Leather vs Leatherette

[bryce]

i couldn't be happier with my leatherette interior and i've never wished i would have got leather instead.....especially seeing some of the wear that can happen on leather 135i seats

[My135]

If leather is free, take it; else I would take leatherette since it feels and looks almost like leather and it will out wear and last then real leather. I had leatherette and happy with my choice.

[doublevanosrc]

Go with leather!! The smell alone is worth it!!

[JimD]

I am happy with my leatherette but if leather had been "free" I would have taken it. My family room furniture at home is leather and it is easier to damage than cloth or vinyl but it feels a little nicer too. My SUV has pretty nice cloth and I would probably go with that instead of leatherette if it were available and the same price. They all work.

Jim

[TMR013]

Originally Posted by vanbmw

As far as BMW leather being a problem...I always laugh at leather issues. I have been routinely on car forums for BMW, Infiniti (my wife had a G35), Acura (we now have MDX) and Porsche (I have a 911 race car) and always read posts saying their leather is crap. Then if asked about care and maintenance most of the replies are usually "What mainteneace?" or "I put stuff on my leather once a year". It is not very often that you read a post where someone has conditioned leather once a month and had issues. Obviously there is a large market for leatherette as many people don't vacumn their car let alone condition the leather and leatherette is good for them.

Probably right.

[ignote]

Leatherette will still look new after 6 years of use. Leather will not.

[Raine]

If leatherette came in red, I would get leatherette.

[nordique14]

Do not forget that the leather will increase the resale value. If you paid $1500 for the leather option you would not get that back when you sell the car. But for free, you should not turn it down. How often can you get an "option" that will be worth more than you paid for it when you go to sell the car?

[Tom K.]

[quote=maxnix;8218468]Wow, owners have to maintain leather? BMW doesn't do it for them? Wow, what a rip off! [quote]

How 'bout we file a class action suit?

Tom

[///M1]

The leather on the 1 is among the cheapest I have seen. However, that is not meant to imply leatherette is better. I chose leather and heated seats as a standalone option (didn't want all the crap of the premium package and make the car even heavier), and if had to do it again I would think twice. Granted, the 135i is a 'entry' level BMW, but for $40K you would expect the leather to be of better quality on a car. 1/2 is not even leather (sides, panels, arm rest, etc.)