[J2d]

Hey, as the title says I ordered my car, I did some research on leatherette before posting. I sat in the leatherette and leather. I like the leather better but overall for 2700 more with tax, I didnt think it was worth it.

I did find the leatherette a tad rubber, I felt like I could slide at all on it, compared to the leather which was smooth.

I ordered the car with leatherette but im having second thoughts.

The only thing i'm really worried about is how hot does leatherette get in the summer? Since it doesnt breathe I've read that people stick to it, and their backs get wet!

If this is the case, I might just change it and get leather, I hate having sticky/wet backs in the summer, i'm a roll down your window and leave it open type of guy.

Looking forward to up coming meets!

Thanks.

[323d]

black leatherette and black leather will all be the same basically..

imo i hate leather in summer.. that smell after baking in the sun outdoors makes me sick.

[J2d]

Originally Posted by 323d

black leatherette and black leather will all be the same basically..

imo i hate leather in summer.. that smell after baking in the sun outdoors makes me sick.

but seeing how leather is more smooth and breathes, would that not make it not stick to your back?

[J2d]

Only reason why i'm asking this question even though there are threads out there, a lot of the times the weather in where people have answered is a lot hotter then in Canada.

I was thinking perhaps thats why they had such a problem with leatherette or if it was still the case here.

[picus]

Leatherette doesn't get any hotter than leather. Either one will stick to your back if you leave the car closed up in the sun on a hot day.

[PushingTin]

The leather is no smoother than the leatherette anyway, their texture is really similar, unless you're talking the leather in the E92 M3, that's really smooth... I have the leatherette and am more than happy with it, I'm also a wind through the car kind of person too and have had no problems at all, plus as said, in summer the smell with leather can get a bit 'much', well for me anyway..

My 2 pennies worth

PT

[MOAB]

Originally Posted by J2d

Hey, as the title says I ordered my car, I did some research on leatherette before posting. I sat in the leatherette and leather. I like the leather better but overall for 2700 more with tax, I didnt think it was worth it.

I did find the leatherette a tad rubber, I felt like I could slide at all on it, compared to the leather which was smooth.

I ordered the car with leatherette but im having second thoughts.

The only thing i'm really worried about is how hot does leatherette get in the summer? Since it doesnt breathe I've read that people stick to it, and their backs get wet!

If this is the case, I might just change it and get leather, I hate having sticky/wet backs in the summer, i'm a roll down your window and leave it open type of guy.

Looking forward to up coming meets!



Thanks.

I had leatherette in my E46 330. I think the BMW leatherette is very good. It looks like leather and it wears much better. That being said, something just doesn't seem right about buying a $50K + car and having plastic seats. That's why I opted for the leather this time around.

p.s. there are probably 2,000,000 threads about leather vs. leatherette. Try a

[J2d]

I did do a search! Just that not many of the replies were from Canada, and I wanted to see how canadians felt, since our weather is not as hot, and what not.

[vtec96]

don't get leatherette....
My friend regrets after one week...
Poor quality...

[eugene335]

For me, it is sample. I want Coral Red interior. It only comes in leather. However, I have had leatherette before and I regretted not having leather instead. But then again, $2700 buys a lot of mods.

[Lazzer]

Originally Posted by vtec96

don't get leatherette....
My friend regrets after one week...
Poor quality...

I agree my friend has leatherette and I have leather every time she rides in my car the 1st she says is I wish I got leather. I notice some people can't tell, but the more detail oriented people can.

Also the Leathers stitching is way nicer then the leatherettes.

[flush01]

i got leatherette and no complain here, if i could do it all over again i'd still pick leatherette... and it's fine on summer days, I always drive with windows down and it's perfect

[oncyte]

I had leatherette in my e46 and had the dealer replace the seat a couple times because of peeling or tearing. $2700 doesn't just get you leather...if it's premium pack you're talking about....folding mirrors, lumbar support, bluetooth, compass in mirror, homelink....etc. I would definitely reconsider getting the premium package if I were you. It'll cost you a lot more down the road if you want any of those options.

[Crea]

i'd never drive a car with leatherette. my frd had it on his bimmer and i hate it. i'll rather have cloth then leatherette

leatherette dont breath at all, and its not soft like leather, feels like the seat is wrap in plastic.

[saam]

note also u can get the premium package without getting leather seating,i think with the sport package tho it come automatically sinc eu have sport seats,just a thought.

[Lotus99]

Doesn't leather come w/this new technology, that leatherette doesn't?

as per BMW:

LINK

For unique sun protection.

The BMW Individual SunReflective Technology.

Technical sophistication you can actually feel: the exclusive BMW Individual SunReflective Technology ensures that leather seats heat up much less when exposed to sunlight compared with other leather types. This is achieved thanks to the special form of leather pigmentation that repels the light irradiation instead of absorbing it. The result: depending on the intensity of the sun, BMW leather is able to reduce temperatures by up to 25 °C compared with other leathers. This special BMW Individual technology is available for the BMW 3 Series Convertible for all upholstery colours.

[Crea]

Originally Posted by Lotus99

Doesn't leather come w/this new technology, that leatherette doesn't?

as per BMW:

LINK

For unique sun protection.

The BMW Individual SunReflective Technology.

Technical sophistication you can actually feel: the exclusive BMW Individual SunReflective Technology ensures that leather seats heat up much less when exposed to sunlight compared with other leather types. This is achieved thanks to the special form of leather pigmentation that repels the light irradiation instead of absorbing it. The result: depending on the intensity of the sun, BMW leather is able to reduce temperatures by up to 25 °C compared with other leathers. This special BMW Individual technology is available for the BMW 3 Series Convertible for all upholstery colours.

thats for the convertible cars only.

[OTK_KART]

The leather should only be a $2400 stand alone option and well worth the price. Buying a $50,000 plus car with plastic seat just doesn't seem right to me.

[who's ur daddy?]

I have leatherette.

I think it looks great and I really don't care about spills and stuff because ain't nothing gonna penetrate that petroleum-based material!!! It doesn't crack. For plastic, I think it looks fantastic.

It is definitely hotter than leather during the summer. I had leather in the E46 and I can tell the difference. People who say that there is no difference are outright liars. Liars I tell you. It is hotter because it doesn't breathe as well.

But if I'd do it all over again, I'd still get the leatherette cuz the leather is damn pricey. I think this summer the leatherette will be more tolerable with the tint.

[who's ur daddy?]

Save the money on the leather and use it to get a fancy set of wheels.... oh yeah baby...

[benyl]

Are you buying or leasing? Actually, I don't think it matters. Leather is better for resale / trade-in value.

If you are leasing, remember that you are really only paying for a portion of that $2400.

[Crea]

dont be cheap on the leather...