[pg80]

Originally Posted by slickooz

What do you guys prefer? I'm trying to justify adding leather but its starting to break the bank.

Are you guys happy with the sensatec seats?

You don’t get side bolsters if you don’t get leather and I think sensatec doesn’t breath well so it gets hot fast

[Baldilocks73]

Originally Posted by kudos

I would never get fake leather in my vehicle. Fake anything is terrible.

It’s not like Vernasca leather is anything to write home about. It’s barely leather.

[Baldilocks73]

Originally Posted by pg80

You don’t get side bolsters if you don’t get leather and I think sensatec doesn’t breath well so it gets hot fast

The Senetac seats are perforated though.

[peaceindriving]

The Sensatec had a rubbery feel to it, and it wasn’t easy to slide in/out of the seat. My jeans felt like rocks skipping on water. I went Vernasca for red interior.

[redcars]

Originally Posted by pg80

You don’t get side bolsters if you don’t get leather

Is that because the Sensatec can't stand up to the wear and tear that leather can? They say Sensatec is just as durable, but I have my doubts.

[pg80]

Originally Posted by Baldilocks73

The Senetac seats are perforated though.

Yeah I was surprised too doesn’t seem to help I’m not huge or anything 6’1 202 lbs but they get hot so fast in the warmer months I just ordered an m240 and went with leather this time hoping it makes a difference and I want the side Bolsters too

[pg80]

Originally Posted by redcars

Is that because the Sensatec can't stand up to the wear and tear that leather can? They say Sensatec is just as durable, but I have my doubts.

I would assume sensatec is a stronger material than leather I have no clue why it’s like that I wasn’t happy when my car was delivered with out it but I guess that’s what I got for assuming I know it’s model dependent some cars you can get side bolsters with sensatec and some you can’t

[tagoo]

Sensatec is extremely durable. Some people may want leather - it's great that we have options. But, sensatec is really good. I had it in a 2005 e46 and it still looked almost new after 19 years and 170K miles. I also had MBTex (Mercedes equivalent) in a car and it was awesome. Leather in the low end BMWs stretches and wrinkles pretty badly in my opinion. All leather is not equal. The leather in my 16K mile dodge viper is stretched and wrinkled, like a lot of low end BMWs. The leather in my wife's 30K mile 2017 FF range rover has incredible leather. Very thick and still looks still looks like new.

I built my M240i with sensatec. I would have chosen it even if it was the same price as leather. Heck, I may have even paid a couple hundred more to get it over leather, but that's just me.

Also, when you order sensatec, the seats still have side bolsters. However, the bolsters are not adjustable. The sensatec also has some sort of perforations in the material but may be different that what leather has - not sure.

[Fronzdan]

Originally Posted by wb8164

I've got a '22 230i M sport with Vernasca leather seats. I'll say that they're OK, but not buttery soft like Merino leather option on some other BMW models. If I were looking to cut an option or two, leather would be first to get the boot, since the Sensatec seems like a nice material.

Ahh the Merino leather…I wish that was an option. That’s like super smooth baseball glove leather. My friend had it in his convertible 3 series years ago. I think it’s only available on the bigger models now.

[jaj1]

On my fifth BMW now and have yet to own one with leather - and have yet to regret that decision for any of the five. And that's with having owned a number of vehicles with leather, including a 2019 GTI that I traded in for a recent Bimmer.

[TJZ67201]

Most people are overlooking the fact the Vernasca smells much better than fake leather. I have Vernasca and enjoy the smell of my car every time I enter, no need for fake air scents. I drive a new loaner recently with Sensatec and the smell was not the same at all

[08-335xi]

Each have their pros and cons. It’s up to you on what is most important. My experience as I have owned both materials for between 50k - 100k miles on various BMWs.

Leather Pros:
1. Smell of real leather
2. Additional stitching
3. Adjustable side bolsters included
4. Breathes decent without perforations

Leather Cons:
1. Fairly firm when new, but does soften over time
2. Wears faster, especially on the bolsters if you do not pay attention when getting in and out. I started seeing a little wear close to 50k miles on black leather on our 3 series.
3. Requires more maintenance to keep looking new. I am very particular and wear signs drive me nuts.

SensaTec (newer) Pros:
1. Softer and feels more cushioned.
2. Minimal maintenance required. Just wipe off any messes or stains.
3. Looked basically brand new after 100k miles on our X3 even with Canberra Beige.
4. Perforations help it breathe and make it workable in hot weather. We had an X3 with the old SensaTec and it really made you sweat.

SensaTec Cons:
1. No side bolsters. I still surprised and disappointed that BMW eliminated these as an option during COVID.
2. The perforations can collect little granules of just about anything and it is difficult to get them out once pressed into perforations.

For me, leather is preferred. I like the texture, side bolsters, smell and stitching. For my wife, SensaTec is best without a doubt. She isn’t as particular about the details (stitching), eats in the car, lets kids eat in the car and prefers a softer seat. She could care less about side bolsters. I am constantly cleaning her seats to keep them looking new, which is very easy with SensaTec, even with the lighter colors. Oyster leather is a tough choice because once dyes and stains penetrate the leather it is very difficult to remove. I recommend darker colors if you go with leather for this reason.

[Baldilocks73]

Originally Posted by kudos

I would never get fake leather in my vehicle. Fake anything is terrible.

But it’s not fake. It’s real vinyl. 🤪

[Navin_Johnson]

When I was deciding on options when I ordered mine, I looked at a few examples of both Sensatec and the leather in the cars they had on the lot. The leather did not impress me at all, even if had been the same cost as the Sensatec. The Napa leather in my wife's Kia Telluride was far nicer than the leather I was looking at in BMWs, and that only added $295 to our build for the Kia. Costing well more than $1000 for what I thought was not nearly as nice as what was in the Kia was an easy decision to take a pass on.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by Navin_Johnson

When I was deciding on options when I ordered mine, I looked at a few examples of both Sensatec and the leather in the cars they had on the lot. The leather did not impress me at all, even if had been the same cost as the Sensatec. The Napa leather in my wife's Kia Telluride was far nicer than the leather I was looking at in BMWs, and that only added $295 to our build for the Kia. Costing well more than $1000 for what I thought was not nearly as nice as what was in the Kia was an easy decision to take a pass on.

If it’s like the UK, Kia seats are not full leather. Only the facings are leather.

[b46driver]

leather. one year in and the car still smells like leather

[PP3121]

Originally Posted by Pentland

If it’s like the UK, Kia seats are not full leather. Only the facings are leather.

Doesn't the build configurator on the BMW website say the same thing? Perhaps in the US it is different?

"When Leather upholstery is selected, Leather will be on all seating surfaces; other components may be Leather or Leatherette."

That is the reason I did not opt for the leather, and at the cost...made no sense to me.

[Pentland]

Originally Posted by PP3121

Doesn't the build configurator on the BMW website say the same thing? Perhaps in the US it is different?

"When Leather upholstery is selected, Leather will be on all seating surfaces; other components may be Leather or Leatherette."

That is the reason I did not opt for the leather, and at the cost...made no sense to me.

Not in UK

[PP3121]

Originally Posted by Pentland

Not in UK

That stinks! For us here in the US, that is!

[G42 Pilot]

My E92 had leather, living in the Southwest desert I had to constantly apply leather conditioner. When I would drove to LA and stayed a few days the leather would come "come alive" from the moisture. It went from a hard surface to a nice and soft feel.
I didn't want to go thru all that again, so SensaTec is what is in my G42.
If it wasn't so dry here I would have had leather again.