08-24-2018, 02:55 PM | #1 |
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Any way to know what my seats are made of? (Black Dakota or Sensatec)
I'm trying to figure out which products to use on my interior but I have no idea what it's made of.
Seats are sports seats with heat but as I understand it, they make them like this with both materials. BMW Vin decoder doesn't reveal any details. Anyone know of a way to find out? |
08-25-2018, 03:06 AM | #3 |
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It's pretty obvious. Rub them. Smell them. It's obvious if leather or not.
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08-25-2018, 10:00 AM | #4 |
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08-25-2018, 12:15 PM | #5 |
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08-25-2018, 02:21 PM | #6 | |
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Dakota doesn't breath any better than Sensatec as the hide is thoroughly sealed with a vinyl-like coating. It just wears a bit faster than sensatec. Absolutely no benefit in my eyes. |
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08-25-2018, 04:54 PM | #7 |
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Agree. Had Dakota in the last 5 BMW's, got Sensatec in the 440 and can't tell the difference. Girlfriend always had Sensatec. and it wore better than the Dakota.
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09-18-2018, 11:38 AM | #9 |
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Sensatec looks and feels like real leather by itself but when compared to the real thing side by side you can see the difference. It is definitely synthetic vs natural leather.
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09-18-2018, 05:28 PM | #10 |
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BMWs with leather interior have a stitched seam in the door card above the armrest, sensatec interior has a plain door card. I prefer Dakota Leather and think it is less prone to cracking than sensatec.
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09-18-2018, 05:30 PM | #11 |
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I believe I have red stitching on my sportline with sensatec on the door card but I'll have to check. Pretty sure though.
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09-18-2018, 07:50 PM | #13 | |
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09-18-2018, 09:02 PM | #14 |
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If it looks perfect it's SensaTec. Cowhide has flaws. It's not from North or South Dakota either, most likely Argentina. If they were accurate they'd call if Pampas Leather.
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09-18-2018, 10:07 PM | #15 |
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09-18-2018, 10:36 PM | #16 |
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The door card has sensatec and the red stitching matches with the sportline steering wheel so more likely that's how it's supposed to be. The steering wheel isn't leather either.
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09-19-2018, 09:07 AM | #17 | |
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Upon close inspection they do look a bit different. The grain is finer and is uniform on the sensatec. It also has a more pliable feel, almost feels thinner. The Dakota certainly isn't a high end leather, but does have a real leather texture - it's more course and perhaps thicker than many leathers. Some say the sensatec doesn't breathe as well as the Dakota, but personally, having owned both, can't tell a difference. Black non cloth can get a bit hot whether it's natural or synthetic. I would only get leather option if I wanted brown or red interior. If I were going beige or black, the leather just doesn't seem worth the extra money for no significant benefit.
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09-19-2018, 02:38 PM | #18 |
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