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      09-25-2013, 11:17 AM   #23
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Quote:
Originally Posted by hmc
I had Dakota leather on my E60 525 for 2.5 years and E60 550 for 4 years.

While Dakota leather is fairly durable, it quickly shows it's not new anymore (especially driver seat) and I tried to clean and condition with leather cleaner and conditioner twice a year but it doesn't really help much.

If you think leather is more durable, you are kidding yourself...
Quote:
it quickly shows it's not new anymore
What does it mean, can you describe "not new anymore"? Worn out, color change, did it crease?

I don't think it is a typical experience other people had on this and other forums. Unless,of course, your use was not a typical and normal due to your activities or job or something else. For instance, some guy said he does a lot of kayaking and gets wet in his car, so I do understand that leatherette would be a better solution for him.

I've never said that leather is more durable than plastic, however, it is definitely very durable, especially Dakota, but it is undeniably more comfortable due to additional seat adjustments and a feel.

Last edited by 328AL; 09-25-2013 at 02:12 PM..
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      09-25-2013, 03:39 PM   #24
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Go check out any 2 cars with the same age with and w/o leather and you will know what I mean.

I never said leather is not more comfortable.

I said leather is more expensive, more maintenance and less durable (relatively)! This is not an over generalized statement. This is the fact.
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      09-25-2013, 04:10 PM   #25
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 328AL View Post
What does it mean, can you describe "not new anymore"? Worn out, color change, did it crease?
I had leather in my 1-series that I just turned in last month at the end of the lease. It was beige and you could clearly see wear along the side bolsters of the sport seats. It's hard to describe, but right at the seems the beige color was like... wearing off? You could see darker tan color and creases. It just looked worn.
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      09-25-2013, 06:10 PM   #26
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I've had Dakota leather.......I've had Nappa leather......I've had leatherette.......I've had Speed Cloth........and I've had M-Alcantara. All of these surfaces will age/weather/etc. depending on the driver, and how the driver maintains them. Generalized statements about which wears better are irrelevant because there are too many factors/variables to consider. My 2 year old Palladium Silver leather in my 11.5 E92 M3 still looked brand new when I traded that car this past May. How you enter and exit the vehicle determines wear on the bolsters seat cushions, etc. Maybe I'm just anal or overly particular about how I care for my cars, but I don't experience wear issues like some of you have mentioned on this forum.
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      09-25-2013, 06:51 PM   #27
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When comparing among different materials, it's assumed that the use pattern/case is the same obviously.
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      09-25-2013, 08:07 PM   #28
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It only makes sense to pay extra for the red interior on the F30 sport/msport lines. Leatherette looks/feels perfectly fine.
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      09-25-2013, 10:05 PM   #29
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Quote:
Originally Posted by opauwels
Hey everyone

My AW f30 sedan/berline company car i have on order (estimated delivery end of october) will have the black sensatec interior.

Originally i opted for the fabric "track" interior because i really liked the red stitching and details and the price for the black leather with red accents/stitching was a bit much in my honest opinion.
My boss however insisted on the sensatec interior, as it is supposed to be similar to leather but is only a 150 option or something like that, whereas the leather interiors are 1000plus and since he's the one paying for the car i didn't object to it, although i will miss those red accents

Now i would like to ask, does anyone here have this interior and if so, what are your thoughts on it? The pro's/con's etc..

Should i get special cleaning products to maintain the quality of the interior?

Thanks in advance.

- oli
Tell your boss to stop having a cow over leather.

Next, to be honest, paying or not, it is really creepy that your boss has any input whatsoever on your car.
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      09-26-2013, 01:53 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mntbiker View Post
I had leather in my 1-series that I just turned in last month at the end of the lease. It was beige and you could clearly see wear along the side bolsters of the sport seats. It's hard to describe, but right at the seems the beige color was like... wearing off? You could see darker tan color and creases. It just looked worn.
It's all possible depend on conditions that it was used in. But in your case, are you sure that what you saw was not a dirt patterns rather than wear? It sounds like the seats have not been cleaned for a while and conditioned. If, for instance, you wear denim a lot, it would stain the leather exactly like you describe. The good news is, it's very easily cleanable!

You have to do a lot to wear out light Dakota in 3 years.
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      09-29-2013, 05:25 PM   #31
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Sat in a 428i at my local dealership today with black interior (didn't care to remember what line it was...it just wasn't an M Sport). I was trying my hardest to figure out if it was leather or leatherette. It certainly didn't smell like leather that I'm used to, and the feel was just as ambiguous. I was stumped.

I go out and around to the passenger side to check the window sticker. It was leather.
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      09-30-2013, 02:16 AM   #32
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Quote:
Originally Posted by F32
Sat in a 428i at my local dealership today with black interior (didn't care to remember what line it was...it just wasn't an M Sport). I was trying my hardest to figure out if it was leather or leatherette. It certainly didn't smell like leather that I'm used to, and the feel was just as ambiguous. I was stumped.

I go out and around to the passenger side to check the window sticker. It was leather.
They look very similar but if you compare how they feel side-by-side you will notice a difference. However, the biggest difference is leatherette doesn't breathe, it is very noticeable especially in a hot weather.
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      04-19-2014, 08:36 PM   #33
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2014 320i Beige Sensatec Discolor

I have yellow edges on the rear armrest of my car...just took delivery. Dealer says they have others on the lot with this same defect. Has anyone else experienced this?
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      04-19-2014, 11:26 PM   #34
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Sensatec is fine..not one of those things you wish you'd had gotten the upgrade instead. Leatherette in my old 330i held up well after 12 years of use. Did not see a need to get leather in my 335.

Maybe I just don't appreciate leather ?. The family's second car has always had premium leather seats ( Lexus / infinti ) and I don't feel much of a different between the 2
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      04-20-2014, 06:59 AM   #35
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I don't think there is a big enough difference between leather and sensatec to upgrade to leather unless you had to as part of the premium package. I went with sensatec because I wanted black seats so didn't see the point in paying for the leather. If I had wanted the red or oyster it would have been worth it.
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      04-20-2014, 09:10 AM   #36
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I had Dakota leather in my last 2 BMWs (128 and X3). Now I have Sensatec in my current 2 BMW F30s. I find the Sensatec to look and feel as nice as the leather was, and given that its much easier to clean/maintain, I'd always go with the Sensatec unless there is a color you really want in the leather

For cleaning, I'd just use a damp cloth with water or mild detergent. You could use a vinyl protectant (like what's used on convertible tops), but I don't think it's really needed.
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      04-20-2014, 10:53 AM   #37
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Besides, the "leather" seats have only leather sitting surfaces. And with the way they treat leather to make it last in a car the leather feels like vinyl anyway. You will not be mistaken that you're sitting on a leather sofa.
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      04-20-2014, 11:33 AM   #38
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Dakota doesn't seem to be as nice as my Nappa leather I have had or even the Milano leather. That said you will absolutely sweat more with pleather, it does not breath the same. I wish they offered ventilated seats, I would have gotten them for sure. I buy my cars loaded, hard to give up options once you have them, so leather is part of every car I order. 99% of people could not tell the difference, but I prefer leather.
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      04-20-2014, 11:39 AM   #39
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Had black sensatac on my E91
Have black leather on my f31
Not a whole hell of lot of difference in feel or appearance. I would have been happy with sensatac on this car except to get the cold weather package it required leather.

On the other hand, there is a significant difference between the leatherette on our last VW (2005 Jetta SW) compared with the leather on our current VW (2013 Golf R)
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      04-20-2014, 11:52 AM   #40
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Rautha View Post
Had black sensatac on my E91
Have black leather on my f31
Not a whole hell of lot of difference in feel or appearance. I would have been happy with sensatac on this car except to get the cold weather package it required leather.

On the other hand, there is a significant difference between the leatherette on our last VW (2005 Jetta SW) compared with the leather on our current VW (2013 Golf R)
Pretty sure the Golf R is Nappa, that's what I had in my Audi's, nicer than BMW Dakota and much nicer than any pleather.
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      04-20-2014, 12:27 PM   #41
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It's really just about the comforts that come with the leather-
Comfort access
Heated seats
Lumbar support
No sweaty backside
If you are trying to control costs, get the low end deal
But bashing someone else's choice is silly. You get what you pay for in both options.
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      04-16-2015, 06:33 AM   #42
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Sensatec discoloration

We have a 2015 X3 diesel with Sensatec interior. the two front seats are discoloring - we have only had the car for 5 months! Does anyone know how we can clean this or have any suggestions? The dealership gave us a product to clean/deodorize the seats but it does not work. The discoloration looks like dirt but it has been winter months and this just isn't possible. I simply drive the car to and from work! Help????
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      04-16-2015, 07:02 AM   #43
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Quote:
Originally Posted by xit2050
Quote:
Originally Posted by hmc View Post
If you think leather is more durable, you are kidding yourself...
This is correct.
I've never seen a BMW leather driver seat that looked as good as a sensatec seat after six years of intensive use.

Had beige sensatec in the E90 and have black sensatec in my current F30.
Wouldn't change it for anything else.

Maintenance? Just go over it with a damp cloth from time to time if it's dirty... or do nothing at all. No conditioning or expensive products needed.
The Dakota Leather in my 2007 335i looked the same as it did the day I bought the car when I sold it in January with 60,000 miles on the odometer.
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      04-16-2015, 07:18 AM   #44
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OP the sport line has black sensatec (vinyl) with red accents. I like that interior a lot in my f30.

I have a cloth interior in my f80. I don't think you are missing out on anything by getting the vinyl instead of cloth

For what it is worth, I have Kansas leather in my z4 and can't tell the difference between the vinyl and leather in 335 vs z4.
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