Changing Interior color/leather

AudiA4 · 04-06-2015, 11:12 AM

Dumb question, but has anyone ever considered or followed through with changing or modifying the interior leather? I know leather interiors are added all the time aftermarket to other cars. I'm just curious if anyone has attempted to upgrade or change the interior color or leather that came standard on their car.

Thanks.

tex2670 · 04-06-2015, 11:19 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AudiA4

Dumb question, but has anyone ever considered or followed through with changing or modifying the interior leather? I know leather interiors are added all the time aftermarket to other cars. I'm just curious if anyone has attempted to upgrade or change the interior color or leather that came standard on their car.

Thanks.

My mother did this on her new Honda CRV--the color she wanted only came with a black interior, and she didn't want that. So, rather than get a different color car with a gray interior, she had the dealer take it to an after market upholstery shop. She wouldn't tell me how much she spent, so I'm guessing it was over $3,000.

KneeDragr · 04-06-2015, 11:42 AM

I see guys in the Corvette forum do it quite a bit, but they are usually upgrading to high quality Nappa leather to the tune of 15-20k.

Considering the cost of the materials and labor, even getting cheap plastic coated stuff probably runs a quarter to a third of that.

AudiA4 · 04-06-2015, 01:33 PM

I know lots of people who've negotiated this as an aftermarket service through a dealer after a sale...just not with BMW. It obviously wasn't cost prohibitive. I'm just curious if anyone's done the same purchasing a 3 series.

Tommy_hf · 04-06-2015, 01:33 PM

I went for aftermarket, result was way more supple leather in Zimtbraun (Cinnamon) which isn't available from factory, along with beige stitching. Compared to BMW's stock Dakota interior, it's not even close. Factory Dakota feels and looks like plastic, fit and finish isn't even comparable.

AudiA4 · 04-06-2015, 02:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy_hf

I went for aftermarket, result was way more supple leather in Zimtbraun (Cinnamon) which isn't available from factory, along with beige stitching. Compared to BMW's stock Dakota interior, it's not even close. Factory Dakota feels and looks like plastic, fit and finish isn't even comparable.

Excellent. Do you mind sharing how much it cost? Did they install it over the existing leather (or vinyl)?

Boondoggler · 04-06-2015, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy_hf

I went for aftermarket, result was way more supple leather in Zimtbraun (Cinnamon) which isn't available from factory, along with beige stitching. Compared to BMW's stock Dakota interior, it's not even close. Factory Dakota feels and looks like plastic, fit and finish isn't even comparable.

Would love to see pics of that interior, sounds awesome!

eric@helix · 04-06-2015, 02:08 PM

The ideal situation is if you find the interior color of your choice that came out of a car that was being converted to a race car. For the shop 135i, I was able to get a complete interior from a 1M Coupe for way less than reupholstering.

Tommy_hf · 04-06-2015, 02:13 PM

They take out your old interior and hand cut and stitch the new one. Just a few pics below. (Cools interiors did it Zimtbraun Dakota, but a lot better quality Dakota than BMW's own). It took about 5 days to return the car. Total cost about USD 2900.

Fronzdan · 04-06-2015, 02:25 PM

You weren't exaggerating. That looks a LOT better than stock!! I think you should do the e-brake boot too!!

finaloption · 04-06-2015, 02:29 PM

wow dude.. that looks amazing!

Tommy_hf · 04-06-2015, 02:30 PM

I was thinking about it, but then thought it would be a bit too much. Still thinking about keeping the handbrake boot blak, but have it with cinnamon stitching, maybe on the steering wheel as well :-)

Boondoggler · 04-06-2015, 02:32 PM

Stunning!! Thanks for the pics! Great bang for the buck with that upgrade!! May I ask what exterior color you have? Seems like a perfect fit for Mineral Grey, but would work really well with several others.

Tommy_hf · 04-06-2015, 02:33 PM

Mine is Imperial Blau, love it in that combo :-)

Boondoggler · 04-06-2015, 02:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tommy_hf

Mine is Imperial Blau, love it in that combo :-)

Love it, sounds like a great combo! Those seats would look great in my Estoril Blue M-Sport. Well played sir!

AudiA4 · 04-06-2015, 06:08 PM

Excellent! Exactly what I was wanting to confirm. Nice color/stitch choices!

435MSport6Speed · 04-06-2015, 07:31 PM

Impressive.

maa335iF30 · 04-06-2015, 08:12 PM

That looks awesome. I have an imperial Blue with Saddle brown which I think the closest stock comes to looking like your custom combo......

I'll try to attach some pics.

bri1042 · 04-07-2015, 08:00 AM

That might be the first brown I've liked in a car in a long time! Gorgeous!

Dubsilk · 01-01-2021, 11:29 AM

Just wanted to circle back to see how the leather is holding up.

I am considering doing to this.

Thank you.

eff32fl · 01-01-2021, 05:27 PM

That custom brown interior is super nice! I'm not a fan of brown leather but that's really good.

For F30/F32 owners, you can always get an M3/M4 interior and swap out the front and back seats and door cards if you're wanting a better quality leather and a better look.

Cmc373 · 01-14-2021, 08:25 PM

Why not just seat swap? Unless you wanna get a crazy color of course.

04-06-2015, 11:12 AM	#1
AudiA4 Major 648 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black/Black) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR, USA iTrader: (0)	Changing Interior color/leather Dumb question, but has anyone ever considered or followed through with changing or modifying the interior leather? I know leather interiors are added all the time aftermarket to other cars. I'm just curious if anyone has attempted to upgrade or change the interior color or leather that came standard on their car. Thanks. __________________ 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black Sapphire/Black), HK, DAP, PAP, Shadow Line 2014 F30 335i (EB) 6MT, M Sport, Premium, Tech, DHP, HK, CW, M Brakes, M Exhaust 2006 E90 330i (Silver) 6MT, Sport
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04-06-2015, 11:42 AM	#3
KneeDragr Lieutenant 41 Rep 516 Posts Drives: Planning 2015 ED :) Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Arlington VA iTrader: (0)	I see guys in the Corvette forum do it quite a bit, but they are usually upgrading to high quality Nappa leather to the tune of 15-20k. Considering the cost of the materials and labor, even getting cheap plastic coated stuff probably runs a quarter to a third of that.
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04-06-2015, 01:33 PM	#4
AudiA4 Major 648 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black/Black) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR, USA iTrader: (0)	I know lots of people who've negotiated this as an aftermarket service through a dealer after a sale...just not with BMW. It obviously wasn't cost prohibitive. I'm just curious if anyone's done the same purchasing a 3 series. __________________ 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black Sapphire/Black), HK, DAP, PAP, Shadow Line 2014 F30 335i (EB) 6MT, M Sport, Premium, Tech, DHP, HK, CW, M Brakes, M Exhaust 2006 E90 330i (Silver) 6MT, Sport
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04-06-2015, 01:33 PM	#5
Tommy_hf First Lieutenant 70 Rep 327 Posts Drives: F36 CQ M, Z4 E85 3.0iS MSL SC Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	I went for aftermarket, result was way more supple leather in Zimtbraun (Cinnamon) which isn't available from factory, along with beige stitching. Compared to BMW's stock Dakota interior, it's not even close. Factory Dakota feels and looks like plastic, fit and finish isn't even comparable.
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04-06-2015, 02:08 PM	#8
eric@helix 208 Rep 1,161 Posts Drives: 01 M Coupe, 08 135i, '12 328i Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (0)	The ideal situation is if you find the interior color of your choice that came out of a car that was being converted to a race car. For the shop 135i, I was able to get a complete interior from a 1M Coupe for way less than reupholstering.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-06-2015, 02:13 PM	#9
Tommy_hf First Lieutenant 70 Rep 327 Posts Drives: F36 CQ M, Z4 E85 3.0iS MSL SC Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	They take out your old interior and hand cut and stitch the new one. Just a few pics below. (Cools interiors did it Zimtbraun Dakota, but a lot better quality Dakota than BMW's own). It took about 5 days to return the car. Total cost about USD 2900.
	Appreciate 1 eleven11371.50 Quote

04-06-2015, 02:25 PM	#10
Fronzdan Lieutenant Colonel 303 Rep 1,738 Posts Drives: '24 M240 xDrive Join Date: Mar 2014 Location: MA iTrader: (0)	You weren't exaggerating. That looks a LOT better than stock!! I think you should do the e-brake boot too!!
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04-06-2015, 02:29 PM	#11
finaloption Captain 187 Rep 632 Posts Drives: '13 f30 n26 Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	wow dude.. that looks amazing!
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04-06-2015, 02:30 PM	#12
Tommy_hf First Lieutenant 70 Rep 327 Posts Drives: F36 CQ M, Z4 E85 3.0iS MSL SC Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	I was thinking about it, but then thought it would be a bit too much. Still thinking about keeping the handbrake boot blak, but have it with cinnamon stitching, maybe on the steering wheel as well :-)
	Appreciate 0 Quote

04-06-2015, 02:32 PM	#13
Boondoggler Lieutenant 72 Rep 402 Posts Drives: 2023 G01 LCI X3 M40i Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Lawrenceville, NJ iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 340i xDrive [6.50]	Stunning!! Thanks for the pics! Great bang for the buck with that upgrade!! May I ask what exterior color you have? Seems like a perfect fit for Mineral Grey, but would work really well with several others. __________________ 2023 G01 LCI X3 M40i My Garage \| Phytonic Blue \| Black Sensatec \| Carbon Fiber Trim \| Parking \| Premium \| Remote \| Wireless \| Harmon Kardon \| 19" 887M Bi-color Midnight Grey
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04-06-2015, 02:33 PM	#14
Tommy_hf First Lieutenant 70 Rep 327 Posts Drives: F36 CQ M, Z4 E85 3.0iS MSL SC Join Date: Dec 2011 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Mine is Imperial Blau, love it in that combo :-)
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04-06-2015, 06:08 PM	#16
AudiA4 Major 648 Rep 1,476 Posts Drives: 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black/Black) Join Date: May 2005 Location: Little Rock, AR, USA iTrader: (0)	Excellent! Exactly what I was wanting to confirm. Nice color/stitch choices! __________________ 2022 G01 X3 M40i (Black Sapphire/Black), HK, DAP, PAP, Shadow Line 2014 F30 335i (EB) 6MT, M Sport, Premium, Tech, DHP, HK, CW, M Brakes, M Exhaust 2006 E90 330i (Silver) 6MT, Sport
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04-06-2015, 07:31 PM	#17
435MSport6Speed Captain 432 Rep 814 Posts Drives: 435i M Sport 6 Speed Join Date: Mar 2015 Location: Mass iTrader: (0)	Impressive.
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04-06-2015, 08:12 PM	#18
maa335iF30 Second Lieutenant 126 Rep 258 Posts Drives: 2016 F80 MG/SO Join Date: Feb 2015 Location: Charlotte, NC iTrader: (0) Garage List 2016 BMW M3 [0.00]	That looks awesome. I have an imperial Blue with Saddle brown which I think the closest stock comes to looking like your custom combo...... I'll try to attach some pics. Attached Images __________________ Current: 2016 F80 MG/SO MT Previous: 2015 F30 IB/SB 335i AT
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04-07-2015, 08:00 AM	#19
bri1042 Brigadier General 5931 Rep 3,288 Posts Drives: 2021 IOMG M3 6MT Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: Portland, OR iTrader: (0)	That might be the first brown I've liked in a car in a long time! Gorgeous!
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01-01-2021, 11:29 AM	#20
Dubsilk Enlisted Member 13 Rep 33 Posts Drives: 2020 M240 6MT Join Date: Jun 2016 Location: Worldwide iTrader: (0)	Checking In Just wanted to circle back to see how the leather is holding up. I am considering doing to this. Thank you.
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01-01-2021, 05:27 PM	#21
eff32fl Lieutenant Colonel 1052 Rep 1,788 Posts Drives: 2019 440i M Sport THP MPPSK Join Date: Jun 2020 Location: Florida iTrader: (0)	That custom brown interior is super nice! I'm not a fan of brown leather but that's really good. For F30/F32 owners, you can always get an M3/M4 interior and swap out the front and back seats and door cards if you're wanting a better quality leather and a better look.
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01-14-2021, 08:25 PM	#22
Cmc373 Registered 0 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW 328I XDrive Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: Toronto iTrader: (0)	Why not just seat swap? Unless you wanna get a crazy color of course.
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