[walendvay]

saw an oyster rig at the dealer. center console looked filthy as well as the headrests

could this just be the fact the car at dealer gets a lot of different people touching it? anyone else have? any concerns?

[colton_matthias]

I also saw on the sides if the seats that it was all blue from jeans rubbing in the seats wen getting in and out.

[LEDZEP]

Oyster seats get a lot of dirt smudges, if people who are dirty get in them and smudge them.

Prior to having Oyster, I had a Lemon interior (very similar) and the questions/debate about keeping them clean were non-stop. I have drawn my own conclusion that people who ask if they are hard to clean probably shouldn't get them.

If one is not a pig, and wears reasonably clean clothes, didn't recently sit in a barbeque pit, and performs periodic cleaning, oyster is fine. If you really think your habits will be a problem, that should be your answer.

Also, for the record, all seats get dirty at the same rate and to the same degree - we're talking visibility here.... the only real fear one should have about any white-ish leather is dye transfer from other leather (belt, jacket, etc.) blue jeans.... these will be the stains that are hard to remove.

[509trooper]

Originally Posted by walendvay

saw an oyster rig at the dealer. center console looked filthy as well as the headrests

could this just be the fact the car at dealer gets a lot of different people touching it? anyone else have? any concerns?

I currently drive an Acura TL with tan leather. The color is a bit darker than the beige leather in the X3. Both the armrest and the leather bolster that covers the center console get dirty really easy (I mean filthy). Also as other people have said, the dye from blue jeans will rub off on the seats and even worse, the dye from garment dyed items ( t-shirts).

I love the look of tan leather, but for this reason alone I ordered black leather. I would imagine that the oyster color being lighted, the problem would be compounded.

[Ant Man]

Originally Posted by walendvay

saw an oyster rig at the dealer. center console looked filthy as well as the headrests

could this just be the fact the car at dealer gets a lot of different people touching it? anyone else have? any concerns?

My local has a demo with oyster. It's filthy inside, it's as if some real low life have wiped their greasy, dirty hands all over it.

Dye transfer can be removed fairly easily with a product from liquid leather (gliptone) but this colour of leather (oyster) will need regular cleaning and conditioning.

[sfax]

Originally Posted by Ant Man

My local has a demo with oyster. It's filthy inside, it's as if some real low life have wiped their creasy, dirty hands all over it.

Dye transfer can be removed fairly easily with a product from liquid leather (gliptone) but this colour of leather (oyster) will need regular cleaning and conditioning.

Creasy?!?

I find my white boxer shorts need regular cleaning. At least once a week.

[Radioactive]

Originally Posted by sfax

Creasy?!?

I find my white boxer shorts need regular cleaning. At least once a week.

I am not, I am not going to touch this one.

[northX3]

Buy the BMW Leather care conditionner

I have Oyster interior and get a lot of "jeans stains" with the dye transfer... Takes 5 minutes every 2-3 weeks to get the interior back as OEM.

Of course, if you let the dirt "cake" in the seats, it will be more difficult !

[Shaw]

I had this conversation in earlier threads:
a sales rep himself told me to avoid light colors due to jeans stain... and that was all I needed to change my mind to black seat...
even if light colors are maintainable, it still attracts some time and energy to think about maintaining it, which honestly is NOT in the list of my priorities!!!
This car has so much more to offer that I would't think about having to worry about constant maintainance of the seats, to be honest!

[walendvay]

how well do BMW black seats hold up w.r.t. sun fade?

[Shaw]

Originally Posted by walendvay

how well do BMW black seats hold up w.r.t. sun fade?

I do not know what effect sun would have from a fading perspective. But I wouldn't go that far...
I have the car for 2 weeks only and it is very difficult for me to commnt on the performance of the sun over my seats! I also have Sunblinds (sun screens) at the rear sides and back screen.
In general, I am very satisfied with the black color....

[walendvay]

am referring to older BMWs in general. Say cars that are 7-10 years old or more. that's how long I hope to keep the car!

[Shaw]

Originally Posted by walendvay

am referring to older BMWs in general. Say cars that are 7-10 years old or more. that's how long I hope to keep the car!

you'd be fine!!!
If you have that kind of perspective, then you should not even be thinking of oysterish type of color!!!

[Beyu]

I assume everyone on here showers regularly and changes their clothes, well...maybe not everyone, I'm looking at you Mole. Dirt and smudging are inevitable and builds up over time so one should clean the seats every once in awhile even if there isn't any visible dirt.

Jeans staining will be a larger problem than dirt smudges for most people as you're more likely to be wearing jeans than dirt or mud caked clothes. Also for some reason the dye on expensive jeans like Sevens or R&R comes off very easily so the lighter the color the more likely the leather is going to get dirty.

[Shaw]

Originally Posted by Beyu

I assume everyone on here showers regularly and changes their clothes, well...maybe not everyone, I'm looking at you Mole. Dirt and smudging are inevitable and builds up over time so one should clean the seats every once in awhile even if there isn't any visible dirt.

Jeans staining will be a larger problem than dirt smudges for most people as you're more likely to be wearing jeans than dirt or mud caked clothes. Also for some reason the dye on expensive jeans like Sevens or R&R comes off very easily so the lighter the color the more likely the leather is going to get dirty.

+1

[warmtoes]

I have coral red in my car and although not as light as oyster you can still see the dreaded jeans stains. You definitely have to keep cleaning the seats on a regular basis as they do come out for the most part.

[Sabian]

Took delivery on my car 3 weeks ago today, I have the oyster interior and I'm already seeing some slight discoloration of blue but only on the driver's side ridge of the sport seat where you get in.

I now have over 1500 miles on the car... took a small trip last friday, had the X3 stuff to the max and was getting in and out of the vehicle quite frequently to stop to take pictures and see sights etc. I was wearing pre-washed faded jeans and light tan shorts mostly and I'm already seeing this. I'm sure if I wore darker, newer jeans it would be worse. Going to look into the cleaner mentioned above and possibly either a seat cover on the drivers side or that interior protection plan they offered. I have one week left to get that plan. Anybody think it's worth it?

[clivem2]

Is the jeans thing mainly a US issue? I don't believe so many people in Europe wear them, they are kind of 60s/70s fashion, a lot of kids won't wear them because blue jeans belong to their parents or grand-parents era. Sure we have them but not as universally as the US seems to be. Also, if you buy cheaply made clothes based on working mens' overalls, even if their buy-price is high, don't blame the BMW leather!

[nonagon]

Originally Posted by clivem2

Is the jeans thing mainly a US issue? I don't believe so many people in Europe wear them, they are kind of 60s/70s fashion, a lot of kids won't wear them because blue jeans belong to their parents or grand-parents era. Sure we have them but not as universally as the US seems to be.

They're not considered 60/70s fashion in the US, unless you're wearing bell bottoms.

[Bustofa]

Wouldn't say they were here in the UK either IMO. Can't say I agree with clivem2.

[clivem2]

Let's try this from different angle. From my work trips to the US, which are frequent but restricted to CA and MI, I notice many more people of all ages wearing blue jeans than is the case in the UK. Department stores have larger areas set aside for blue jeans than does the UK. Stores in both countries have something like 4 or 5 colours available, in the UK I'd estimate that 25% to 30% of the floorspace occupied by jeans is for blue. In the states of CA and MI I would say it's more like 75% to 80%. I'm think that the %age of drivers of brand new X3s in the UK wearing blue jeans will be lower than in the US. I've been to a number of dealers when buying BMWs with light coloured seats, not one has ever mentioned a problem with blue jeans. BTW, my black jeans seems fine with light leather, I just get "normal dirt" which comes off with a leather cleaner in a few mins every couple of months. My current red leather the the darket I've ever has and shows the dirt much the same as the light colours.

[sfax]

This is way off topic but can I wade into the jeans debate and say that when not wearing a suit I am wearing jeans almost exclusively. Like a mug I buy a lot of expensive Diesel jeans and I would say there must be more jeans sold in the UK now than there has ever been in the past.

Oyster looks fantastic but requires extra cleaning and care. If you're happy to spend the time keeping it looking good then go for it.