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      09-03-2018, 06:03 PM   #1
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My first BMW, how noticeable are the different types of leather?

Ordering my first BMW, and I am seeing how the add-ons pile up.
I am coming from a volvo XC90, realistically, how noticeable is the better leather over the base one? Also what about the all leather dash, does it make that big of a difference?

If it effects anything, I will be going with the M sport package becuase it's needed for the auto drive I want.

Thank you
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      09-03-2018, 06:30 PM   #2
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The leather dash is a huge upgrade for me over standard dash and gives a much more premium feel than standard and more like say a Range Rover. BMW standard leather is always a grainy rough leather compared to other brands like Lexus etc. you always have to pay extra for the premium/soft leather. I personally think the premium leather looks and feels nicer but the standard leather feels more durable and holds up better in the long run.
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      09-03-2018, 07:01 PM   #3
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghurty View Post
Ordering my first BMW, and I am seeing how the add-ons pile up.
I am coming from a volvo XC90, realistically, how noticeable is the better leather over the base one? Also what about the all leather dash, does it make that big of a difference?

If it effects anything, I will be going with the M sport package becuase it's needed for the auto drive I want.

Thank you
Leather dash adds refinement to the interior and it also covers the top portion of the front and rear door uppers (door lock and door opening handle on front and rear doors).

Door upper with leather dash option
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Otherwise it's the soft touch and padded panel material.

Standard door upper
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Vernasca leather is very durable and has a finer grain than the previous Dakota leather. Merino leather is higher quality, very supple and comfortable on long trips. The press photos shows Merino leather with "quilted stitching".

If you're ordering M Sport, upgrading to extended Merino is $1750 as multi-contour seats are required ($1000 with ZMP and 456 Multi-contour seats $750) or $2600 ($1000 with ZMP and luxury seating ZLS $1600).

IMHO it's worth the upgrade since you're also upgrading the sport seats to 20-way multi-contour.
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Last edited by Auricom; 09-03-2018 at 07:08 PM..
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      09-04-2018, 02:47 AM   #4
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Upgraded leather seats is one thing but $1200 for a leather dash is bonkers. Really ...a leather dash?

IMO the quilt design in the Merino seats is a deal breaker. I’ll leave the quilting to Grandma.

I’m not sure what model it XC90 you have but the interior in our 2017 RDesign is going to be hard to beat.
Wow we totally disagree. The leather dash is much nicer than standard dash and makes the whole car so much nicer (compare a base 5 series to a 7 series interior). And I like the quilting as well which is Similar to s class and Aston and Bentley interiors but the pattern is more modern on x5.

Volvo interior is nice but not for me.
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      09-04-2018, 09:49 AM   #5
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Coming out of a BMW with the standard leather I just got into a brand new one with Nappa leather (which is very similar to Merino leather) and there is no comparison.

The Nappa leather makes the car feel like it is $100k+. Every person that gets into my car compliments me on the leather quality and those with BMWs say "wow the leather in my car is nothing like this".

The Merino is very similar to the Nappa and will give you that same premium feel. The leather dash was included with my Nappa leather and I have to say that it definitely makes the interior feel premium and upscale as it extends all the way to the rear door tops (I would pay for it now that I know what it's like to have it). I am in an X5 but the interior class feels like a 7 series/Range Rover class and this would not be the same with the standard leather.

If it's within your budget absolutely go for the Merino leather and leather dashboard, you won't regret it.
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      09-04-2018, 10:28 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Upgraded leather seats is one thing but $1200 for a leather dash is bonkers. Really ...a leather dash?

IMO the quilt design in the Merino seats is a deal breaker. I’ll leave the quilting to Grandma.

I’m not sure what model XC90 you have but the interior in our 2017 RDesign is going to be hard to beat.
We've been looking at the RDesign XC90 how does it compare to the X5 as far as size and performance?
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      09-04-2018, 11:16 AM   #7
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ghurty View Post
Ordering my first BMW, and I am seeing how the add-ons pile up.
I am coming from a volvo XC90, realistically, how noticeable is the better leather over the base one? Also what about the all leather dash, does it make that big of a difference?

If it effects anything, I will be going with the M sport package becuase it's needed for the auto drive I want.

Thank you
Get the upgraded leather seats for sure... with quilt design Marino or Nappa leather is worth every penny. I will definitely have it in my next bimmer
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      09-04-2018, 11:32 AM   #8
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In my opinion the stitching adds a rich, custom premium look to the interior and I love it. In the end even if you do not like the stitching it is something worth compromising on because the upgraded leather really is that much better
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      09-04-2018, 11:52 AM   #9
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Disagree. If I had to look at something I hated everyday it would drive me nuts.
To each their own at the end of the day. The stitching looks incredible and rich in my opinion and the premium leather quality is far superior to the standard leather (feels like a 100k car vs a 50k car).
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      09-04-2018, 12:44 PM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
So $2k seats make the car look twice its value? Seems a little far fetched but if you like it then go for it. Moving on now.
They really do. They completely upgrade the class of the interior especially with the leather dashboard
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      09-04-2018, 01:52 PM   #11
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Going full leather makes a significant difference.

Search all forums here and you'll see the same range of feedback as you have in this thread, overwhelming majority say that it is worth it with maybe one or two saying no.
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      09-04-2018, 02:44 PM   #12
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by skalberti View Post
We've been looking at the RDesign XC90 how does it compare to the X5 as far as size and performance?
I can't speak to the G05 because I've just seen it in pictures.
A lot of people won't look twice @ the XC90 because it comes with a 4cyl engine. Having owned it for sometime now I can say it performs just as well as any 6/8cyl I've driven previously.
Volvo's clean/simplistic styling it what caught our eye initially and we were pleasantly surprised at the quality and tech available as we researched the model further.
We opted for the RDesign which is the MSport of Volvo which included the Perforated Nappa Leather w/ Nubuck textile seats. Honestly one of the more comfortable seats I've sat in. We opted for Volvo overseas delivered which included airfare+hotel stay+lunch+dinner+assembly line tour and ability to pick up our XC90 in Volvo's delivery center in Sweden. We we able to drive our XC90 1k miles throughout Sweden and Denmark. I'd highly recommend if you end up with a Volvo.

Any problems in your period of ownership? Are you getting rid of the XC90 for the G05?
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      09-04-2018, 03:58 PM   #13
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I've had both recently, on my 2015 X5 I had an m-sport with no leather upgrades, and recently got into a 2016 X6 which has the extended merino and the dash. I'll say one thing...it only made a huge difference to ME the driver. The cabin definitely feels nicer and premium, but to everyone else? hardly noticed. The interior went from feeling like a $50k interior to a $100k interior(mentioned before and seconded)
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      09-04-2018, 04:36 PM   #14
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So of course after reading this thread I needed to email my CA to have him add the leather dashboard option. I was on the fence about it, but this pushed me over. I actually think it will be much more noticeable on the G05 because the dash appears to extend further down on the passenger side than with the F15.
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      09-04-2018, 05:00 PM   #15
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So if you get the extended Merino and the leather dashboard, what kind of leather is the dashboard? Is it also Merino? Or something else?
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      09-04-2018, 06:42 PM   #16
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by akhter View Post
Wow we totally disagree. The leather dash is much nicer than standard dash and makes the whole car so much nicer (compare a base 5 series to a 7 series interior). And I like the quilting as well which is Similar to s class and Aston and Bentley interiors but the pattern is more modern on x5.

Volvo interior is nice but not for me.
Yeah I've had a leather dash in the past just because it was included in other packages and compared to non-leather I've never thought it was worth it as a stand alone option. If anything the non-leather will be more durable through weather conditions that very from -15 to 100F.

It's one thing to like the styling of the seats but another just to like them because a higher end car has them as an option. There is a lot of high end clothing, shoes, jewelry, homes, etc that I wouldn't promote even if I was handed the item for free. If you like it that's great but don't like it because someone else has it. I've never understood that argument.
You misunderstand my argument friend. I don't like those features because rich or famous people have them. I like them because they are either made of higher quality materials or they are made using more skill or craftsmanship. I don't care who buys s class Aston or Bentley but it cannot be argued that they are well made cars. There those who like to feel superior cos they saved 1200 dollars cos they don't need leather dash. Well no one needs a bmw or x5 so a lot more money is still left on the table. I recently rented a Range Rover with leather dash have since decided I like that feature and want it in my next car. I also like merino leather but in my country getting merino is a 12k option since you have to get extended leather comfort seats and leather dash and add 115pc tax.
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      09-04-2018, 06:45 PM   #17
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by jo2134 View Post
To each their own at the end of the day. The stitching looks incredible and rich in my opinion and the premium leather quality is far superior to the standard leather (feels like a 100k car vs a 50k car).
So $2k seats make the car look twice its value? Seems a little far fetched but if you like it then go for it. Moving on now.
Wow you really hate quilting. And have trouble believing not everyone in the world is with you lol.
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      09-04-2018, 06:46 PM   #18
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Quote:
Originally Posted by mweir View Post
So if you get the extended Merino and the leather dashboard, what kind of leather is the dashboard? Is it also Merino? Or something else?
The dash leather should be same as seat leather
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      09-04-2018, 07:18 PM   #19
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Quote:
Originally Posted by CINISI View Post
Quote:
Originally Posted by akhter View Post
Wow you really hate quilting. And have trouble believing not everyone in the world is with you lol.
Again you're reading into my posts. What I have a hard time believing is they make a car look two times more expensive not that others like them.
Leather dash in x5 don't make it a bentagya. What I said before which you don't seem to get is the leather dash reminds me of it AND IT SOMETHING ME LIKEY. Not because a 2x car has it but because I like that car itself. You also said a Volvo 4cyl is like as other 6cyl and 8cyl which is ridiculous cos I have driven it and it doesn't compare to even an e36 328i bmw 6cyl (maybe it's like a Kia 6cyl I wouldn't know). Also 2x priced car presumably has way more differences than just the dash. Hence a Kia with sitching is not a bmw.

At some point you need to realize that others like things you don't what what is a waste of money to you is highly coveted by others because they have different perspectives and are looking for different things. Some people like to max out performance. Others try to max out looks. I always try to make the interior the nicest place possible cos that's what I look and touch most of the time. Else we would all go around in identical boring cars.
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      09-04-2018, 07:36 PM   #20
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Who would have thought that a thread about leather could get so salty....
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      09-04-2018, 09:47 PM   #21
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Fun fact: Per Bloomberg a few years back, 30% of all leather made on earth goes towards car interiors. A majority of the rest goes to the shoe industry.
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      09-05-2018, 11:22 AM   #22
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Once again to each their own but regarding the KIA comment go feel the leather dash on a Kia and then on a Merino X5 and tell me how different they are

Then go compare the Merino X5 leather feel to a Bentley's leather and you will barely feel a difference (speaking from experience).
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