[DaveDBD]

If you live in a place where it is sunny and hot, I now highly recommend leather instead of sensafin. After two months of sunny 90F+ the sensafin still emits an offensive odor and I usually open the windows initially to flush it out.

Conversely our 540 with leather has a pleasant smell.

Don’t skimp on the $2k leather cost on a $80k+ vehicle is my suggestion.

Too bad the fabric manufacturer doesn’t precondition it to remove the smell.

[LDT]

Agree wholeheartedly. I recently passed on a great spec low mileage CPO M50i. It had silverstone sensafin. Bit the bullet and ordered a M60i with Ivory leather.

[tooloud10]

My current X5 has Sensafin and sits in the sun all day and doesn't smell.

My M3 has leather but mostly sits in the cool garage and doesn't smell.

My previous F25 X3 and E70 X5s both had leather, sat in the sun, and smelled like the description but I always attributed it to some of the low quality plastics and rubber that BMW used in these vehicles--some of the parts actually seemed to melt over the years.

[mattsrs]

I wanted to get leather but couldn't get over the outdated stitching pattern and lack of perforation on the back seats. Have had my LCI with Sensasin for two weeks and the smell is not terrible. Yes, when I get in the car I smell it a bit but after a few mins with AC on or windows open, it goes away.

[apw2607]

Ugh, i'm just finally putting an order in now for a 50e and flip flopping on the Sensafin versus leather. I was all set on Sensafin and reading this has me second guessing my decision again.

I do tend to agree with you that the leather design does seem a bit dated. Thats why also i was gravitating towards the Sensafin. But also like it from the sustainability point of view.

[roamio]

Originally Posted by apw2607

Ugh, i'm just finally putting an order in now for a 50e and flip flopping on the Sensafin versus leather. I was all set on Sensafin and reading this has me second guessing my decision again.

I do tend to agree with you that the leather design does seem a bit dated. Thats why also i was gravitating towards the Sensafin. But also like it from the sustainability point of view.

My opinion - don't waste your money on dated design leather. With sensafin you will get very cool looking stitching, very soft (leather like) material which also be more durable.
I test drove X5 with sensafin that was parked outside and had about 400 miles on it - didn't notice any smell.

[Pro55]

It's plastic, full of chemicals and very hot in the summer. Had a Mercedes with their Artico leather years back and swore I would never do it again.The drivers seat split on one of the seams. Was a manufacturing defect but happened just a month out of warranty!!!

[FastMarkA]

Originally Posted by apw2607

Ugh, i'm just finally putting an order in now for a 50e and flip flopping on the Sensafin versus leather. I was all set on Sensafin and reading this has me second guessing my decision again.

I do tend to agree with you that the leather design does seem a bit dated. Thats why also i was gravitating towards the Sensafin. But also like it from the sustainability point of view.

Ask to sit in a new Sensafin car that's been sitting in the sun for a few hours.

I have Sensafin, and when I get into my car on a 85-90 degree day, after it's been sitting in the sun, all I smell are the chemicals of a car that was built in May 2023, aka "new car smell." To me, there is no discernible difference from my previous 45e with Merino.

When a car heats up, there are a lot of things emitting a smell inside of the cabin: plastics, the headliner, the carpeting, etc. Also, there is still a ton of Sensafin in a Merino car: the dashboard, the door panels, and even parts of the seat.

[roamio]

Originally Posted by Pro55

It's plastic, full of chemicals and very hot in the summer. Had a Mercedes with their Artico leather years back and swore I would never do it again.The drivers seat split on one of the seams. Was a manufacturing defect but happened just a month out of warranty!!!

99% of interior is plastic. There is nothing natural except couple of square feet of merino leather on seating surfaces. And merino is also treated with chemicals. Door panels, dashboard, floor mats, huge headliner and so on. Everything that heats up in the sun will release full bouquet of not very healthy gasses. No matter what but I do recommend opening windows when car is new (good or bad smell) just to let some fresh air in.

To be honest idea of wasting $2000 on pleasant smell is a little too much for some people.

Either way, leather or sensafin - both are right choices.

[davewolfs]

I am not a fan of Sensafin. I like Merino.

[hufington]

Some may feel the smell some may not but does anyone know what type of chemicals are inside the Sensafin material? You get rid of the smell by opening the windows but you may inhale something that is not healthy.

[mattsrs]

Originally Posted by hufington

Some may feel the smell some may not but does anyone know what type of chemicals are inside the Sensafin material? You get rid of the smell by opening the windows but you may inhale something that is not healthy.

As roamio pointed out, even if you get Merino, majority of the interior is still sensafin and other type of plastics and automaker’s probably have requirements on what material/chemical they can use in the car. Almost all EVs are “vegan” aka plastic.

[Davesrb]

I bought my 2023 840i April 27th and my 2024 X6 June 1. The 840 has Merino, the X6 Silverstone Sensafin. I can definitely smell the new leather smell in the 840, but honestly don't smell anything, or at least nothing remotely bad in the X6. It still smells like a new car, but nothing offensive. I have probably had 20 clients/friends/family in the X6 and no one has commented on any odor. The only major difference I have noticed is the X6 perforated and cooled seats do not work as well as the 840's.

Forgot to mention, I'm in Santa Rosa Beach, Florida where it has been above 90 degrees every day for the last several weeks.

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by DaveDBD

If you live in a place where it is sunny and hot, I now highly recommend leather instead of sensafin. After two months of sunny 90F+ the sensafin still emits an offensive odor and I usually open the windows initially to flush it out.

Conversely our 540 with leather has a pleasant smell.

Don’t skimp on the $2k leather cost on a $80k+ vehicle is my suggestion.

Too bad the fabric manufacturer doesn’t precondition it to remove the smell.

I also had this problem on a Lexus gx that I trade for the x5 non leather car in higher heat it stunk like garbage or spoiled rotten so at 4,000 miles trade it in never will I buy a car with fake leather again

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by roamio

My opinion - don't waste your money on dated design leather. With sensafin you will get very cool looking stitching, very soft (leather like) material which also be more durable.
I test drove X5 with sensafin that was parked outside and had about 400 miles on it - didn't notice any smell.

I think that stitching looks horrible and the new x5 looks very dated from the 70s plus that fake leather will stink every time. The car gets hot

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by Pro55

It's plastic, full of chemicals and very hot in the summer. Had a Mercedes with their Artico leather years back and swore I would never do it again.The drivers seat split on one of the seams. Was a manufacturing defect but happened just a month out of warranty!!!

Those chemicals cannot be good to breathe

[swainbmw]

Originally Posted by roamio

99% of interior is plastic. There is nothing natural except couple of square feet of merino leather on seating surfaces. And merino is also treated with chemicals. Door panels, dashboard, floor mats, huge headliner and so on. Everything that heats up in the sun will release full bouquet of not very healthy gasses. No matter what but I do recommend opening windows when car is new (good or bad smell) just to let some fresh air in.

To be honest idea of wasting $2000 on pleasant smell is a little too much for some people.

Either way, leather or sensafin - both are right choices.

Yes, but it doesn’t smell like rotten cabbage like the rest of those interior do that are made out of plastic when they sit and boil in the hot 90° weather

[LDT]

On the X5 the Merino is a $1950 option. On a Cayenne it's $4180 and there's not much difference in the amount of leather. BMW's Dravit Grey is $1950 and Arctic Grey is $3150 on the Cayenne. Two of the many reasons I chose the X5 M60i over the Cayenne S

[roamio]

Originally Posted by LDT

On the X5 the Merino is a $1950 option. On a Cayenne it's $4180 and there's not much difference in the amount of leather. BMW's Dravit Grey is $1950 and Arctic Grey is $3150 on the Cayenne. Two of the many reasons I chose the X5 M60i over the Cayenne S

You've made the right choice.

[MtgMaster]

Originally Posted by DaveDBD

If you live in a place where it is sunny and hot, I now highly recommend leather instead of sensafin. After two months of sunny 90F+ the sensafin still emits an offensive odor and I usually open the windows initially to flush it out.

Conversely our 540 with leather has a pleasant smell.

Don’t skimp on the $2k leather cost on a $80k+ vehicle is my suggestion.

Too bad the fabric manufacturer doesn’t precondition it to remove the smell.

Tint windows, ceramic is best for your purpose.

[E91toG05]

the leather is not really chemical-free either... It is not like it is taken from cow and thrown into the car. All kids of tanning, dyes, etc. I suspect both are equally terrible for the environment.

[LuvMyE92]

Originally Posted by FastMarkA

Ask to sit in a new Sensafin car that's been sitting in the sun for a few hours.

I have Sensafin, and when I get into my car on a 85-90 degree day, after it's been sitting in the sun, all I smell are the chemicals of a car that was built in May 2023, aka "new car smell." To me, there is no discernible difference from my previous 45e with Merino.

When a car heats up, there are a lot of things emitting a smell inside of the cabin: plastics, the headliner, the carpeting, etc. Also, there is still a ton of Sensafin in a Merino car: the dashboard, the door panels, and even parts of the seat.

I've noticed no issues with the Sensafin in the wife's new X5 and think it's just as nice as the "leather" that BMW uses in most of their cars. And it will probably hold up better too.