[Ninefourteener]

I'm about to trade in my 2020 X5 M50i.... on a 2024 X7 40i.

I bought an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider for "spirited" driving, so I don't need the HP in the X5 anymore. Plus, as an American living in Europe... the price of fuel makes it extremely problematic to drive long distances.

As I go through the BMW builder..... I see the $900 "leather dashboard" option.

My X5-M50i came with a fake-leather dash.... but honestly, it looks great. I'm not sure if it came with that because it's an M-50i?? Plus, I trust the "longevity" of fake leather, more than I do real leather, particularly for something as susceptible to sunlight as the dashboard.

So if given the choice between "fake" leather vs "real" leather on the dashboard... I'd choose the fake.

HOWEVER.... I've also seen modern BMWs with NO COVERING on the dash, that have a cheap, plastic look to them, and I absolutely want to avoid that.

QUESTION: If I DON'T purchase the $900 leather dashboard.... what will my dashboard look like? fake leather? or NO leather?

My planned build:
2024 X7 40i
Mineral white
MSport
Tartufo extended leather (not FULL leather)
22" wheels
Fineline open pore
Executive - Bowers & Wilkins
Parking assistance
MSport Professional
Spare tire
2nd Row Captains
Trailer hitch

Intentionally NOT getting (I have my reasons):
Driving assistance
Dynamic handling

[MystroX5]

It will look like vinyl leather if you don’t get the leather dashboard. I had a base X5 as a loaner. It looks very cheap to me and more appropriate in a pickup or work vehicle. It’s right in your face every time you drive so it’s not like you won’t see it all the time.

[Orient330iNYC]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

I'm about to trade in my 2020 X5 M50i.... on a 2024 X7 40i.

I bought an Alfa Romeo 4C Spider for "spirited" driving, so I don't need the HP in the X5 anymore. Plus, as an American living in Europe... the price of fuel makes it extremely problematic to drive long distances.

As I go through the BMW builder..... I see the $900 "leather dashboard" option.

My X5-M50i came with a fake-leather dash.... but honestly, it looks great. I'm not sure if it came with that because it's an M-50i?? Plus, I trust the "longevity" of fake leather, more than I do real leather, particularly for something as susceptible to sunlight as the dashboard.

So if given the choice between "fake" leather vs "real" leather on the dashboard... I'd choose the fake.

HOWEVER.... I've also seen modern BMWs with NO COVERING on the dash, that have a cheap, plastic look to them, and I absolutely want to avoid that.

QUESTION: If I DON'T purchase the $900 leather dashboard.... what will my dashboard look like? fake leather? or NO leather?

My planned build:
2024 X7 40i
Mineral white
MSport
Tartufo extended leather (not FULL leather)
22" wheels
Fineline open pore
Executive - Bowers & Wilkins
Parking assistance
MSport Professional
Spare tire
2nd Row Captains
Trailer hitch

Intentionally NOT getting (I have my reasons):
Driving assistance
Dynamic handling

fake leather aka sensatec

[abcsoup]

For the LCI models (2023-present), the dash is Sensafin instead of Sensatec, which should be a large improvement. Not quite as nice as merino, but much better than before. It should be smoother in grain and softer than the previous Sensatec material.

[Orient330iNYC]

Originally Posted by abcsoup

For the LCI models (2023-present), the dash is Sensafin instead of Sensatec, which should be a large improvement. Not quite as nice as merino, but much better than before. It should be smoother in grain and softer than the previous Sensatec material.

the pic i posted is from my lci-sensafin. on the dash it basically looks the same as the sensatec dash i had in my X3 M40i

[BMWMN1971]

Sensafin looks amazing and a huge improvement over the whatever they used before.

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by Orient330iNYC

fake leather aka sensatec

Thank you. That looks very similiar to my X5 with the B&W.... which is fine.

Much appreciated!

[Qsilver7]

What TYPE of leather are you getting? Tartufo extended leather (not FULL leather) only indicates what COLOR the interior will be….not the type of leather (at least for those of us unfamiliar with the current X7 configurator).

I’m not sure what the offerings are on the latest BMWs…but it used to be Merino, Nappa, Vernasca, or Dakota (in order of best to lessor grade of leather)…and the faux leather was Sensatec which has been replaced recently by Sensafin.

Where some have a conflict is if they upgrade the interior leather to Nappa or Merino…but then order one of the lesser grade dashes or faux leathers…that there is a slight disconnect in interior quality of materials.

Know your BMW leathers: https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/12/23/k...ather-options/

Leather dash also covers the top of the doors in real leather, too (see top of doors in green boxes below):

[Ninefourteener]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

What TYPE of leather are you getting? Tartufo extended leather (not FULL leather) only indicates what COLOR the interior will be….not the type of leather (at least for those of us unfamiliar with the current X7 configurator).

I’m not sure what the offerings are on the latest BMWs…but it used to be Merino, Nappa, Vernasca, or Dakota (in order of best to lessor grade of leather)…and the faux leather was Sensatec which has been replaced recently by Sensafin.

Where some have a conflict is if they upgrade the interior leather to Nappa or Merino…but then order one of the lesser grade dashes or faux leathers…that there is a slight disconnect in interior quality of materials.

Know your BMW leathers: https://www.bmwblog.com/2019/12/23/k...ather-options/

Leather dash also covers the top of the doors in real leather, too (see top of doors in green boxes below):

Currently, there are only 3 leather options:

"Sensafin" leather
Merino extended leather
Merino FULL leather

As I understand it... the "full" leather option covers the backs of the seats, the bottom of the doors, and a few extra small pieces, and isn't THAT different from the "extended leather".

Trust me, I've been through the builder about 1000 times. While there may have been different options in the past... those are what is available now.

[Bimmerfun82]

Originally Posted by Ninefourteener

Currently, there are only 3 leather options:

"Sensafin" leather
Merino extended leather
Merino FULL leather

As I understand it... the "full" leather option covers the backs of the seats, the bottom of the doors, and a few extra small pieces, and isn't THAT different from the "extended leather".

Trust me, I've been through the builder about 1000 times. While there may have been different options in the past... those are what is available now.

On the X7 Full leather is +dashboard, + top of door panels + underneath dashboard. It’s quite a bit better from extended leather. Would recommend you go to a dealer and see both options. And sensafin isn’t leather at all.