Glad I didn't waste 1400 on leather.

Rippy087 · 04-18-2008, 12:37 AM

My father's old BMW has leather in it, my sister's new BMW has Leatherette. To be honest, I don't really notice too much of a difference between the two, the leather is a lot shinier and smoother than the leatherette. The main reason that I am considering real leather is because of the color choices. As has been said before, if they offered leatherette Red leather, Lemon leather, and Savanna Beige, I'm sure a lot more people would be getting 'pleather'. But since Savanna Beige isn't offered in pleather, looks like I'm getting leather.

Jake

Mad Dragon · 04-18-2008, 10:22 AM

I'd still get leather, even if the same colors were available in leatherette. The only non-leather material I'd ever consider is Alcantra.

The Stig · 04-18-2008, 11:01 AM

Wow there is alot of mis-information in this thread.
First off, leatherette is great, its easy to clean, it doesnt stain, and it doesnt wear like leather does.
Let me give you a little story about some of the experiences I have had with BMW leather.
I am 6 feet all and weigh 165 lbs. I have always been careful, used conditioner and cleaned my leather every month or so.

1. 2003 BMW 325i with tan leather...horrible wear marks after only 12,000 miles, cracks, even the stitching came undone once.

2. 1999 BMW M3 with the Dove Gray leather....wore a red shirt(that had been washed previously at least 5 times) one day with the windows open and the sunroof open, it was about 98 degrees outside. I was sweating a little bit and the seats turned pink from my red shirt. WOULD NEVER come out.

3. 2007 335i coupe, Black Leather, already showing signs of wear on the bolsters on the edge where my legs hang off. Color is changing from black to dark gray in some areas, and I am worried about the future of the leather.

So yes, it does wear, it does discolor, it does fade, and it does crack. My mom has leatherette in her 2004 330i. NO SIGNS of any wear, no cracks, still the original color. It would be safe to say that when I order my 135i, I will be ordering Black leatherette.

There are pros and cons to both, but those arguing in favor of leather for the fact that its more classy and premium...FINE.

But those arguing that it doesnt wear, crack, and fade out are BULLSHITING or you dont know what good leather looks like. PERIOD.

cracka · 04-18-2008, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HH007

But those arguing that it doesnt wear, crack, and fade out are BULLSHITING or you dont know what good leather looks like. PERIOD.

If your buttcheeks are as clenched as your writing implies, that could explain the extra wear. :wink:

Valuable input, though. I think we can safely surmise that:

- Leatherette's finish is more durable than leather.

- The conditions that seats encounter vary wildly from one car to another... ingress/egress habits, girth, climate, etc. Your mileage with leather will vary.

tharpa · 04-18-2008, 12:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cracka

- Leatherette's finish is more durable than leather.

& you save a cow
but westerners aren't concerned about that...

MVF4Rrider · 04-18-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharpa

& you save a cow
but westerners aren't concerned about that...

Yeah, and the world needs more non-biodegradable plastic

lib · 04-18-2008, 12:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharpa

& you save a cow
but westerners aren't concerned about that...

That cow is done for even if you don't line the inside of your car with his butt.

Numb3rs · 04-18-2008, 12:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bmwzone

"On the wear-and-tear side, we're seeing all of the typical stuff. The driver's sport seat, naturally, is starting to show just a bit of wear at the peak of the side bolster. This will only continue to break down, but the mere sight of it has already got certain of us changing our ingress/egress habits to preserve the leather. We'll see how long that holds up."

http://www.motivemag.com/pub/feature..._Audi_S6.shtml

Thats because they don't take the time to hit the auto-seat function before getting in..!

MVF4Rrider · 04-18-2008, 12:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HH007

Wow there is alot of mis-information in this thread.
First off, leatherette is...

This is where my fun meter pegged.

thesmokingone · 04-18-2008, 12:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TagMan

"Leatherette" is a great marketing name for
PLASTIC!

I'll keep my genuine leather, thank you!

hey now easy. plastic is responsible for lots of great things in the world: light weight bikes, parts of the space shuttle, and my super durable bmw sport seats:thumbup:

tharpa · 04-18-2008, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balls

Yeah, and the world needs more non-biodegradable plastic

true.

IDBMW · 04-18-2008, 01:02 PM

I have had leather in my last 5 cars except for my Tacoma which is not available in leather. Only one issue with the bolster that BMW replaced under warranty. That was caused by my braided belt rubbing the bolster when I ingress/egress. After I figured it out I never had any problem. I do clean and condition the leather annually.

Quote:

Originally Posted by tharpa

& you save a cow
but westerners aren't concerned about that...

Are we really saving cows? If they butcher a cow to eat don’t they use the hide for leather? If so we should stop eating beef since they raise cows for food and the hide just makes use of the whole animal without waste?

Imola.ZHP · 04-18-2008, 02:26 PM

At 66k my leather in my `03 ZHP isn't bad, except for the driverside bolster mentioned many times. I'm 5'11" 165 lbs, so I don't believe its a "fattie" issue either, choice of ingress/egress, possibly. I have never paid attention to the way I enter and exit the car. I have better things to do with my time...

I'll probably lease a 128i while I go back to school, I'll most likely just get the pleather. Should be fine for 24-48 months...

Crowley · 04-18-2008, 02:34 PM

It all really comes down to what you prefer .... Just because you have a BMW doesn't mean you have to have leather seats .. I bet you can get leather in a KIA as well .... anyway .... it is all subjective .. I can't believe this thread is still going .. LOL

Crowley

MVF4Rrider · 04-18-2008, 02:45 PM

^^ I tried to make that point long ago...

imported_Katera · 04-18-2008, 04:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cracka

If your buttcheeks are as clenched as your writing implies, that could explain the extra wear. :wink:

ROFL!

Tom K. · 04-18-2008, 05:23 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HH007

But those arguing that it doesnt wear, crack, and fade out are BULLSHITING or you dont know what good leather looks like. PERIOD.

For another viewpoint:
1. 1997 Z3 with red extended leather - absolutely no noticeable wear in 65,000 miles.
2. 1999 328i with SP & beige leather - some mild wear on the driver's seat, no wear anywhere else in 85,000 miles.
3. 2003 Z4 non SP & beige leather - no wear in 45,000 miles.
Maybe HH007 should switch to Zymol Treat leather conditioner as it seems to be working for me.
Tom

Mad Dragon · 04-18-2008, 06:05 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by HH007

Wow there is alot of mis-information in this thread.
First off, leatherette ... doesnt stain, and it doesnt wear like leather does.

I guess you've never seen what blue pants and a sweaty ass can do to a beige leatherette seat. It ain't pretty.

Leatherette will also crack and fade if you don't maintain it.

Dan203 · 04-18-2008, 07:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom K.

switch to Zymol Treat leather conditioner as it seems to be working for me.

Is this stuff easy to apply? Is it fool proof? Also does it make the seats greasy? My wife put some ArmorAll leather stuff on the seats in her Miata and it made them all greasy. I don't want that.

Dan

PA135i · 04-18-2008, 08:57 PM

Mad Dragon is right. I have a 6 year old 325 and has black leatherette. The drivers seat had developed 2 cracks and is peeling up there. I have maintained it as best I could. Also, the seat side bolsters are starting to wear down. Maybe there is no avoiding it.
But if you think leaterette wont wear, you kidding yourself.

That said I ordered leatherette for my 135i. Just can't justify the extra $1400. I'll just find a better product out there to maintain the leatherette. If one exists.

hitthemark41 · 04-18-2008, 09:12 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lib

That cow is done for even if you don't line the inside of your car with his butt.

+1 lol....yup...if there's one thing us Americans love more than leather seats in our German cars is our hamburgers! haha

lib · 04-18-2008, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by hitthemark41

+1 lol....yup...if there's one thing us Americans love more than leather seats in our German cars is our hamburgers! haha

QFT. If I didn't just gorge myself on seafood I'd be hungry just reading the word "hamburger"

04-18-2008, 12:37 AM	#89
Rippy087 Private 1 Rep 69 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	My father's old BMW has leather in it, my sister's new BMW has Leatherette. To be honest, I don't really notice too much of a difference between the two, the leather is a lot shinier and smoother than the leatherette. The main reason that I am considering real leather is because of the color choices. As has been said before, if they offered leatherette Red leather, Lemon leather, and Savanna Beige, I'm sure a lot more people would be getting 'pleather'. But since Savanna Beige isn't offered in pleather, looks like I'm getting leather. Jake
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04-18-2008, 10:22 AM	#90
Mad Dragon . 27 Rep 932 Posts Drives: 2010 GTI Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: MD iTrader: (0)	I'd still get leather, even if the same colors were available in leatherette. The only non-leather material I'd ever consider is Alcantra.
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04-18-2008, 11:01 AM	#91
The Stig Second Lieutenant 246 Rep 223 Posts Drives: 2022 M3 Comp, 2021 X7 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Southlake, Texas iTrader: (0) Garage List 2024 BMW X5 M60i [0.00] 2007 Porsche 911 GT3 [0.00] 2021 BMW X7 (Wife's ... [0.00]	Wow there is alot of mis-information in this thread. First off, leatherette is great, its easy to clean, it doesnt stain, and it doesnt wear like leather does. Let me give you a little story about some of the experiences I have had with BMW leather. I am 6 feet all and weigh 165 lbs. I have always been careful, used conditioner and cleaned my leather every month or so. 1. 2003 BMW 325i with tan leather...horrible wear marks after only 12,000 miles, cracks, even the stitching came undone once. 2. 1999 BMW M3 with the Dove Gray leather....wore a red shirt(that had been washed previously at least 5 times) one day with the windows open and the sunroof open, it was about 98 degrees outside. I was sweating a little bit and the seats turned pink from my red shirt. WOULD NEVER come out. 3. 2007 335i coupe, Black Leather, already showing signs of wear on the bolsters on the edge where my legs hang off. Color is changing from black to dark gray in some areas, and I am worried about the future of the leather. So yes, it does wear, it does discolor, it does fade, and it does crack. My mom has leatherette in her 2004 330i. NO SIGNS of any wear, no cracks, still the original color. It would be safe to say that when I order my 135i, I will be ordering Black leatherette. There are pros and cons to both, but those arguing in favor of leather for the fact that its more classy and premium...FINE. But those arguing that it doesnt wear, crack, and fade out are BULLSHITING or you dont know what good leather looks like. PERIOD. __________________ --2024 X5 M60i XDrive - Frozen Black Metallic --2007 Porsche 911 GT3 - Black/Black 6MT
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04-18-2008, 02:26 PM	#101
Imola.ZHP Colonel 129 Rep 2,218 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW i3 BEV EE Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Mud Island, TN iTrader: (0)	At 66k my leather in my `03 ZHP isn't bad, except for the driverside bolster mentioned many times. I'm 5'11" 165 lbs, so I don't believe its a "fattie" issue either, choice of ingress/egress, possibly. I have never paid attention to the way I enter and exit the car. I have better things to do with my time... I'll probably lease a 128i while I go back to school, I'll most likely just get the pleather. Should be fine for 24-48 months... __________________ - 2014 CPO i01 BEV Electronaut Edition Capparis White Tera World, '17- - 2015 CPO i01 BEV Laurel Grey Tera World, '17- - 2015 i01 REx Laurel Grey Tera World, '15-'17 - 2003 CPO 330i ZHP Imola Red Build 03/03/03, '06-'15
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04-18-2008, 02:34 PM	#102
Crowley Major 54 Rep 1,015 Posts Drives: Join Date: Oct 2007 iTrader: (0)	It all really comes down to what you prefer .... Just because you have a BMW doesn't mean you have to have leather seats .. I bet you can get leather in a KIA as well .... anyway .... it is all subjective .. I can't believe this thread is still going .. LOL Crowley __________________ The last words on the powerplant should go to a clearly overwhelmed Hormazd Sorabjee, editor and publisher of Autocar India: “There is something simply magical about BMW’s in-line six. It has a creamy smoothness that makes velvet feel like sandpaper.”
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04-18-2008, 02:45 PM	#103
MVF4Rrider PCA, BMWCCA 102 Rep 2,058 Posts Drives: 997S, MV Agusta F4, E46 M3 Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: Las Vegas NV iTrader: (0)	^^ I tried to make that point long ago... __________________ '08 Carrera S 6MT Guards Red/Black ext leather, Carbon fiber pkg, sport exh, sport chrono +, PASM, Nav, Bose, 19" forged turbos, red tranny tunnel '07 MV Agusta F4 1000 R 1+1, Corse Red/Silver, RG3 race pipes and factory race ECU
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04-18-2008, 08:57 PM	#108
PA135i Brigadier General 967 Rep 3,323 Posts Drives: 08 135i 08 CR-V Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Pennsylvania iTrader: (0)	Mad Dragon is right. I have a 6 year old 325 and has black leatherette. The drivers seat had developed 2 cracks and is peeling up there. I have maintained it as best I could. Also, the seat side bolsters are starting to wear down. Maybe there is no avoiding it. But if you think leaterette wont wear, you kidding yourself. That said I ordered leatherette for my 135i. Just can't justify the extra $1400. I'll just find a better product out there to maintain the leatherette. If one exists.
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