Leather vs. Leatherette

imported_KendallOne · 05-15-2008, 11:26 AM

Could someone please advise why you would choose leatherette over the Boston leather if cost wasn't a factor.

I'm shopping for a 135i and I see many people opting for the Leatherette.

Thank you in advance.

Perfect128 · 05-15-2008, 11:33 AM

There are about a million posts on this if you do some searching. I ordered Leatherette based on a friend's good experience with it, and many positive inputs on this forum. I will probably keep this car for 8-10 years as a daily driver and I expect to be happy with the leatherette. My real experience starts this weekend when I pick up my 128i!

rocketpop · 05-15-2008, 11:47 AM

I would have stuck with leatherette if there where more colors to choose from.

PA135i · 05-15-2008, 11:55 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect128

There are about a million posts on this if you do some searching. I ordered Leatherette based on a friend's good experience with it, and many positive inputs on this forum. I will probably keep this car for 8-10 years as a daily driver and I expect to be happy with the leatherette. My real experience starts this weekend when I pick up my 128i!

The reason you see many opting for the leatherette is $1450.

I ordered Black Leaterette for my 325Ci. It looks like leather, is easier to take care of than leather. And everyone who sees it thinks it's leather. More durable, maybe.

That said I'm springing for the Boston leather this time. My leatherette drivers seat started developing cracks after 3 years.

My answer: get the real leather.

Pike · 05-15-2008, 12:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Perfect128

There are about a million posts on this if you do some searching.

...and I'm feeling especially helpful today, so let me get that for ya:

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6220

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=5126

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=3408

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=2478

http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1606

EB1Coupe · 05-15-2008, 01:04 PM

My dog lives for going for rides in the car. He came along with me to pick up the car yesterday from the dealer. I opted for 'ette because of this...not price. I had some people look at the car today at work and they were telling me they loved the leather.

pwillcutts · 05-15-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by EB1Coupe

My dog lives for going for rides in the car. He came along with me to pick up the car yesterday from the dealer. I opted for 'ette because of this...not price. I had some people look at the car today at work and they were telling me they loved the leather.

I went with the taupe 'ette and have yet to see it in person. I hope I like it.

I LOVED the color of the savanah leather, but I did not like how it's combined with all that black.

I'm getting the 'vert, so I wanted to keep the interior light and bright....but most of the leather colors you'll find will force you to get the black underpanels beneath the dash and a black armrest and lots of black all around the interior.

I would have been willing to pay up for leather if I could get the savanah coloring all around including the underpanels to keep the interior one whole color (light & bright!), but you'll see that it's just not an option with most of the leather colors...they combine them with lots and lots of black on the interior.

Sooooo.... then the question was: Taupe 'ette vs. Taupe Leather. Well, given what I've heard...it's just not worth the price...if you're getting the taupe color...just go for the taupe 'ette and save the money: the 'ette will fool most that its really leather anyways.

And if I get caught in rain while my top is down.....no big crises w/the 'ette !!:biggrin:

chef · 05-15-2008, 01:34 PM

The Boston Leather feels nicer, I chose it. I'm sure the Leatherette doesn't wear out a fast. I'm sure the side bolster wear quickly with real leather. I would think real leather would scratch easier as well.

pwillcutts · 05-15-2008, 01:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SRoehl

Could someone please advise why you would choose leatherette over the Boston leather if cost wasn't a factor.

I'm shopping for a 135i and I see many people opting for the Leatherette.

Thank you in advance.

See what I mean about all that black they combine with the beautiful savanah color leather. Darkens the whole car up in my opinion. Too bad....I would have gladly payed for this leather option if it was ALL this color on the interior! :biggrin:

ScottyGams · 05-15-2008, 02:13 PM

funny, i prefer the two tone look!

coral and black/ lemon and black FTW! I wish they had more colors in leatherette, but I am trying to keep cost down, so black it is!

NY SLC 93 · 05-15-2008, 02:35 PM

I've felt them both and I went with the leather. The leatherette smells and feels like rubber.

Dan203 · 05-15-2008, 02:39 PM

I too prefer the two tone look. To each his own I guess.

The one advantage ette has over real leather is, based on various reviews I've read, it wears a little better over the long haul. However if you take care of the real leather it will last longer then most people own a single car, and will actually get softer and more supple over time.

Dan

OrientBlauZHP · 05-15-2008, 02:54 PM

Leather, it's all about care. I'll be conditioning these seats from day 1. All I've got to do is research a great leather conditioner; I'm currently using Mothers and I don't really like it.

Dan203 · 05-15-2008, 03:23 PM

Someone recommended Zymol to me. I bookmarked the manufacturers website so I wouldn't forget about it and could order some when my car finally got here.

http://www.zymol.com/leather-2.aspx

Dan

jrc · 05-15-2008, 03:24 PM

In descending order of importance:
1. Always wanted black so color choices not an issue
2. Smell of the leather annoys me more than smell of the 'ette
3. Based on previous BMW leather ownership, leatherette can't wear any worse
4. No sigificant difference in look and feel

Plus, I would have chosen 'ette even if there was no price difference, but the $1,450 is still appreciated -- thx BMW, I will use to replace runflats!

MVF4Rrider · 05-15-2008, 03:25 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1thirty5

Leather, it's all about care. I'll be conditioning these seats from day 1. All I've got to do is research a great leather conditioner; I'm currently using Mothers and I don't really like it.

I conditioned my seats the first day, with Griots Leather Care...great stuff and really penetrates. Great smell too...

I guess the ette crowd wish the steering wheel was wrapped in ette as well...

Dan203 · 05-15-2008, 03:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

thx BMW, I will use to replace runflats!

Are you getting a 128i or a 135i?

Dan

jrc · 05-15-2008, 03:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balls

I guess the ette crowd wish the steering wheel was wrapped in ette as well...

I guess the leather crowd wish the acres of plastic that cover the dash was all dead cow too

john970 · 05-15-2008, 03:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Balls

I conditioned my seats the first day, with Griots Leather Care...great stuff and really penetrates. Great smell too...

I guess the ette crowd wish the steering wheel was wrapped in ette as well...

Dan203 · 05-15-2008, 03:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

I guess the leather crowd wish the acres of plastic that cover the dash was all dead cow too

I've seen some really high end cars with all leather interior and I think it looks weird.

Dan

jrc · 05-15-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dan203

Are you getting a 128i or a 135i?

Dan

135cp

MVF4Rrider · 05-15-2008, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jrc

I guess the leather crowd wish the acres of plastic that cover the dash was all dead cow too

Of course! Why would anyone want faux anything... Dead cow is better than recycled plastic...

05-15-2008, 11:26 AM	#1
imported_KendallOne Member 3 Rep 40 Posts Drives: Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0)	Leather vs. Leatherette Could someone please advise why you would choose leatherette over the Boston leather if cost wasn't a factor. I'm shopping for a 135i and I see many people opting for the Leatherette. Thank you in advance.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet

05-15-2008, 11:33 AM	#2
Perfect128 Perfect128 10 Rep 201 Posts Drives: '08 SGM 128i Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: East Bay, Northern CA iTrader: (0)	There are about a million posts on this if you do some searching. I ordered Leatherette based on a friend's good experience with it, and many positive inputs on this forum. I will probably keep this car for 8-10 years as a daily driver and I expect to be happy with the leatherette. My real experience starts this weekend when I pick up my 128i!
	Appreciate 0

05-15-2008, 11:47 AM	#3
rocketpop Captain 60 Rep 865 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Home iTrader: (0)	I would have stuck with leatherette if there where more colors to choose from. __________________
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05-15-2008, 01:04 PM	#6
EB1Coupe Enlisted Member 1 Rep 47 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	My dog lives for going for rides in the car. He came along with me to pick up the car yesterday from the dealer. I opted for 'ette because of this...not price. I had some people look at the car today at work and they were telling me they loved the leather.
	Appreciate 0

05-15-2008, 01:34 PM	#8
chef New Member 0 Rep 25 Posts Drives: Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0)	The Boston Leather feels nicer, I chose it. I'm sure the Leatherette doesn't wear out a fast. I'm sure the side bolster wear quickly with real leather. I would think real leather would scratch easier as well. __________________ 135i
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05-15-2008, 02:13 PM	#10
ScottyGams Uber-Lee7 Member 47 Rep 1,440 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: NYC iTrader: (2)	funny, i prefer the two tone look! coral and black/ lemon and black FTW! I wish they had more colors in leatherette, but I am trying to keep cost down, so black it is!
	Appreciate 0

05-15-2008, 02:35 PM	#11
NY SLC 93 Captain 86 Rep 631 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	I've felt them both and I went with the leather. The leatherette smells and feels like rubber.
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05-15-2008, 02:39 PM	#12
Dan203 Lieutenant Colonel 136 Rep 1,592 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Carson City, NV iTrader: (1)	I too prefer the two tone look. To each his own I guess. The one advantage ette has over real leather is, based on various reviews I've read, it wears a little better over the long haul. However if you take care of the real leather it will last longer then most people own a single car, and will actually get softer and more supple over time. Dan
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05-15-2008, 02:54 PM	#13
OrientBlauZHP 1addict regardless 7 Rep 248 Posts Drives: Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0)	Leather, it's all about care. I'll be conditioning these seats from day 1. All I've got to do is research a great leather conditioner; I'm currently using Mothers and I don't really like it. __________________ 2019 Ram 1500 Laramie 05 Orient Blau ZHP
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05-15-2008, 03:23 PM	#14
Dan203 Lieutenant Colonel 136 Rep 1,592 Posts Drives: 2016 340i xDrive Join Date: Jul 2008 Location: Carson City, NV iTrader: (1)	Someone recommended Zymol to me. I bookmarked the manufacturers website so I wouldn't forget about it and could order some when my car finally got here. http://www.zymol.com/leather-2.aspx Dan
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05-15-2008, 03:24 PM	#15
jrc Second Lieutenant 37 Rep 257 Posts Drives: Join Date: Mar 2008 iTrader: (0)	In descending order of importance: 1. Always wanted black so color choices not an issue 2. Smell of the leather annoys me more than smell of the 'ette 3. Based on previous BMW leather ownership, leatherette can't wear any worse 4. No sigificant difference in look and feel Plus, I would have chosen 'ette even if there was no price difference, but the $1,450 is still appreciated -- thx BMW, I will use to replace runflats!
	Appreciate 0