Subject: You're young & active, and live in a fun-in-the-sun state...I'd give up leather Author: Q : member since February, 2004 : 6684 posts Posted on: 2008-07-04 12:26:30

and go with leatherette if I needed to "pare-down" my option list.

Sacrificing the leather interior...you only lose a higher maintenance seating surface...the leatherette will still give you the same color interior visually and it is a WHOLE lot easier to maintain...and can stnad up to more abusive wear (not that you will be abusing it). But 5 years down the road...the leatherette will probably look better, with a lot less maintenance and upkeep. And if you're going with a black interior...you'll probably be able to just wipe it down with a damp cloth. If you go with a lighter interior...you can use something as simple as 409 or Fantastik to clean up areas that get dirty like the door handles & seat bolsters where dirty hands touch all the time.

My first BMW was an e30 325e which had beige leatherette...and it looked just as good in 2000 when I sold it as it did in 1986 when I first purchased it. If you want to "smell" leather...I'd suggest purchasing some Leatherique Prestine Clean. If you use that as a cleaner to maintain the interior...you'll get that specific aroma that we associate with the smell of leather.

Here's pics of a leatherette interior after 15 years of ownership...and just basic maintenance of a damp rag and Fantastik for really dirty areas:






1995 525iT (Alpine White) ||||||| 1997 740iL (Arctic Silver)

my Qsilver7 cardomain site

• Considering ordering a new 335i. What color combo/options would you get? (pic) - dwightf 2008-07-04 02:22:57 (445 views)
  • Get the Graphite on Black! Do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it do it (nt) - manithemoneyman 2008-07-05 20:04:02 (136 views)
  • Monaco Blue w/ Terra - JohnG 2008-07-05 10:35:19 (156 views)
    • It's an extra 2,650 for Prem. Pack. The CWP is soooo not worth it - dwightf 2008-07-05 11:44:48 (134 views)
      • Leather is $1450 - have to pay that to get Terra. Premium is $1200 more - JohnG 2008-07-05 11:55:39 (112 views)
        • Oh gottcha. I think the Prem Package might be the way to go! (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 13:16:16 (103 views)
          • It's a lot of nice stuff, and I think it helps at resale time - JohnG 2008-07-05 13:30:02 (99 views)
      • hmm, Sunshade is only $350. That might be cool to have. (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 11:46:00 (112 views)
        • Its more gimmicky rather than useful... its the same in the 7 - manithemoneyman 2008-07-05 20:02:32 (95 views)
    • Yeah, I'd just rather not drop 55K on a new car. (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 11:30:32 (131 views)
  • Saw a graphite in the dealers - very, very nice colour in the flesh. - RobinK 2008-07-05 09:20:44 (120 views)
  • You already got a tight car, dude. Keep the 7 and get a new car after school (nt) - Ed 2008-07-05 01:43:16 (127 views)
    • No time to deal with the 7 and its crap. I drive my e46 daily. (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 11:31:52 (129 views)
  • Hey they sell this in a retracto top now - what about that and lose back doors? (nt) - uSa4148 2008-07-05 01:24:10 (101 views)
    • Then it would be a hairdressers car. (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 11:32:48 (102 views)
  • Dwight...you looking at the 4-door or the 2-door? And is the car in these pics (pic) - Q 2008-07-04 20:04:59 (190 views)
    • Dwight this is YOU...Red Imola interior:) this is a great combo (nt) - snitch740i 2008-07-05 01:44:32 (99 views)
      • Love the Imola int. but can't seem to find it on sedan. Maybe custom order? (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 11:33:19 (102 views)
    • I'm looking at 4-doors. I'll prob throw the 7 on top for trade and pay rest cash (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-05 01:12:23 (112 views)
  • A friend at work has the Graphite/black setup - looks ni,e. - sealbeach740 2008-07-04 13:49:14 (122 views)
  • Man I was playing with one on the highway yesterday. It had aftermarket - Buck 99 750iL 2008-07-04 12:31:03 (128 views)
    • With a chip you can bump up the stock 302hp to 340hp! (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-04 12:37:30 (144 views)
  • You're young & active, and live in a fun-in-the-sun state...I'd give up leather (pic) - Q 2008-07-04 12:26:30 (196 views)
    • Re: You're young & active, and live in a fun-in-the-sun state...I'd give up leather - billryan 2008-07-05 04:32:32 (89 views)
    • Hmm, good call. Sounds like it may not be a bad thing at all! (nt) - dwightf 2008-07-04 12:37:51 (95 views)
  • I wouldn't own a 3-series........just a lil too small and cramped (nt) - stevekc 2008-07-04 03:34:03 (117 views)
    • I'm not a huge guy and I'm kinda tired of parking the boat. (pic) - dwightf 2008-07-04 12:29:02 (182 views)
      • i can understand that....mine barely fits in the garage (nt) - stevekc 2008-07-05 07:35:05 (88 views)
      • Good choice...I'd go for white with tan leatherette as prescribed by Q - kingdom7 2008-07-05 03:33:31 (94 views)
  • Im partial to White on dual turbo 335i`s they look incredible (nt) - snitch740i 2008-07-04 03:13:19 (121 views)
  • sick! I still want a 335 e92. I would go Graphite on Black - 04sshd 2008-07-04 02:57:58 (127 views)