[Debaser]

Hey guys,

Saving up to retrofit leather in my 328i. I still can't believe that such a high-end and otherwise beautiful car has rubber seats!

Anyone have any words of advice? Know a few shops I could get some estimates? Know what it might cost through BMW?

Cheers!

[bulldog_yyc]

Originally Posted by Debaser

Hey guys,

Saving up to retrofit leather in my 328i. I still can't believe that such a high-end and otherwise beautiful car has rubber seats!

Anyone have any words of advice? Know a few shops I could get some estimates? Know what it might cost through BMW?

Cheers!

buy someones used seats, like from an m3.. there are a few threads on m3 post where they are selling full interiors

[GregL]

A number of years ago I used a place called Tack Upholstery to totally redo the interior of my '78 Benz; carpet, seats, everything. You could get in touch with them and ask, only downside is that a custom job takes time, on the other hand you could have something totally unique. I've seen them work with leather, ostrich, alligator, suede, whatever you want.

http://www.tackupholstery.com/auto.html

However, I imagine what you're looking for is more like oem leather seat covers to swap out with the leatherette.

[w2]

I'm going to guess that retrofitting seats with leather is going to be very expensive and will run into several thousand dollars regardless of whether you get your seats recovered or get new ones. Buying used would, of course be cheaper.

But I have to wonder: what's so bad about the leatherette seats? Is there something qualitatively wrong with them, or is it just that cars in this price range are "supposed" to have leather seats just like they are supposed to have ABS and airbags? Most people I show my car to think that the seats are leather (unless they really know what they're looking at) and the look, feel and quality of BMW vinyl is better than the leather you find in a lot of cars; depending on the grade of leather you select, retrofitting may actually be a downgrade. And, of course, leather is also more work to care for.

[2kaccordocoupe]

Originally Posted by Debaser

Hey guys,

Saving up to retrofit leather in my 328i. I still can't believe that such a high-end and otherwise beautiful car has rubber seats!

Anyone have any words of advice? Know a few shops I could get some estimates? Know what it might cost through BMW?

Cheers!

Didn't you know what you were buying when you signed the dotted line?

[aspiring335]

+1. The leather in my E90 really hasn't held up that well. That, combined with a two-and-a-half year old, and my wife's general anti-leather seat policy pushed me back to leatherette for my E91.

Now that I've decided to buy rather than lease the E91 I'll probably keep it for quite a while. I'm pretty sure the leatherette will be much more durable than leather.

Finally, when I had my E46, people were always commenting on the quality of the leather seats. Except it was leatherette...

Originally Posted by w2

I'm going to guess that retrofitting seats with leather is going to be very expensive and will run into several thousand dollars regardless of whether you get your seats recovered or get new ones. Buying used would, of course be cheaper.

But I have to wonder: what's so bad about the leatherette seats? Is there something qualitatively wrong with them, or is it just that cars in this price range are "supposed" to have leather seats just like they are supposed to have ABS and airbags? Most people I show my car to think that the seats are leather (unless they really know what they're looking at) and the look, feel and quality of BMW vinyl is better than the leather you find in a lot of cars; depending on the grade of leather you select, retrofitting may actually be a downgrade. And, of course, leather is also more work to care for.

[pdude]

I don't mind the look and feel of the leatherette, but the fact that it does not 'breathe' is a bit of an issue when driving long distances in the summer, my lower back sweats a bit more then I'd like it to. I even looked into some black beads, but not easy to find, and probably way too tacky once in. My 0.02.

[GregL]

Originally Posted by w2

But I have to wonder: what's so bad about the leatherette seats? Is there something qualitatively wrong with them, or is it just that cars in this price range are "supposed" to have leather seats just like they are supposed to have ABS and airbags? Most people I show my car to think that the seats are leather (unless they really know what they're looking at) and the look, feel and quality of BMW vinyl is better than the leather you find in a lot of cars; depending on the grade of leather you select, retrofitting may actually be a downgrade. And, of course, leather is also more work to care for.

+1. I took my otherwise loaded C350 4Matic without leather. I find the quality of leather used in cars like the 3-series and C-class (excluding the M3 and C63 with have napa) is not that great, either that or the fact that the leather perpetually feels hard and somewhat dry doesn't help. So I chose not to go with it. I had leather in my 330xi, but not in my C350, I don't regret it.

Originally Posted by pdude

I don't mind the look and feel of the leatherette, but the fact that it does not 'breathe' is a bit of an issue when driving long distances in the summer, my lower back sweats a bit more then I'd like it to. I even looked into some black beads, but not easy to find, and probably way too tacky once in. My 0.02.

Pity BMW doesn't offer perforated leatherette, I have had no problems with heat in my Benz because of that.

[cfabluenose]

I have leatherette on my '09 328i and it feels fine. But I would really like to have the option of getting fabric seats. The fabric seats on my '97 Saab 900S were fantastic - warm in the winter, cool in the summer and you stick like glue through the corners. My Saab is 13 years old and the seats still look almost new. Maybe BMW might consider offer the option of ordering fabric seats.

[mathu.bala]

Originally Posted by cfabluenose

I have leatherette on my '09 328i and it feels fine. But I would really like to have the option of getting fabric seats. The fabric seats on my '97 Saab 900S were fantastic - warm in the winter, cool in the summer and you stick like glue through the corners. My Saab is 13 years old and the seats still look almost new. Maybe BMW might consider offer the option of ordering fabric seats.

+1 have leatherette. But I prefer fabric, much more comfortable.

[pdude]

Originally Posted by GregL

Pity BMW doesn't offer perforated leatherette, I have had no problems with heat in my Benz because of that.

Perforated leatherette with a cooling system built in and heated of course.

[ct335i]

Same here...Hoping bmw offers Perforated seats on 3ers'