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      03-16-2020, 10:10 AM   #1
rcp_90
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Leather Seats or Not?

I just got a 2012 128i and I can’t seem to figure out if my seats are leather or leatherette...

I bought some Lexol cleaner and conditioner yesterday, but when I was cleaning the seats they just didn’t feel like true leather and now after doing some research I have no idea if I have leather, leatherette, or Boston leather seats...

The exterior of the car is alpine white with brown interior. Anybody care to help me out, and if my seats are not leather what other cleaners would you recommend?
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      03-16-2020, 10:40 AM   #2
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I think only black and a gray-ish brown were offered as the leatherette colors. If yours is truly brown then it's probably leather.

In my admittedly limited experience (I don't tend to get my seats too dirty to start with) the same cleaners work well on both. Just have to do a lot of brushing / wiping / repeating. Again though I've never had much to remove. Others will hopefully chime in.
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      03-16-2020, 12:00 PM   #3
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Even leather doesn't feel too much like leather. It is coated so doesn't have that older car or leather jacket texture.

So much different advice out there on the best way to clean and treat coated leather.
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      03-16-2020, 08:46 PM   #4
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Can't you tell by looking in a VIN decoder, like this one, for example?

When I look up my old car, it gives me this: Upholstery Leder Boston 2/schwarz - LWSW.

Leder is leather, when translated from German to English, for anyone that didn't know.

Last edited by Esteban; 03-16-2020 at 08:54 PM..
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      03-16-2020, 08:54 PM   #5
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It's leather.
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      03-17-2020, 07:15 PM   #6
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Garage List
'09 135i  [10.00]
Look up the last 7 of your VIN on bimmer.work or any BMW VIN site

You should see the upholstery info towards the top. For comparison, my last 7 are VK94796 and I have LWB4 Boston Leather


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      03-17-2020, 07:36 PM   #7
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Thank you to all. I looked up and it turns out they’re Boston leather!
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      11-27-2023, 05:41 PM   #8
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Regarding your question about the seats, I hope you've been able to determine whether they are leather or leatherette by now. If not, here's a reminder to check for those telltale signs like imperfections, grain patterns, and the distinctive smell of genuine leather. If they still puzzle you, reaching out to the manufacturer or dealership might be a good idea.
If you're still interested in learning more about leather care, you can check out this guide: https://vonbaer.com/blogs/blog/leath...-for-beginners. It's a valuable resource that can provide you with insights and tips to keep your car's interior in top-notch condition.

Last edited by Followiery; 11-28-2023 at 07:14 AM..
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