[mjposner]

I like mostly everything about the 240i except the leather. Has anyone successfully done an individual on the car to change the seats to better leather or just the hexagon cloth trim offered in Europe?

https://iedei.files.wordpress.com/20...alcantara.jpeg

[seedyrom]

Must admit, my car I just sold this week before I picked up the m240i had awesome leather.
My previous ride was a luxury vehicle, and the leather was really thick, soft and luxurious.
Could take a beating and not show any wear. That said, it was an 18 year old car in mint condition, so it was built in a time when cost was less important, with genuine Australian leather.

The m240i leather feels like it is borrowed from a Hyundai.
It is thin, seems less durable and the colour is just flat.

I’ve now put two layers of conditioner on it (only had the car from 2 days), and it is feeling a little better. It is at least sporting a bit of personality now. The colour is richer, reflects light differently so it has a bit of depth, and i’m Less stressed about stretching it as it feels softer.
That said, I can see my arse cheek impression when I get out ... which is disappointing. Foams are also to blame for that.

I’d definitely give your seats a treatment or two with conditioner if you haven’t already. You don’t need to spend a lot to get a good result.

[mjposner]

I also do not like the pebble leather look, prefer a smooth leather. I prefer Nappa or Merino leather. The Dakota leather simply looks and feels cheap.

http://blogs.youwheel.com/2015/05/03...her-explained/

One reason I probably wont get a 240i. I like the exterior looks, and the engine but I spend over an hour a day in the car and I want it to look good.

[M235ForNow]

Originally Posted by mjposner

I like mostly everything about the 240i except the leather. Has anyone successfully done an individual on the car to change the seats to better leather or just the hexagon cloth trim offered in Europe?

https://iedei.files.wordpress.com/20...alcantara.jpeg

The reason I'm going to spec the naugahyde option. I figure BMW's Dakota leather is trying so hard to be plastic I might just as well get plastic.

[seedyrom]

Great link, thanks for that. It explains A LOT.

That’s a shame ... It would appear I am trying to polish a turd.


Regarding its looks as you are in the car for an hour a day ... hopefully you are looking out the wind screen, rather than at the passenger seat.

I wanted the AMG A45 as I liked the dash ... but when driving, it became quite evident that I didn’t even notice the dash, as I was paying attention to what was happening outside of the car

[M235ForNow]

Originally Posted by seedyrom

Great link, thanks for that. It explains A LOT.

That’s a shame ... It would appear I am trying to polish a turd.


Regarding its looks as you are in the car for an hour a day ... hopefully you are looking out the wind screen, rather than at the passenger seat.

I wanted the AMG A45 as I liked the dash ... but when driving, it became quite evident that I didn’t even notice the dash, as I was paying attention to what was happening outside of the car

Yeah, I didn't want to depress you but with cheap car leathers you're pretty much wasting your time with conditioner because there's a paint layer on top. And with wear that paint cracks and there's nothing you can do about it. Pretty sad.

[seedyrom]

So I just went back to the bmw configurator. It would appear we only get Dakota leather options in Australia, however we do get access to the cloth hexagon / alcantara option.
Didn’t realise it was that suede effect. That said, I never would have picked that over leather, as it’s first new vehicle, it’s a “premium” brand, and I can imagine significant wear occurring in the alcantara areas.

[M235ForNow]

Originally Posted by seedyrom

So I just went back to the bmw configurator. It would appear we only get Dakota leather options in Australia, however we do get access to the cloth hexagon / alcantara option.
Didn’t realise it was that suede effect. That said, I never would have picked that over leather, as it’s first new vehicle, it’s a “premium” brand, and I can imagine significant wear occurring in the alcantara areas.

You're in the land of sheepskin, mate. A nice sheepskin seat cover will cure the hot/sticky of plastic and feels nice and soft to boot!

[Rayscott]

We owned 4 Lexus vehicles before switching to the X3 and 228ix. The Lexus leather was much nicer and help up very well. BMW needs to step it up for as much as they charge for their vehicles.

[msej449]

I've been entirely happy with my 'Dakota LCOM Oyster with Oyster Dark Highlights' over the last 14 months. Applying the BMW Leather Cleaner/Conditioner has removed any slight blue jeans transfer and it looks fine. I've had Porche, Jaguar, Audi, 5, and 3 Series previously and I think it's reasonable for a car at this price point.

My principal complaint would be the limited choice of colours, as I would have liked a light grey. The .de configurator offers a much greater range of upholstery colours and combinations than here in the UK. The other complaint is that I wish you could opt for leather seating instead of the rear mid-seat tray/cupholders. Even without the cupholders the tray leaves a dent in the fabric when the backrest is dropped down, and I rarely have rear passengers.

But do I read quite a few people complaining about the 2 Series leather, and I wonder if there's some variation in sourcing that means some batches aren't as good as others? Its a natural product after all.

[BEM-S4]

Originally Posted by Rayscott

We owned 4 Lexus vehicles before switching to the X3 and 228ix. The Lexus leather was much nicer and help up very well. BMW needs to step it up for as much as they charge for their vehicles.

You have to appreciate that the interior in a $60k 240 vert is the same as a $30k stripper 230. And there are even lower cost options offered in other geos. The plant is not set up for individual options - I investigated whether there was anything that could be changed with my VIP rep at corporate. There simply isn't.

Gotta keep costs down somehow, the 2 is the entry level offering after all.

[B58togo]

^^ This man talks sense.

I think some of you guys are expecting way too much from a car with a base price between 33-44k. I can't think of a small coupe that competes with the 240 on a sheer performance basis at a mid 40k price point. The money went into the hardware, not the leather. Have you guys ever seen the leather in a Vette over the years? People don't buy Vettes looking for plush leather.

[seedyrom]

In Australia they aren’t a bargain like in the states.
Here they compete at a price point with locally made vehicles with 550HP 6.2L supercharged engines (with leather and luxury appointments).

So its not too unreasonable I think.

That said, all European vehicles add significant uplift in Australia for no reason other than they can.

[Lew Carrum]

No cloth option in uk on 240, only the lesser models or I would have looked for one myself, pretty much hate leather but saying that, the leather on the 240 is at least a grained matt finish so whilst it may not look a million dollars but gives grip in corners where the smooth super shiny seats of my z4 did not.

[mjposner]

While I can appreciate the leathert iof I was paying $33 to 40k, I am only interested in an M240i convertible at nearly 60k. At that price point, I would pay 2k more for a better interior option. I would go 4 series but I am not a fan of the heavy metal roof and loss of trunk space. So I am stuck.

May have to go Audi. Look at these seats:

https://media.ed.edmunds-media.com/a...404171_717.jpg

[Sportstick]

Originally Posted by mjposner

May have to go Audi. Look at these seats:

Don't go there...it's not worth it. Perhaps MB or some/anyone else in that case. We have had the most difficult time with Audi trying to get them to simply stand behind their warranty for known problems. They have been dishonest with us on our 2016 A6 and our technician was told to write down on the repair order a non-warrantiable problem that did not occur to cover their rear ends. Never again VW/Audi. I'd get the BMW and have a professional source re-trim the seats first.

We've had MBs and they were not only honorable about warranty repairs, they went above and beyond to ensure satisfaction. As good as any car looks, you've got to live with it, and the manufacturer, for years...a reliable partner there may be one of the best "luxuries"! As for BMW, the car and the dealership have been of such quality that there's been no need to "test the system"!

[crabu2]

Leather sux... I wanted cloth.. but since it's not offered and I couldn't tell between the sensatec or Dakota, I went with the Sensatec...

It's ok, but I still feel a bit ripped off by BMW because I'm sitting on pleather in a $53K car, with a 2 liter soda as it's engine. LOL

[bimmerfile]

Originally Posted by M235ForNow

The reason I'm going to spec the naugahyde option. I figure BMW's Dakota leather is trying so hard to be plastic I might just as well get plastic.

Honestly, there's no difference.
I've had SenaTec (aka pleather) in my BMWs and Dakota leather in others (e.g. my current M235i) and I can't tell the diff in look or feel.
Go for pleather. Fake is so in these days and you'll save a few bucks.

[CE750Jockey]

Originally Posted by B58togo

^^ This man talks sense.

I think some of you guys are expecting way too much from a car with a base price between 33-44k. I can't think of a small coupe that competes with the 240 on a sheer performance basis at a mid 40k price point. The money went into the hardware, not the leather. Have you guys ever seen the leather in a Vette over the years? People don't buy Vettes looking for plush leather.

Exactly. Dakota "Leather", is really "LINO", Leather In Name Only. It's hard to believe this plasticized stuff ever graced the skeleton of a mammal. It's plasticky, nondescript, and doesn't smell like leather. Save your money and get the Sensatec, because you can't tell the difference between the two, except for the sticker price. And save your money on the fancy leather cleaners and conditioners. You can clean this stuff with soapy water, Simple Green, or Drano, and it won't matter.

[mjposner]

1. Its not a money issue
2. Sensatec looks just as cheap as Dakota. The hexagon cloth looks nicer even though its the base.
3. "I still feel a bit ripped off by BMW because I'm sitting on pleather in a $53K car, with a 2 liter soda as it's engine." Then why did you buy?

I will be in Scotland next month, will see what Hexagon looks like in person. If IO love it, then I order with the cheapest seats, pull them out and order the seats from Europe.

[9t2hoo]

I've had the nappa leather from 2003-2008 and the dakota leather from 2008-2017. I can tell you that the smooth, soft nature of nappa leather means that it shows every scratch and mark. Within six months, it looks OLD. The Dakota leather on my 9.5 year old 335i looked nearly new on the day that I sold it. That pebble pattern that annoys some of you hides imperfections really well. I'm happy to have it in my new M240i.

[Dylan86]

Originally Posted by 9t2hoo

I've had the nappa leather from 2003-2008 and the dakota leather from 2008-2017. I can tell you that the smooth, soft nature of nappa leather means that it shows every scratch and mark. Within six months, it looks OLD. The Dakota leather on my 9.5 year old 335i looked nearly new on the day that I sold it. That pebble pattern that annoys some of you hides imperfections really well. I'm happy to have it in my new M240i.

This, all day long. Mine is still looking new 3 summers later, with just basic leather cleaner and occasional "leather conditioner", even though I don't think it does much aside from re-scent the interior (which I don't mind, keeps it smelling 'new')