Do I have leather or sensatec

stilem235 · 11-17-2020, 01:06 PM

Is there a way to tell wether the interior is leather or sensatec?

BEM-S4 · 11-17-2020, 01:38 PM

Have your dealer run your VIN and provide you a build sheet.

morphomeman · 11-17-2020, 01:48 PM

If finding the VIN is too much trouble and your car is more than a couple of years old, leather will look shiny, especially where the driver hits the seat, and may have some small hairline cracks or imperfections. Sensatec will look a bit duller in color and will pretty much look like new no matter how old the car is. It is much more durable, though perhaps a bit less comfy.
My 325 had sensatec, I ordered it like that, and it stayed looking like new for the dozen or so years that I owned it. Probably still does, half a dozen years later.

stilem235 · 11-17-2020, 06:00 PM

Used build sheet vin decoder. Yup Dakota leather. Also has headlight cleaners and Connected drive and a Bunch of other crap that I don’t know how to use. So it looks like I’ll be spending some time trying to figure out how do use all these new gadgets

dradernh · 11-17-2020, 06:38 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by stilem235

Used build sheet vin decoder. Yup Dakota leather. Also has headlight cleaners and Connected drive and a Bunch of other crap that I don’t know how to use. So it looks like I’ll be spending some time trying to figure out how do use all these new gadgets

Or don't. I haven't bothered to figure out anything I haven't had to. As long as the HVAC and radio do what I tell them to do (and they do), I'm good to go.

The important stuff takes place with the steering wheel and the pedals. My 2¢, of course.

Mizuno · 11-17-2020, 07:10 PM

fingernail test! i had black leather in my 335i that if your ran your fingernail over it would leave a rub mark (that would come out). Sensatec doesnt do that, it feels firmer and slicker

morphomeman · 11-18-2020, 06:31 AM

You don't have to figure out headlight cleaners. They do their job without any intervention on your part.
Connected drive works only if you pay for it, $50 or $100 per year, depending on the package you choose. We have it on my wife's X3 and don't use it much, but you can check it out on the BMW site.

pmcmtnbkr · 11-20-2020, 10:45 AM

You might also have the cold weather package I think I t is part of the headlight cleaners which means heated steering wheel and heated seats. I love the heated steering wheel after a long day skiing or on a cold winter day. Check for a little button on the left side of the steering wheel column should be near the tilt release lever

chattanooga240 · 11-20-2020, 02:52 PM

Leather smells like leather...

John in VA · 11-20-2020, 06:25 PM

If you haven't determined it yet, you could poke your head under a front seat (or pull up the rear seat bottom) & look at the edge of the seating material. Vinyl will have cloth on the back side, leather has leather.

SteveinArizona · 12-03-2020, 02:05 PM

Sensatec vs. Dakota. They are so similar it is hard to tell. If Nappa is an option, IMHO it is worth it. If not, I would not pay for Dakota; in fact, I think Sensatec might be better.

USA-RET · 12-05-2020, 08:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SteveinArizona

Sensatec vs. Dakota. They are so similar it is hard to tell. If Nappa is an option, IMHO it is worth it. If not, I would not pay for Dakota; in fact, I think Sensatec might be better.

I have to agree.

Maynard · 12-05-2020, 08:16 AM

^^this, for sure. I thought I wanted leather after my test drive because I liked it so much, until the salesman actually read the window sticker and had to admit he'd been wrong and it was actually sensatec. He wasn't the most car-savvy guy, but it shows OP is not alone in having a hard time telling the difference. So far, mine is wearing like iron, too. I was glad to save the money up front, but it probably comes off in the end, as I suspect leather has higher resale. I'd easily drop a few grand for ventilated cloth, if anybody at BMW headquarters is listening.

morphomeman · 12-05-2020, 09:25 AM

Outside North America, cloth is available in many models, though I don't know about ventilated cloth. You could always take a hole-punch to it.

TonM3 · 12-05-2020, 09:32 AM

If you are ever stranded somewhere, you can eat the leather. Can't do that with sensatec.

Sportstick · 12-05-2020, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TonM3

If you are ever stranded somewhere, you can eat the leather. Can't do that with sensatec.

Considering how it's treated for protection, I think it may be a chew, at best.

aerobod · 12-05-2020, 10:25 AM

Although it may be due to the cold climate here I've had problems with Leatherette / Sensatec cracking after about 5 years on multiple seat panels. Typically on the bolsters hairline cracks appear and the fabric backing becomes visible. The kits made for repairing fake leather can be used to hide the damage for a year or two before the cracks reappear. Where I've had the cracking, no cleaning product other than a damp cloth with soap and water was used.

11-17-2020, 01:06 PM	#1
stilem235 Enlisted Member 21 Rep 31 Posts Drives: BMW M235i xdrive Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: St Louis iTrader: (0)	Do I have leather or sensatec Is there a way to tell wether the interior is leather or sensatec?
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11-17-2020, 01:38 PM	#2
BEM-S4 Major General 4516 Rep 8,942 Posts Drives: Dinan M235, Dinan Sport Wagon Join Date: Oct 2012 Location: Philadelphia iTrader: (5)	Have your dealer run your VIN and provide you a build sheet. __________________ 2022 Macan S 2016 F31 328i xDrive Sport Wagon 2006 E46 330ci ZHP Convertible
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11-17-2020, 01:48 PM	#3
morphomeman Major 593 Rep 1,219 Posts Drives: 2015 M235ix Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW X3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M235ix [0.00]	If finding the VIN is too much trouble and your car is more than a couple of years old, leather will look shiny, especially where the driver hits the seat, and may have some small hairline cracks or imperfections. Sensatec will look a bit duller in color and will pretty much look like new no matter how old the car is. It is much more durable, though perhaps a bit less comfy. My 325 had sensatec, I ordered it like that, and it stayed looking like new for the dozen or so years that I owned it. Probably still does, half a dozen years later.
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11-17-2020, 06:00 PM	#4
stilem235 Enlisted Member 21 Rep 31 Posts Drives: BMW M235i xdrive Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: St Louis iTrader: (0)	Used build sheet vin decoder. Yup Dakota leather. Also has headlight cleaners and Connected drive and a Bunch of other crap that I don’t know how to use. So it looks like I’ll be spending some time trying to figure out how do use all these new gadgets
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11-17-2020, 07:10 PM	#6
Mizuno Enlisted Member 12 Rep 47 Posts Drives: BMW m240 vert Join Date: Mar 2020 Location: FLORIDA iTrader: (0)	fingernail test! i had black leather in my 335i that if your ran your fingernail over it would leave a rub mark (that would come out). Sensatec doesnt do that, it feels firmer and slicker
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11-18-2020, 06:31 AM	#7
morphomeman Major 593 Rep 1,219 Posts Drives: 2015 M235ix Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW X3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M235ix [0.00]	You don't have to figure out headlight cleaners. They do their job without any intervention on your part. Connected drive works only if you pay for it, $50 or $100 per year, depending on the package you choose. We have it on my wife's X3 and don't use it much, but you can check it out on the BMW site.
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11-20-2020, 10:45 AM	#8
pmcmtnbkr Private First Class 106 Rep 198 Posts Drives: BMW M235I Join Date: Oct 2019 Location: PA iTrader: (0)	You might also have the cold weather package I think I t is part of the headlight cleaners which means heated steering wheel and heated seats. I love the heated steering wheel after a long day skiing or on a cold winter day. Check for a little button on the left side of the steering wheel column should be near the tilt release lever
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11-20-2020, 02:52 PM	#9
chattanooga240 Lieutenant 213 Rep 422 Posts Drives: 2019 M240i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Chattanooga iTrader: (0)	Leather smells like leather...
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11-20-2020, 06:25 PM	#10
John in VA Colonel 983 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: 2015 228i M Sport Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Leesburg, VA iTrader: (6)	If you haven't determined it yet, you could poke your head under a front seat (or pull up the rear seat bottom) & look at the edge of the seating material. Vinyl will have cloth on the back side, leather has leather. __________________ ____________________________________________ 2015 BMW 228i in EstorilBlau II Metallic / Terra Dakota Leather - 6-speed manual, M Sport Package, Cold Weather Package, Lighting Package, Premium Package, Harman Kardon premium sound, Anti-theft alarm system, Blue Metallic Matt Accent Moldings, Aluminum Hexagon Interior Strips, Anthracite Headlining
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12-03-2020, 02:05 PM	#11
SteveinArizona Brigadier General 3086 Rep 4,210 Posts Drives: BMW 530e Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Greater Phoenix iTrader: (0)	Sensatec vs. Dakota. They are so similar it is hard to tell. If Nappa is an option, IMHO it is worth it. If not, I would not pay for Dakota; in fact, I think Sensatec might be better.
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12-05-2020, 08:16 AM	#13
Maynard Colonel 3848 Rep 2,873 Posts Drives: 228iX & M2C Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (1)	^^this, for sure. I thought I wanted leather after my test drive because I liked it so much, until the salesman actually read the window sticker and had to admit he'd been wrong and it was actually sensatec. He wasn't the most car-savvy guy, but it shows OP is not alone in having a hard time telling the difference. So far, mine is wearing like iron, too. I was glad to save the money up front, but it probably comes off in the end, as I suspect leather has higher resale. I'd easily drop a few grand for ventilated cloth, if anybody at BMW headquarters is listening.
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12-05-2020, 09:25 AM	#14
morphomeman Major 593 Rep 1,219 Posts Drives: 2015 M235ix Join Date: May 2015 Location: United States iTrader: (1) Garage List 2016 BMW X3 [0.00] 2015 BMW M235ix [0.00]	Outside North America, cloth is available in many models, though I don't know about ventilated cloth. You could always take a hole-punch to it.
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12-05-2020, 09:32 AM	#15
TonM3 Lieutenant 249 Rep 504 Posts Drives: 2006 E46 M3 / 2017 M240 Join Date: Apr 2020 Location: Bethesda, MD iTrader: (0)	If you are ever stranded somewhere, you can eat the leather. Can't do that with sensatec. __________________ E46 -> E90 -> F30 -> F23
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12-05-2020, 10:25 AM	#17
aerobod Car Geek 3618 Rep 3,588 Posts Drives: Caterham R500, M2-G87, Macan S Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Calgary iTrader: (0)	Although it may be due to the cold climate here I've had problems with Leatherette / Sensatec cracking after about 5 years on multiple seat panels. Typically on the bolsters hairline cracks appear and the fabric backing becomes visible. The kits made for repairing fake leather can be used to hide the damage for a year or two before the cracks reappear. Where I've had the cracking, no cleaning product other than a damp cloth with soap and water was used.
	Appreciate 0 Quote