Macro pic of Leatherette

[imported_Shawn]

Originally Posted by Mad Dragon

I'm pretty sure you can only get the self-dimming mirrors with the premium package.


Yes, blue dye will stain the leatherette seats. I've seen it on several cars, and there's no way to get rid of it. Wash your jeans before you wear them.:wink:

I guess that means I will stick with my original idea of blackette w/ glacier silver aluminum trim. No worries about discolored seats. thanks.

[gemini330zhp]

Thank you for posting this thread Im getting leatherette

[napoletani99]

read the gentlemen's note regarding 50+ years experience with fine cars and his positive opinion regarding leatherette. phew!!! thank you for that piece of mind. i was really on the fence about ponying up the extra bling for leather and now i'm glad i decided not to.

as for jeff's initially critical note, then correction after having seeing and driving one with leatherette for himself, thank you also. the fact that leatherette impressed you enough in the end to take the time to submit a changed opinion says a lot about the quality of the material, in my mind.

grazie

[jkp1187]

I test-drove a 1er this week; when I sat in the car, after feeling the seat, I immediately said: "Ah, this is the leatherette, isn't it?"

The salesman checked the sticker and said: "No, this is leather".

The leather was fine....but I've seen it done far better by other manufacturers. I later had a chance to sit down in a 1er with 'ette, and frankly felt no appreciable difference in comfort or texture.

Your mileage may vary, of course. Definitely check both before making the decision. But I wouldn't reject leatherette out of hand unless you have to have the red seats.

[Robert]

Difference between leather and rette all comes down to personal perception in BMW 1 series. The major plus I like is the smell but after talking to one-35i and infinitedkid last weekend they convinced me that I made the right choice.

[raolc]

Hey guys someone else asked this in this threat but no body replied and I was also interesting in knowing the answer. What options do you need to get the side mirrors that tilt in reverse on the 135i?

[Templedogg]

Power Seats is all you need to get side mirror tilt. That is what I got, leatherette and power instead of leather and LOVE IT!!!

[gemini330zhp]

Im getting the leatherette instead of leather. Why so I can get the Carbon Fiber strut bar and the BMW Performance steering wheel instead!!! woohoo!!!

[jdgomez]

I'm really lovin my leatherette. Never regretted buying mine. Leather was too expensive for me.





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[barbados]

Originally Posted by E82TT6

If I coulda gotten 'ette in the color I wanted, I would have been all over it.

You know, I was totally planning on getting the premium package but I just remember how crappy the driver seat's leather looked in my '01 330i after a few years. My sister had a 328i that was a few years old and her leatherette looked brand new. I'm glad I went through this thread - I'm getting leatherette! To be honest, I didn't even realize her car didn't have leather, I just assumed it did. I remember it being slicker and harder than my leather though - so I'm fairly confident that it was leatherette. I remember thinking that her interior held up way better than mine, little did I know that I was envying her leatherette!

My leather in my STi Limited is already showing wear on the driver side bolsters after 2 years... the normal STis that come with alcantara hold up much better. To each his own, I'll be sure to check them both out prior to placing my order though.

[Robert]

The leatherette in the newer bmw is really good. None of my friends know its leatherette until I told them. Once you know you can tell the rette is a bit firmer and it doesn't has the leather aroma but the longevity and the ease of maintenance are more practical, and I am a practical guy.

[cagekicker]

Originally Posted by Jeff1962

At Edmunds a person who purchased a new 335i ordered the leatherette without seeing/touching it. Believing what others were saying. You should read his review. MAN is he pissed. He HATES the hot, sticky, cheap, smelly vinyl in his new 335i. Thats all he talks about in his review. How BMW can offer this cheap s_it is sickening.

This is a true review, I am not making it up.

I just want to SEE, SIT, FEEL Leatherette IN PERSON in a 135i with sport seats. The dealer by me said they HIGHLY doubt they will get any with ette. I left my cell # 5 weeks ago incase they get one in. NO calls yet.

one person's opinion.

[HighQ]

I just don't get why OEM's keep pushing leather in cars, it so bad that it's a mistery to me why they tried it in the first place.
Hot in the summer, cold in the winter and looks crap fast without maintenance. Not to mention the "I love Efficient Dynamics" crowd wouldn't like a piece of dead cow in their car to much. I am glad they now have the technology to bring us the feel of leather without the numerous downsides.

[esscolab]

I thought the first pic was a close up of an Elephants skin!

[JHZR2]

wow, nice picture. Makes it really tough since the red leather looks good, but the vinyl sure looks good and ought to last better.

As a side note, the MB tex vinyl in my 81 240D has a nice grain and STILL looks like new. That is 27 year old vinyl... I can onlyimagine how good the new stuff is. Also, the vinyl in my 91 318i is also like new. Never as soft and smooth as the MB tex, but still looks liek new and wears like iron!

Only issue Id have is that vinyl offgasses, and likely does so worse than leather. This is a health issue, believe it or not. Plastic offgassing is nasty stuff. So air your car out.