sport.

I actually did not know it was leatherette after the test drive and my dad has a ML320 diesel with leatherette (MB Tex) that was also impossible to tell it was not leather.

I am actually very happy with the decision and will be even happier 50K miles from now when the side bolsters don't look like an 80 year old's ass haha.

Jimbo

[openwheelracing]

Dakota leather have seemed to go down in quality over the years but leatherette is getting better. Just my experience from 2008 E90 leatherette, 2011 E90 leather and current F30 leatherette.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Jamesons Viggen

Lots of previous discussion on this, might just want to search. Its is very personal opinion based on both camps.

^ this. You're not going to get a clear answer. Some love leatherette and some hate it. I'm in the leather camp. BMW's Dakota leather is quite good and it is very sturdy. It is not as bad as some will tell you it is and their leatherette is not as good as some will tell you it is.

Merc's MBTex is markedly better than BMW's leatherette. If fact, it's almost impossible to get a C Class and most E Class cars with actual leather without ordering the car. Merc even puts their MBTex in $80,000 GL Class SUVs.

[ofcounsel]

Originally Posted by tturedraider

^ this. You're not going to get a clear answer. Some love leatherette and some hate it. I'm in the leather camp. BMW's Dakota leather is quite good and it is very sturdy. It is not as bad as some will tell you it is and their leatherette is not as good as some will tell you it is.

Merc's MBTex is markedly better than BMW's leatherette. If fact, it's almost impossible to get a C Class and most E Class cars with actual leather without ordering the car. Merc even puts their MBTex in $80,000 GL Class SUVs.

Oh, and one thing I would also add: I am impressed and happy with the leatherette, but if my car was exactly the same, but an extra $1000 for the leather, I would have taken the leather. And as much as I'm impressed with the leatherette, I still would have taken the leather if given the choice. For no other reason than I'm kind of a snob that way I bought mine as a former loaner, so I really didn't have a choice.

[ska///235i]

Reason i didnt do a search is because i wanted to know how you feel now as oppose to just first year ownership.

I had a 2004 c class with leatherette and hated it. My e90 leather lasted well but i wasnt sure if the f30s leather were the same

[xantdieselx]

Originally Posted by ska325xi

Reason i didnt do a search is because i wanted to know how you feel now as oppose to just first year ownership.

I had a 2004 c class with leatherette and hated it. My e90 leather lasted well but i wasnt sure if the f30s leather were the same

I had a 135i with the leatherette. I was the only person who knew it wasn't leather. The only downside I can offer from my experience is in maintaining it. I had black leatherette and after a while it would look dried out. I'd use Sonax leather foam and it would come back to looking like new. That would be my only gripe...wears like iron otherwise.

[rayg]

I got leatherette, had it in my 335i and I really liked it. You can't even feel the seats anyways when sitting in them, I would rather spend the extra cash on something more tangible.

[glangford]

I like the leatherette in my 328d. My 07 Mini Cooper had leatherette and when I traded it in for a BMW it's leatherette still looked brand new after almost 7 years.

[olinjohnston]

I personally love the feel, look, and smell of leather, and am one of the snobs that could not own one without it. However, I am glad that BMW makes plenty of cars without it for those who don't care or can't tell the difference - it would be a waste of fine materials.

Just my opinion...

[WHL102]

I like the leatherette in the F30. It feels much tougher than Mercedes' leatherette, MB-Tex. Whether or not that is "better" is purely subjective though.

[cloudyy]

I have leatherette and don't mind it. I noticed my back gets hot quickly from it and it has a cloth like feel when I'm sitting on it.

[drob23]

The comfort access is great though, which would require getting leather, probably my favorite feature other than a back-up camera.

[OC40]

Originally Posted by drob23

The comfort access is great though, which would require getting leather, probably my favorite feature other than a back-up camera.

CA rocks! It has made me lazier...

[KellerKiller]

I'd say it depends on your preferences, but more on your driving needs. I had a 128i loaner with leatherette while I waited on my build; I had to ask if it was leather because it does look that good. It was winter, but I still ended up sweating, uncomfortable, and sticky after any drive over about 30 min (I rarely keep the heat in my car above 65F). I've driven my 335i now on several 6-8 hour trips and have had no problems with staying comfortable in that respect. Real leather just breathes better; if I could get the vented seats in the 3 like on the 5/6/7, I would in a heartbeat. Some may need that and some may not. Assess your situation.

Edit: I would say though that if I didn't get leather I'd prefer cloth to leatherette. At least there's no pretending there and the cloth also breathes better... Too bad you can only get that outside of the U.S....

[martyg]

I have a Modern Line 328i with Oyster Dakota leather, and last week I was given a loaner 320i with fake leather. I was impressed by the fake leather in the loaner. It was softer than my leather, and I think it looked a little better. I was jealous! Few, if any, passengers that ride in your car will be able tell them apart. If I had the choice, I wouldn't pay extra for leather, and would spend the money on other options. I agree with the previous reply: comfort access is great!

[yemenmocha]

I love mine. Wish it was available on other models too. Have leather in the M3. The "breathing" argument doesn't seem convincing in my experience. Maybe for cloth I could see that angle. Or maybe I'm supposed to have a bare back against the seat to notice. If it truly is "breathing" then it isn't just air that is going into the seat - it's also your backsweat and more. Maybe that's why the Sensatec is easier to clean?

[carzaddict]

i find it to be complete bullshit that they even offer 2 kinds of "leather". theres really no point to it.

most of the buyers wont even realize the difference....i bet most buyers dont even KNOW theres a difference. just make 1 kind a standard across the board and call it a day. also, chances are a person who is buying a 3 series is more or less trying to buy a nice car without really breaking the bank. the kicker is that people will get in your car and expect it to be leather just because its a BMW

im not speaking on every single persons behalf....i know there are people that would rather have the real leather. im just saying

[zarehs27]

the only thing that bothers me in the leatherette option is that the door panels dont have stitching and that's why it looks cheap(er)...it's the only reason that makes me want the dakota option.