[EDubs]

it .. is it absolute garbage looking or is it not really noticeable?

opintions? comments? stories? recipies? lymerics?

[skip2mylou123]

Originally Posted by EDubs

it .. is it absolute garbage looking or is it not really noticeable?

opintions? comments? stories? recipies? lymerics?

well think of it this way....hmm a BMW with fake leather doesn't sound so good does it? But honestly, you cant compare real leathers with fake ones. You can tell the difference the minute you sit on it.

[AlpineG05]

i have it and don't really care, i came from an X5 with leather.

[TL]

only prob with black leatherette is that they don't make them for the sport seats. plus it all depends if you're planning to keep the car or not....IMO if you're planning to keep it for more than 5 years go with leather.

[Ph0zenstone]

i would've thought its the other way around, if you're gonna keep your car more than 5 years go with leatherette as it will remain in pristine condition even after 10 years but leather can crack

[Pug]

Originally Posted by TL

only prob with black leatherette is that they don't make them for the sport seats. plus it all depends if you're planning to keep the car or not....IMO if you're planning to keep it for more than 5 years go with leather.

I must be special then. I have black leatherette with my sport package LCI.

And I have had 4 BMWs with leather before this one, and I think I prefer the leatherette. Although it is not as soft, it looks nice and is super easy to keep in good condition.

[ZuerstBMW]

I was going to say that leatherette does come with sport seats as well. The only thing that if you get the premium package its comes with leather, so if you dont care about those options, just get the leatherette as it will look best with time and you really cant tell.

[iheartsole]

leather is always better material

[akack79]

Originally Posted by TL

only prob with black leatherette is that they don't make them for the sport seats.

Leatherette sport seats only come in black or beige.

[vu]

i have the fake stuff. i like it.

[Fresh330]

You can tell the difference the minute you sit on it.

Agreed. They put me in a 328 loaner with leatherette and I immediately felt the difference.

My first vehicle was a Grand Cherokee w/ leather and loved it. Sold the truck when it was 13 yrs old and the leather did not crack. Now my bimmer has leather and still couldn't be happier.

Take care of your leather by cleaning and conditioning it every month or so and it will last.

[Psylight]

Leather = win

[Legato2057]

A BMW with leatherette is still better than a Honda with leather. You won't be disappointed with either option but given the choice, definitely go for the leather.

[1N54E92]

go with the leather...no regrets here. love it !

[JeezuzFr3ak]

I have the sport package (sport seats) in my E90 335i xDrive, and I love how well it helps to hold me in place compared to the leather. I've always found leather to be slippery if properly treated with lotion, so I've always hated leather in a sporty car. Combined with the adjustable seat side bolsters, the leatherette holds me in place really well.

I use the 303 Aerospace protectant on it (don't use cheap Armor All or it will be slippery as h3ll and pick up dust), along with all the other surfaces in the car. It's nice not having to use a different product for the seats, and after a year I have ZERO wrinkles on the seats. Plus, it is much more durable in general, so you don't have to worry about scratches, stains, etc.

Everyone I've talked to, from the Sales people to fellow owners, have raved about how well the leatherette holds up over 10 years. They say it looks like new after 10 years (no wrinkles) if regularly treated like you would do with leather (every 6-12 weeks).

When I told a fellow BMW 330i owner that I had leatherette, he said "no way, they don't even offer that on a 335!" He didn't believe me, thinking I had the leather seating.

Oddly, when I drove loaner 135i's and X5's with leather, I found the leather tanning chemicals to smell pretty bad. My wife commented on it immediately when getting in the cars, and I've smelled it in all new BMW cars with leather. The leatherette has no smell at all...nothing to offend. I'm sure it doesn't bother most people, or they wouldn't get it?

A lot of people have ridden in my car, and noone has been able to tell that I don't have leather. I don't say anything, one way other, so they don't even think about it.

[tony20009]

My first BMW had leatherette. They never cracked or showed signs of wear. They were super easy to clean -- Windex worked fine. They were comfortable in all driving situations. They had a good feel and most everybody thought they were leather.

If, optioned the way you want or can live with, your BMW can be had with leatherette seats, get them. Leather costs more from day one: more expensive to buy and more expensive to maintain. Leather coverings on the seats add nothing to the way the car performs.

I have leather now only because I wanted the red interior and it's not available in leatherette.

[Cobu]

Originally Posted by Pug

I must be special then. I have black leatherette with my sport package LCI.

And I have had 4 BMWs with leather before this one, and I think I prefer the leatherette. Although it is not as soft, it looks nice and is super easy to keep in good condition.

+ 1

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by iheartsole

leather is always better material

What makes it better? And better for what purpose?

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by phozenstone

i would've thought its the other way around, if you're gonna keep your car more than 5 years go with leatherette as it will remain in pristine condition even after 10 years but leather can crack

I second this point of view. The leatherette will surely outlast the leather.

Only if you are environmentally conscious would you disdain the leatherette (vinyl) as it is not biodegradable and will last well past the demise of humans. LOL

[tony20009]

Originally Posted by skip2mylou123

well think of it this way....hmm a BMW with fake leather doesn't sound so good does it?

Well, it sounds at least as good as: I have a BMW.

[SteveMD]

I had leatherette in my 06 330 with sports seats.

In three years, nobody ever got in it an said "Ewwwww". Everyone thought it was leather. Granted a BMW-phile will know.

2009 has leather. I like the smell and the extra stitching especially on the doors but it looks pretty much the same.

[Louie A]

Originally Posted by Pug

I must be special then. I have black leatherette with my sport package LCI.

And I have had 4 BMWs with leather before this one, and I think I prefer the leatherette. Although it is not as soft, it looks nice and is super easy to keep in good condition.

+100

Have leather now and can honestly say that I do not see a tremendous difference. My last 2 beemers were leatherette and they aged quite well and never did anyone ask or suspect that is was not leather.