Interior color / durability - BMW 3-Series Forum (F30 / F32)

Frencholivier · 01-27-2013, 02:41 PM

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Hey guys
I was thinking of getting a lighter for my interior, as I will be moving south and black will make the car really hot I think. I like light interiors as well.
My question is about reliability and maintenance. I've heard bad things about BMW leathers not withstanding the passage of time very well, whereas the "pleathers" are better at that. Also they would be easier to maintain.
It's just that I'm not a fan of Venetian beige!!!
(Any durability/quality info on the individual leathers?)

Thanks a bunch.

Cyberdemon · 01-27-2013, 03:06 PM

This has come up a few times - ultimately one leather should be just about as "durable" (strength wise) as the other. The synthetic leather may be more stronger since it's not as soft.

Generally when it comes to leather, any light color is going to show issues sooner rather than later. If you are good at taking care of it, don't wear cheap blue jeans or jeans with rivets (which are notorious for staining/snagging/tearing) and are careful when you get in and out of the car (if you get sports seats the larger bolsters are more prone to abrasion) then you should be OK.

The carpeting is going to be a bigger issue then the leather IMO. My wifes last car had a beige interior with leatherette and the leather rarely had issues when we maintained it, but any type of spill or dirt would grime up the floor mats and carpet very quickly.

If you don't like the black or the beige it sounds like you have some Coral Red in your future...

I know I've read that BMW uses a UV reflective coating on leather on the convertible models to resist hot seats. I don't know if they use the same coating on the non-convertible models.

AndDown · 01-27-2013, 04:28 PM

I've had the beige leatherette in three of my cars and they look like the day I got the cars. My daughters E46 however, has the grey leather and it shows wear, esp. on the side bolsters of the front seats. I recently had a F30 loaner that had beige leather and I couldn't readily tell that it was leather until I checked bmwvin.com. It was maybe slightly softer, but no leather smell and the grain patterns were similar to the 'ette. Only upside in hot weather might be that the beige leather would feel cooler, but where we live, it gets over 100 F and I haven't had issues with the 'ette.

KneeDragr · 01-28-2013, 12:03 PM

If you dont want to clean and protect it frequently, get the black leatherette.

01-27-2013, 02:41 PM	#1
Frencholivier Private First Class Drives: F30 LCI :) Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Greater NYC Posts: 106 iTrader: (0)	Interior color / durability Featured on BIMMERPOST.com Hey guys I was thinking of getting a lighter for my interior, as I will be moving south and black will make the car really hot I think. I like light interiors as well. My question is about reliability and maintenance. I've heard bad things about BMW leathers not withstanding the passage of time very well, whereas the "pleathers" are better at that. Also they would be easier to maintain. It's just that I'm not a fan of Venetian beige!!! (Any durability/quality info on the individual leathers?) Thanks a bunch.
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01-27-2013, 03:06 PM	#2
Cyberdemon First Lieutenant Drives: 2013 335i M Sport Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY Posts: 362 iTrader: (0)	This has come up a few times - ultimately one leather should be just about as "durable" (strength wise) as the other. The synthetic leather may be more stronger since it's not as soft. Generally when it comes to leather, any light color is going to show issues sooner rather than later. If you are good at taking care of it, don't wear cheap blue jeans or jeans with rivets (which are notorious for staining/snagging/tearing) and are careful when you get in and out of the car (if you get sports seats the larger bolsters are more prone to abrasion) then you should be OK. The carpeting is going to be a bigger issue then the leather IMO. My wifes last car had a beige interior with leatherette and the leather rarely had issues when we maintained it, but any type of spill or dirt would grime up the floor mats and carpet very quickly. If you don't like the black or the beige it sounds like you have some Coral Red in your future... I know I've read that BMW uses a UV reflective coating on leather on the convertible models to resist hot seats. I don't know if they use the same coating on the non-convertible models. __________________ 2013 335i M Sport /// Alpine White/Coral Red

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01-27-2013, 04:28 PM	#3
AndDown Just Copacetic! Drives: 2013 F30 328i AlpinWeiss Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Redlands, CA Posts: 112 iTrader: (0)	I've had the beige leatherette in three of my cars and they look like the day I got the cars. My daughters E46 however, has the grey leather and it shows wear, esp. on the side bolsters of the front seats. I recently had a F30 loaner that had beige leather and I couldn't readily tell that it was leather until I checked bmwvin.com. It was maybe slightly softer, but no leather smell and the grain patterns were similar to the 'ette. Only upside in hot weather might be that the beige leather would feel cooler, but where we live, it gets over 100 F and I haven't had issues with the 'ette.

01-28-2013, 12:03 PM	#4
KneeDragr Second Lieutenant Drives: No BMW's Yet - Hopefully Soon Join Date: Apr 2012 Location: Arlington VA Posts: 211 iTrader: (0)	If you dont want to clean and protect it frequently, get the black leatherette.