[Kafkaesque328]

I find Dakota to be hard and rough. Many of the surfaces with that package arent leather only some and it is heavily treated. The sensatec is softer but doesnt breathe quite as well. However I spent a week in my friend's f30 with dakota leather in the summer and it doesnt 'breathe' at all. It gets scorching hot and your back sweats. In my opinion the dakota leather is like paying $1500 for leatherette because it doesnt look or feel any better. The faux leather in my wife's VW Tiguan is nicer, softer and perforated

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque320

I find Dakota to be hard and rough. Many of the surfaces with that package arent leather only some and it is heavily treated. The sensatec is softer but doesnt breathe quite as well. However I spent a week in my friend's f30 with dakota leather in the summer and it doesnt 'breathe' at all. It gets scorching hot and your back sweats

I agree with the breathing issue. All they needed to do was perforate the leather across the board but what do I know, I'm just an IT guy. Makes me even more pleased that I chose the dakota brown as it doesn't scorch my back as much in the summer as the black seats would. I do miss the cooled/ventilated seats from my previous Caddies....they did work even though practically every owner bitched about the lack of "air feel" on the back, which was not it's intention

[Kafkaesque328]

^ yeah, the brown is nice. If I special ordered I was going to spec the brown. My current car had the options I wanted but Sensatec. My main qualm with the sensatec in my last car was they werent heated so they were freezing and hard in the morning or on cold days. Upside too is I have 2 kids, a 4 year old and a baby and the 4 year old walks all over the back seats and spills things and they just wipe clean and require no care

[paul e]

I like my Venetian Beige Dakota in my 2016. I prefer a leather that will last and not stain easily. Over a year in, the leather seems to have softened a bit, but I never found it hard or rough. I like it.
Also, I would not spend $$$$$ on a leather that will get me nothing or nearly so on resale.
IMHO, people are real finicky here and this leather issue is an indication of that.

[etinifni]

I'm personally not a fan of how it feels, even with proper care.

[AlexM]

Had saddle brown dakota for 5 years and can confirm it's durable. BUT - it looks good only for max 2 years, even with care. After that it starts to shine and looks like vinyl. If you're buying for 3+ years go for merino...

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by AlexM

Had saddle brown dakota for 5 years and can confirm it's durable. BUT - it looks good only for max 2 years, even with care. After that it starts to shine and looks like vinyl. If you're buying for 3+ years go for merino...

Don't tell me that s**t, damn, lol Will prepare to trade next year then

[jeffc83]

Originally Posted by Kafkaesque328

^ yeah, the brown is nice. If I special ordered I was going to spec the brown. My current car had the options I wanted but Sensatec. My main qualm with the sensatec in my last car was they werent heated so they were freezing and hard in the morning or on cold days. Upside too is I have 2 kids, a 4 year old and a baby and the 4 year old walks all over the back seats and spills things and they just wipe clean and require no care

No doubt I would've done the same as you mate, 100%! (my boy is 11 and somehow keeps things clean)

[Jim E.]

Originally Posted by AlexM

Had saddle brown dakota for 5 years and can confirm it's durable. BUT - it looks good only for max 2 years, even with care. After that it starts to shine and looks like vinyl. If you're buying for 3+ years go for merino...

+1

My last two 3-series both had Dakota and I swore I'd never get another one again unless it had Merino. I do hold on to my cars for more than 3 years.

Dakota is ok when new. But because it's a rough surface, it will eventually wear from getting in and out of the car and start to shine. It's also a hit or miss when it comes to the coating. Sometimes it holds up other times it will wear off. Think of it as a coarser "sandpaper" type of material. At some point the friction of getting in and out of the car will wear out the high spots.

The merino in my F31 is simply stunning.

I also have Nappa in My E70 X5 as a point of reference. It looks practically as good is it did when I picked it up in at the end of 2010.