Leather vs Not - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

MSport35TT · 11-30-2012, 08:22 AM

I have a 2010, 335 6- speed with premium, cold, msport ext. it's fully loaded with all options less iDrive. Last night I sat in a 2011 335 msport and the seat felt very soft and comfortable, much diff from mine which I thought to be black leather and never crossed my mind it could be leatherette. Is this possible to have every option but still opt for leatherette? Or did they change the type of leather they use in the LCI models? Thanks again everyone.

dr335is · 11-30-2012, 08:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSport35TT

I have a 2010, 335 6- speed with premium, cold, msport ext. it's fully loaded with all options less iDrive. Last night I sat in a 2011 335 msport and the seat felt very soft and comfortable, much diff from mine which I thought to be black leather and never crossed my mind it could be leatherette. Is this possible to have every option but still opt for leatherette? Or did they change the type of leather they use in the LCI models? Thanks again everyone.

I thought the premium comes with Leather...

ragingclue · 11-30-2012, 09:34 AM

For the E9X, as stated, if you opt for ZPP, you also get leather. I think most (if not all) of the options included in ZPP were available a la carte though. So I think it's possible to get most of those options but retain leatherette.

AFAIK, pre-LCI and LCI E9X all use the Dakota leather (i.e. Rhino Hide).

kbryce · 11-30-2012, 10:11 AM

pretty sure msport and premium both come with dakota

99.9% sure it's impossible to have leatherette

NGuyadeen · 11-30-2012, 10:30 AM

My 330i had leatherette in there and it was very comfortable as a matter a fact i though it was real leather until my 3rd year of ownership i saw the factory paper. My Current F30 has dakota leather and that is comfortable as well. The difference is very subtle imo

bimmerlex · 11-30-2012, 12:03 PM

My previous E90 was leatherette and when I got my wife an X5 with dakota leather and now got an e92 with dakota, I can't really tell the difference between leatherette and leather.

r3dbimmer89 · 11-30-2012, 12:49 PM

All E90s use Dakota leather...Are you 100% sure you have the premium package (power folding mirrors, auto dimming mirrors, etc)? If so then it could be that the other car had the leather cleaned with Lexol or something causing the leather to softening up a little.

A quick way to check is to see if there is the double stitching on the door where the leather is. If you don't see any visible seams and stitching then you have leatherette.

PKizzle · 11-30-2012, 01:17 PM

Or maybe the other car which you thought was nicer had the leatherette...did you consider that?

MSport35TT · 11-30-2012, 01:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by r3dbimmer89

All E90s use Dakota leather...Are you 100% sure you have the premium package (power folding mirrors, auto dimming mirrors, etc)? If so then it could be that the other car had the leather cleaned with Lexol or something causing the leather to softening up a little.

A quick way to check is to see if there is the double stitching on the door where the leather is. If you don't see any visible seams and stitching then you have leatherette.

I do have the follow as you stated. The seats just feel tough vs the 335 i sat in last night. I know what leather feels like and now i am double questioning my self. Other than the door what is an other way I could check? I havnt been to my car today yet.

ragingclue · 11-30-2012, 01:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKizzle

Or maybe the other car which you thought was nicer had the leatherette...did you consider that?

I thought he said it had the M-Sport package.

Did M-Sport come with leather? If not, then I would have to agree this could be the case. BMW did leatherette pretty well.

Meeni · 11-30-2012, 01:32 PM

The difference between leather and leatherette is obvious. Not that leatherette is bad, but different. Leather feels harder after a few month, while leatherette remains supple. But to the finger touch, leather feels like leather, and leatherette feels like rubber. There is no difference in terms of back sweat in warm climates. The newer leather are easy to maintain and can survive neglected cleaning schedule much better than before (I won't tell how I know).

Transport3r · 11-30-2012, 01:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by PKizzle

Or maybe the other car which you thought was nicer had the leatherette...did you consider that?

In my experience the leatherette is more pliable than the leather, so i could feel 'softer' to you...

PKizzle · 11-30-2012, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragingclue

I thought he said it had the M-Sport package.

Did M-Sport come with leather? If not, then I would have to agree this could be the case. BMW did leatherette pretty well.

Pretty sure you can get M-Sport with leatherette. It's just Premium that includes leather.

MSport35TT · 11-30-2012, 03:26 PM

Ok Don't laugh but I pulled the Package list and found that it has dakoda Leather however this kids 2011 was pretty base other then sound system being an H/K and cold weather pack that was it...It is possible that his leatherette felt much softer than my hard leather? or should I condition the leather with BMW leather conditioner and see how it feel after...

ragingclue · 11-30-2012, 03:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSport35TT

It is possible that his leatherette felt much softer than my hard leather?

Yeah absolutely. Do you treat your leather? Even if you did, this Dakota stuff is pretty freaking hard as far as leather goes.

MSport35TT · 11-30-2012, 04:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ragingclue

Yeah absolutely. Do you treat your leather? Even if you did, this Dakota stuff is pretty freaking hard as far as leather goes.

Ok well that answers that

thanks for everyone input.

S3RI35 · 11-30-2012, 04:26 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSport35TT

Ok well that answers that

thanks for everyone input.

easiest way to know your car has leather - it has the double stitching that runs horizontally across the backrest and door inserts above the armrest. simple.

MSport35TT · 11-30-2012, 06:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by S3RI35

easiest way to know your car has leather - it has the double stitching that runs horizontally across the backrest and door inserts above the armrest. simple.

ok cool its confirmed there is leather

335BBS · 12-03-2012, 09:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MSport35TT

I do have the follow as you stated. The seats just feel tough vs the 335 i sat in last night. I know what leather feels like and now i am double questioning my self. Other than the door what is an other way I could check? I havnt been to my car today yet.

push your finger into it..if it wrinkles around your finger it is leather. Vinyl won't wrinkle.

11-30-2012, 08:22 AM	#1
MSport35TT First Lieutenant Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NJ & MA Posts: 361 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335ix [1.00]	Leather vs Not I have a 2010, 335 6- speed with premium, cold, msport ext. it's fully loaded with all options less iDrive. Last night I sat in a 2011 335 msport and the seat felt very soft and comfortable, much diff from mine which I thought to be black leather and never crossed my mind it could be leatherette. Is this possible to have every option but still opt for leatherette? Or did they change the type of leather they use in the LCI models? Thanks again everyone. __________________ TiAg N54 xDrive M-Sport 6MT:Cobb Stage II+ ll HPF Front Mount ll AR 3" Cat-less DP ll aFe Stage 2 ll M3 Rear Sway ll KW Variant 3 ll GTS 19" 359m ll BMW PE Axle Back ll Novillo M3 Int
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11-30-2012, 10:11 AM	#4
kbryce I have to return some video tapes Drives: e92 335i 6mt Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Albany/NYC Posts: 2,603 iTrader: (0)	pretty sure msport and premium both come with dakota 99.9% sure it's impossible to have leatherette __________________ 13 Black Sapphire e92 335i - 6mt - Coral Red - M-Sport - No mods for 1,200 miles! 10 Le Mans Blue e92 335i - Retired 09 Monaco Blue e92 328i xdrive - Retired 07 Sparkling Graphite e92 328xi - Retired

11-30-2012, 12:49 PM	#7
r3dbimmer89 The Coolest Drives: '12 E92 335i M Sport Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: SoCal Posts: 560 iTrader: (0)	All E90s use Dakota leather...Are you 100% sure you have the premium package (power folding mirrors, auto dimming mirrors, etc)? If so then it could be that the other car had the leather cleaned with Lexol or something causing the leather to softening up a little. A quick way to check is to see if there is the double stitching on the door where the leather is. If you don't see any visible seams and stitching then you have leatherette. __________________ Current: 12 AW E92 335i ///M sport Gone: 08 Crimson E90 335i/02 AW E46 325i

11-30-2012, 01:17 PM	#8
PKizzle Private First Class Drives: '11 335is, '99 M3 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Cary, NC Posts: 175 iTrader: (0)	Or maybe the other car which you thought was nicer had the leatherette...did you consider that? Last edited by PKizzle; 11-30-2012 at 01:23 PM.

11-30-2012, 03:26 PM	#14
MSport35TT First Lieutenant Drives: 335i Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: NJ & MA Posts: 361 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2010 BMW 335ix [1.00]	Ok Don't laugh but I pulled the Package list and found that it has dakoda Leather however this kids 2011 was pretty base other then sound system being an H/K and cold weather pack that was it...It is possible that his leatherette felt much softer than my hard leather? or should I condition the leather with BMW leather conditioner and see how it feel after... Attached Images

11-30-2012, 09:34 AM	#3
ragingclue My interior is turrible Drives: stickferanaxle Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: mulletville Posts: 6,667 iTrader: (1)	For the E9X, as stated, if you opt for ZPP, you also get leather. I think most (if not all) of the options included in ZPP were available a la carte though. So I think it's possible to get most of those options but retain leatherette. AFAIK, pre-LCI and LCI E9X all use the Dakota leather (i.e. Rhino Hide).

11-30-2012, 10:30 AM	#5
NGuyadeen First Lieutenant Drives: 2012 BMW 335i Sport Line Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Miami,Fl Posts: 390 iTrader: (0)	My 330i had leatherette in there and it was very comfortable as a matter a fact i though it was real leather until my 3rd year of ownership i saw the factory paper. My Current F30 has dakota leather and that is comfortable as well. The difference is very subtle imo

11-30-2012, 12:03 PM	#6
bimmerlex Captain Drives: E92 LCI / E70 X5 xDr35d Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: SoCal. Posts: 835 iTrader: (23) Garage List 2013 e92 335i M Sport [0.00] 2012 E70 X5 xDrive35D [0.00]	My previous E90 was leatherette and when I got my wife an X5 with dakota leather and now got an e92 with dakota, I can't really tell the difference between leatherette and leather.

11-30-2012, 01:32 PM	#11
Meeni Gateropode Drives: BMW 330i 06 Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: TN Posts: 734 iTrader: (0)	The difference between leather and leatherette is obvious. Not that leatherette is bad, but different. Leather feels harder after a few month, while leatherette remains supple. But to the finger touch, leather feels like leather, and leatherette feels like rubber. There is no difference in terms of back sweat in warm climates. The newer leather are easy to maintain and can survive neglected cleaning schedule much better than before (I won't tell how I know).

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