Convertible's Seats: Do they really stay cooler?

Stinger · 05-02-2007, 08:54 AM

I am considering black leather seats for a new 335i convertible I am ordering and would like to know from those who own the black leather in warmer weather if you do notice the supposed 30 degrees of coolness BMW claims the new seats are able to reduce with the new leather technology.

iatacs19 · 05-02-2007, 10:28 AM

Where did you see this about the 30 degrees cooler seats???

ward · 05-02-2007, 10:36 AM

it's in the marketing brochures.

they claim to have UV reflective leather that keeps them from getting so hot in the sun.

no comments on if/how they work yet though

the claim sort of sounds like BS to me though

Gort · 05-02-2007, 10:40 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ward

it's in the marketing brochures.

they claim to have UV reflective leather that keeps them from getting so hot in the sun.

no comments on if/how they work yet though

the claim sort of sounds like BS to me though

No it's really not BS. It is infrared (IR) reflecting (not UV reflecting) pigment technology. It is based on mixed metal oxide chemistry and it works. 30 degrees cooler on black in the sun is easily achievable.

the_oracle1980 · 05-02-2007, 10:40 AM

Its not BS. I had a 335 conv for a week in the blazing heat, and it works, why would they advertise such a claim for no reason?

E90Fleet · 05-02-2007, 10:42 AM

SunReflective Technology

The new BMW 3 Series Convertible can also be specified with the world’s first Sun-Reflective Technology leather upholstery. Now owners of BMW’s latest four-seat sun-trap can enjoy the warm weather and leave the roof down for prolonged periods without singeing themselves on the seats or armrests. Special pigments embedded into the leather help reflect infra-red radiation ensuring treated areas that are exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period can remain up to 20 degrees cooler compared to untreated leather.

EDIT: note thats 20 Celcius

E90Fleet · 05-02-2007, 10:42 AM

Im told it works very well

LEDZEP · 05-02-2007, 10:45 AM

It will only be 160 degrees instead of 180 degrees. I'm getting a shiver just thinking about it.

You put black ANYTHING in the sun, it's going to get hot. Real hot. Burn your little fanny hot.

If you're planning to leave the top down and expose your interior to the sun, you might want to invest in some fabric seat covers if you are really sold on black.

PI Guy · 05-02-2007, 10:46 AM

The light the color.. the cooler the seat in a convertible.

This is true with or without this "magical" leather.

Saddle, Red or Cream would be cooler (temp wise) than Black.

E90Fleet · 05-02-2007, 11:18 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

It will only be 160 degrees instead of 180 degrees. I'm getting a shiver just thinking about it.

Thats up to 20 C

So up to 68F

LEDZEP · 05-02-2007, 12:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Thats up to 20 C

So up to 68F

Yeah, I meant Celsius.... yeah, that's it.

While I'm sure it is a great feature, there is only so much you can do to keep black leather cool when exposed to direct sunlight. This coating on a light beige would probably be really nice.

Gort · 05-02-2007, 12:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by LEDZEP

Yeah, I meant Celsius.... yeah, that's it.

While I'm sure it is a great feature, there is only so much you can do to keep black leather cool when exposed to direct sunlight. This coating on a light beige would probably be really nice.

Actually the closer to white the color is, the less opportunity there is for this technology. A standard "cream" color would still be cooler than the black with the new technology. It is based on a Total Solar Reflectance Index. The point is to allow dark colors to not be as hot as they would be otherwise.

adamr · 05-02-2007, 01:06 PM

yes it does not get hot ... drove the car top down for quite a bit and i might have been burning but the seats not at all ... quite nifty ...

Mr. M · 05-02-2007, 01:12 PM

im skeptical, seeing as how you live in the ozone layer-free greenhouse that is socal, how much of a difference could it make?

Gort · 05-02-2007, 01:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by adamr

yes it does not get hot ... drove the car top down for quite a bit and i might have been burning but the seats not at all ... quite nifty ...

It's only like 24C (mid 70'sF) there for high temperatures now though, correct? We are using this same technology to make exterior wall paints that keep buildings cooler when it is hot and reduce cooling energy costs.

Frank_NJ · 05-02-2007, 01:39 PM

It does work and I have a black on black car and have had the top down the other day when the temp reached around 78 degrees.

CokerRat · 05-02-2007, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by E90Fleet

Thats up to 20 C

So up to 68F

36F.

iatacs19 · 05-02-2007, 02:53 PM

Oh, but it still get hots from conduction right? (having your ass in the seat) I thought it had some type of active cooling... oh well.

E90Fleet · 05-02-2007, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CokerRat

36F.

Sorry, just pluged 20C into a C to F converter

CoralRedPlz · 05-02-2007, 03:39 PM

pg 20 of bmw mag., issue 1/2007:

"even in the hot sun, the dakota leather seats stay cool-thanks to bmw's new SunReflective Tech, which can hold seating surface temps to as low as 68 degrees."

ward · 05-02-2007, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by CoralRedPlz

pg 20 of bmw mag., issue 1/2007:

"even in the hot sun, the dakota leather seats stay cool-thanks to bmw's new SunReflective Tech, which can hold seating surface temps to as low as 68 degrees."

we all know BMW magazine is a reliable unbiased source

05-02-2007, 08:54 AM	#1
Stinger Major 112 Rep 1,040 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Convertible Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Southern California iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i E93 [7.00] 1993 318is [0.00] 1996 Z3 1.9 [0.00]	Convertible's Seats: Do they really stay cooler? I am considering black leather seats for a new 335i convertible I am ordering and would like to know from those who own the black leather in warmer weather if you do notice the supposed 30 degrees of coolness BMW claims the new seats are able to reduce with the new leather technology.
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05-02-2007, 10:28 AM	#2
iatacs19 Major General 459 Rep 5,319 Posts Drives: 2016 SO M4 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (8)	Where did you see this about the 30 degrees cooler seats???
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05-02-2007, 10:36 AM	#3
ward Major General 155 Rep 6,158 Posts Drives: F Join Date: May 2005 Location: T iTrader: (0)	it's in the marketing brochures. they claim to have UV reflective leather that keeps them from getting so hot in the sun. no comments on if/how they work yet though the claim sort of sounds like BS to me though
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05-02-2007, 10:40 AM	#5
the_oracle1980 Private 1 Rep 51 Posts Drives: 330i Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	Its not BS. I had a 335 conv for a week in the blazing heat, and it works, why would they advertise such a claim for no reason?
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05-02-2007, 10:42 AM	#6
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	SunReflective Technology The new BMW 3 Series Convertible can also be specified with the world’s first Sun-Reflective Technology leather upholstery. Now owners of BMW’s latest four-seat sun-trap can enjoy the warm weather and leave the roof down for prolonged periods without singeing themselves on the seats or armrests. Special pigments embedded into the leather help reflect infra-red radiation ensuring treated areas that are exposed to sunlight for a prolonged period can remain up to 20 degrees cooler compared to untreated leather. EDIT: note thats 20 Celcius __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please. Last edited by E90Fleet; 05-02-2007 at 11:19 AM..
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05-02-2007, 10:42 AM	#7
E90Fleet Lieutenant General 1312 Rep 10,185 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: South Africa iTrader: (0)	Im told it works very well __________________ BMW if you are reading, I need a job, Please.
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05-02-2007, 10:45 AM	#8
LEDZEP Lieutenant General 418 Rep 12,276 Posts Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [7.62] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	It will only be 160 degrees instead of 180 degrees. I'm getting a shiver just thinking about it. You put black ANYTHING in the sun, it's going to get hot. Real hot. Burn your little fanny hot. If you're planning to leave the top down and expose your interior to the sun, you might want to invest in some fabric seat covers if you are really sold on black. __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious
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05-02-2007, 10:46 AM	#9
PI Guy Like Mannix...with a Bimmer! 17 Rep 249 Posts Drives: 2007 335i Cabrio-ordered 3/29 Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: New York City iTrader: (0)	The light the color.. the cooler the seat in a convertible. This is true with or without this "magical" leather. Saddle, Red or Cream would be cooler (temp wise) than Black. __________________ E93 335i Cabrio - Jet Black - Saddle Dakota Leather - 6MT - ZCW - ZPP - ZSP - 322 - 4AS (Grey Poplar) - NAV - HD - SAT - IPOD/USB Ordered 3/29 - Delivered 6/15
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05-02-2007, 01:06 PM	#13
adamr Major 71 Rep 1,032 Posts Drives: 997 GT3 RS Join Date: Dec 2006 Location: Johannesburg iTrader: (0) Garage List 2007 Porsche 997 GT ... [8.50] 2005 Mercedes Benz ... [0.00] 2008 E92 M3 (Bought ... [0.00] 2007 E93 335i conve ... [0.00] 2006 E92 325i Coupe ... [0.00] 2001 E46 M3 (Sold S ... [0.00]	yes it does not get hot ... drove the car top down for quite a bit and i might have been burning but the seats not at all ... quite nifty ... __________________ 2007 Porsche 997 GT3 RS \|PCM with NAV and GSM\|Roll Cage\|PCCB\|Xenons\|Sports Chrono Plus\|PASM\|Leather Pack\|Silver Seat-belts\|
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05-02-2007, 01:12 PM	#14
Mr. M TouGe Monsta 7 Rep 234 Posts Drives: On Order - its Topless! Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	im skeptical, seeing as how you live in the ozone layer-free greenhouse that is socal, how much of a difference could it make?
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05-02-2007, 01:39 PM	#16
Frank_NJ ///M Specialist 561 Rep 1,499 Posts Drives: E30 M3, E52 Z8, G83 M4Cx Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: NJ Shore iTrader: (0)	It does work and I have a black on black car and have had the top down the other day when the temp reached around 78 degrees. __________________ 2023 M340ix my Daily Driver G83 M4CV, F80 M3 CS, E30 M3, Z8, other various BMW's Ferrari F8
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05-02-2007, 02:53 PM	#18
iatacs19 Major General 459 Rep 5,319 Posts Drives: 2016 SO M4 Join Date: Sep 2006 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (8)	Oh, but it still get hots from conduction right? (having your ass in the seat) I thought it had some type of active cooling... oh well.
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05-02-2007, 03:39 PM	#20
CoralRedPlz restless 7 Rep 484 Posts Drives: Space Grey, Coral Red 335i Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: around town iTrader: (0)	pg 20 of bmw mag., issue 1/2007: "even in the hot sun, the dakota leather seats stay cool-thanks to bmw's new SunReflective Tech, which can hold seating surface temps to as low as 68 degrees." __________________ 335i space, coral/gray poplar, step, loaded, but with no AS, AC or rear shade. Front lip painted and installed and springs going on this week. pics coming soon.
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