[MBrown1003]

I'm getting close to ordering... probably Monaco Blue. I usually get dark interiors, but I've already got a black interior in my M5. I looked at beige or gray for the Coupe, but the light door panels concern me. (I wonder if they'll get all scuffed and look ratty.)

What I'd REALLY like would be black doors + console and light seats. Anybody know if that's do-able?

[ICALL]

I know the feeling... I really wanted black leather, but I wanted dark wood more. In the showroom, in the other 3 and 5 series, I didn't like the dark seats and wood combination so I went with beige interior with dark wood.

I'm turning in a 2003 Passat. Wife had it for the first 3 years with the three kids(two babies). A couple of weeks ago I went out to assess the damage and try to clean as much as I could. The light leather seats were WRECKED!!!. Dark black marks all over them, creases with dirt/sh!t in them. I figured I was done. Just for giggles, while in Discount auto parts(or whatever they call themselves now) I saw a leather and vinyl cleaner called BlueMaagic. It was the cheapest thing on the shelf. Said "Guaranteed Best You Can Buy" so I said OK, I'll get it and return it if it sucks. It didn't suck!

Just as backround, the Passat seats have NEVER been conditioned. This cleaner removed EVERY stain, black mark, and crap in the creases so the creases were barely noticable. It took alot of elbow grease and I had to use a leather conditioner afterwards, but when the guy came to inspect the car, he made a comment about how clean the seats were. Everyone that knew me asked if I had the seat replaced. Too funny.

Guess what I'm trying to say is if you're worried about dirt or stains, it comes off. Even the scuff marks weren't noticable unless you got right up on the exact spot and knew where to look.

I gotta tell you though, in the two months I'm waiting for my 335i, the red coral interior is REALLY growing on me. I don't know if I could handle it every day for the next few years, but it really looks nice.

Good luck

[F30Toad]

Had grey on my E36 M3/4 and had no problems with it. Yes, it got dirty but you could easily clean it with a damp cloth between major cleaning with conditioners. I think the creases in black show up much more over time than the dirt on light colors.

[MBrown1003]

Originally Posted by E90Toad

Had grey on my E36 M3/4 and had no problems with it. Yes, it got dirty but you could easily clean it with a damp cloth between major cleaning with conditioners. I think the creases in black show up much more over time than the dirt on light colors.

Interesting point.

I took delivery of my current GTI (my second one) on a Friday. The car is Silverstone (a really nice dark metallic silver) with a matching interior. This is the lightest interior I've ever had, except for a "mink" (yellowy taupe) Peugeot 505 Turbo in the mid 1980s. I got the GTI in the afternoon and drove 3 hours to NYC that night to go to a show at the Javits Center. I sat in my hotel room Friday night reading the Owner's Manual. Some people just know how to have a good time!

I drove home on Sunday afternoon. I'd been wearing black jeans on Friday and blue jeans on Sunday. By the time I got home, there were black/blue marks on the new silver-gray leather. UNGOOD. I pulled out the trusty Lexol cleaner, then Lexol conditioner. The marks are gone, the leather's softer than when it started, and it hasn't happened again. SO...maybe you guys are right, and the light interior isn't so bad.

It has the added advantage of being cooler in the summer.

That Monaco Blue / Saddle Brown may be morphing to Monaco Blue / Sand.