[brikabrak]

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?

[brikabrak]

Used another decoder, thank you!

LEDER DAKOTASCHWARZ (LCSW)

[eluded]

It's pretty obvious. Rub them. Smell them. It's obvious if leather or not.

[brikabrak]

Originally Posted by eluded

It's pretty obvious. Rub them. Smell them. It's obvious if leather or not.

It's actually pretty far from obvious. Dakota leather doesn't smell at all, it's covered in a vinyl like coating.

[cmplaya]

Originally Posted by brikabrak

It's actually pretty far from obvious. Dakota leather doesn't smell at all, it's covered in a vinyl like coating.

truth. it was subtle side by side, not that obvious for me, thats why i ordered with sensatec

[brikabrak]

Originally Posted by cmplaya

truth. it was subtle side by side, not that obvious for me, thats why i ordered with sensatec

I know, I look at Dakota as the lesser option but allows for people who need "leather" to have it.

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.

[davefromfla]

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.

[HB E90]

Good to know. I found a car that has everything else I want but is Sensatec. I was thinking it was a big Neg but not so?

[bimmer456]

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.

[BMWinAZ]

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.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by BMWinAZ

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.

I believe I have red stitching on my sportline with sensatec on the door card but I'll have to check. Pretty sure though.

[18340i]

There's also stitching on the side arm rests on the doors (the part with the window controls), which the synthetic doesn't have.

[BMWinAZ]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I believe I have red stitching on my sportline with sensatec on the door card but I'll have to check. Pretty sure though.

This is freaky! Are you sure you have SensaTec? This is the leather door card seam. I just looked at a bunch of newer used f30s on the local dealer website and all the SensaTec ones have the plain door card and the ones with Dakota leather have this seam. However, when I did a new configure on the BMW website and picked the SensaTec the accompanying picture showed the seam for both the leather and SensaTec interiors. I tend to believe the seam is reliable as this has been a "thing" for many years.

[Billfitz]

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.

[IK6SPEED]

Originally Posted by bimmer456

I believe I have red stitching on my sportline with sensatec on the door card but I'll have to check. Pretty sure though.

Entirely possible they installed wrong part. Very rare, but has been known to happen.

[bimmer456]

Originally Posted by IK6SPEED

Entirely possible they installed wrong part. Very rare, but has been known to happen.

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.

[metallicpea]

Originally Posted by HB E90

Good to know. I found a car that has everything else I want but is Sensatec. I was thinking it was a big Neg but not so?

The difference isn't huge. If you plan to keep the car for more than a 3 year lease, the sensatec will certainly hold up better. It is very durable and looks new after many years. I had a leatherette on my first bmw E46 LCI and after 12 years it was in great shape except the piping on the sport bolsters had worn. The leatherette panels looked nearly new.

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.

[Noelified]

Put the VIN in here and it will list the entire build.

https://www.mdecoder.com