[3aficionado]

I was looking at two e90s at a local dealership the other day. The leather (mostly the side bolsters) felt noticeably different between the two vehicles. One felt very supple/soft and the other had a noticeably tough feel. At first I thought one was leatherette but the salesman confirmed both vehicles had leather.

I know leather is natural so there will be differences with every piece. But these differences were pretty extreme. Even the salesman was shocked when I pointed this out. After comparing the two cars I would be very disappointed if I was delivered the tougher leather.

Is it just a crapshoot when you order leather that you will get the soft leather over the tougher leather seats? Is there a reason one leather was noticeably better (the salesman didn’t know)? Have others received leather that was different than what they felt during test drives/dealership walkthroughs?

[ward]

was it sport pack vs non sport pack???

that might be the difference

[3aficionado]

Good question. After asking the salesman if one car had leatherette he looked up each car to make sure he was giving me correct information. Both cars had leather and I thought he said both had the same option packages (I could be remembering this wrong). I remember the salesman being as shocked as I was after feeling the cars and looking them up.

Do different packages have different grades of leather?

[shark330i]

I have the sport package; the leather is not soft and supple, like doe skin or anything. However, it's not hard or rough either. It's more "in the middle", if anything. Great quality and much, much better looking/feeling than my previous G35 Coupe.

[Arkansas3]

I love the pebbled leather in my e90. Much nicer than the leather I had in my Honda and what my mom has in her Lexus. Much "grippier" too for taking corners--you don't slide around!

[akhbhaat]

This is why I fully intend to order leatherette if I buy an E90. I have leatherette in my E46 and after years and years of use, it still looks factory new with absolutely no maintenance or upkeep.

[M3ti Compact]

I'll get leatherette with the sport package...every sport package i've seen with leather, the outside bolsters wear down very fast from just getting in and out. Leatherette should be more durable- and unless you drive naked, you won't feel too much difference.

[3aficionado]

Please lets not turn this into a leather vs leatherette debate. That is an old/tired topic with plenty of other threads devoted to it.

I am interested in information on the possible differences in leather quality from those who own e90s with leather (or have leather knowledge). Thank you.

[Bob T]

The SA cars are actually elephant hide. Probably the one with better leather was from Germany.

[hotsand5]

still not as hard as the new audi and vw's leather. Think of a football, same thing.

[hotsand5]

...sorry, and that's an "American" football for our overseas friends

[Haiko]

I do have Sport Package, and the black leather is very soft. I've received many compliments on it.