Leather vs. Leatherette

[a_dolla]

I know that some people will always go with leather, but is BMW's new leatherette really not as bad as the old vinyl from 20 years ago? I guess what I am trying to say is, do you think the boston leather is really worth $1,450 or can you save that money and still be happy with the leatherette?

[turbomg]

Can't say for sure, as I have no direct experience but I can say that the leatherette in my MINI and the vinyl in my ancient Fiat are nothing at all similar.

The leatherette is pretty good looking, and quite durable, but it has a rather artificial texture and the smell is just not there (it has basically no smell).

It's good stuff if you're at all rough on your interior (like jumping in the driver's seat after 3 hours of mud soaked mountain biking), but if you love leather for leather, it will leave you wanting.

[Oregon]

Pleather works for me.

[EINSER M]

im configuring mine with leatherette. having seen what GOOD leather is like (the one in my x5 4.6is and the m3) and what BAD leather is like (the 330, the 550) and what leatherette feels like (the 328), the leatherette is a no brainer!!!!!!!!! easy to clean and durable! im just wondering if they can add heated seats to leatherette?

[mgarritson]

The leatherette looks great and I've heard it holds up very well. If you have to have the "leather" smell, I'm sure Autozone has a leather-like air freshener for around $1.49.

[Dunbar]

And we all know that leather smell is going to last forever...

[imported_NuovoTech]

im just wondering if they can add heated seats to leatherette?

I know they can do sport's seat in leatherette, seen it in a 328i. Looks just like leather from 3'! :biggrin:

[Race 1]

leatherette, more durable and will hold up better. I dont like the smell of leather anyway

[Vickyy]

imo, after having leather on my car, i think i would have gotten leatherette instead

i personally can't tell much different between the two, easier to maintain and its cheaper

but some ppl have said that u can smell plastic from the leatherette

[aus]

Can you get power seats with Leatherette? I like the stuff, but like the seat memory too.

As for cheap leather, check out the crap in the Honda Odyssey. I'd barely call it leather.

[Sherifftruman]

I know my MINI has heated Leatherette seats so I don;t see whay they would not be availble for the 1 series.

I have 3 dogs that have to ride with me sometimes and the leatherette is nice as they do not damage it at all.

I have also had several people get in the car and say oooh, nice leather!

[gbent]

I am strongly considering the leatherette also.

It really is hard to tell the difference in appearance & most "cheap leather" is slippery & doesn't breath any better than leatherette anyway.

Unless the Terra is available without the ZPP, I think it's black leatherette for me.

[Rook24V]

Hopefully this option list works:
1) Leatherette
2) Manual Seats
3) Heated Seats
4) Sport Seats

128i lists sport package, and heated seats as two separate options, so I should be able to do it.

Oh, and I sat in a 335i with leatherette, and it had a very tactile grip to it, almost slightly rubbery, really held you in the seat, pretty nice actually.

[turbomg]

Originally Posted by Dunbar

And we all know that leather smell is going to last forever...

Eh, I must have an incredible nose because to me, it pretty much does.

And to echo what Sherifftruman said, if you've got animals anywhere near your interior (I've had to haul around my mother's huge old english sheepdog more than once) leatherette is what you want. I've been pretty amazed at how impervious it is to doggy claws.

[BForbes]

I think I just made up my mind on the leatherette. I'm gonna go for it.

[jraymond]

boston leather is worth 1450, it's worth it for re-sale and your keyster.

The leatherette has this hard as rock feel to me, not worth it!

[a_dolla]

my friend has an 07 328i with leatherette, and it feels pretty nice, plus i think i'd rather put that $1,450 towards the sport pkg or xenons

and re-sale is not an issure as i'm planning on keeping this one for a long time

[BForbes]

I did a test drive in a VW Toureg and didnt know it was leatherette until after I got out the car!!! Nuts!

[imported_MPower]

Originally Posted by onehots2k

I did a test drive in a VW Toureg and didnt know it was leatherette until after I got out the car!!! Nuts!

I don't know who it was that I had a bet with in a thread like this a couple of months ago, BUT...

Proper leatherette is almost impossible to discern from leather. It feels better in my opinion (BMW leather seats are harder than the leatherette seats... try an X3 if you don't believe me), is a billion times easier to maintain, and looks just as good. As for the smell "lasting forever"...

[RayI]

I had a 1999 E46 (323i) with leatherette. It was surprising how much it looked like the real thing. It was easy to care for but was fairly thin and wore on the driver's seat bolster. It was easy to repair with a kit. I used Zymol vinyl treatment several times per year to care for it. Not sure how heated seats will work with leatherette.

I plan to get my 135 with leatherette and save the $$ for other options.

[Templedogg]

Great thread, I was stressing about the $1500 for leather, but I am convinced now to spend that money on Power seats and Heated Seats and stick with the leatherette. If it really is that close to leather at resale time it will not hurt the value IMHO, but Power and Heat will help the value.

[jasonite]

My preference is leatherette (for the sake of durability and saving $1400) - but if lemon leather becomes an option, then I'd pony up the $1400 for that.