[xDrive35i]

Originally Posted by Beyu

Leather standard would be nice, free stuff is always good. However, I don't think people in countries other than the US would be too happy about it. We already pay a lot less than other countries and receive the full line of suvs months earlier than others.



I agree, bmw tries to make as much money as they can off of added options; most European car companies do, Porsche anyone? Japanese and American companies aren't as extreme, most Lexus fully loaded/every box checked don't break $5k in options, you can easily rake up $10k in a German car and not even be fully loaded.

One time, I built a 2011 528i for $76,000. Base is $45,000. Leather is optional. So is everything else.

[turbovan82]

Sorry to resurrect this thread from the dead, but I am a new member and can't create my own thread. Although this thread is my exact situation right now.

I am caught choosing between Leather and M-sport my budget will only allow for one or the other and due to limited supply I am stuck with choosing between the following packages

Msport
Premium
Tech

Leather
Premium
Tech

Just wondering what you guys would go with? Unfortunately for me 2014 is not an option do to budget, and I really want a 35i rather than a 28i. In my opinion the larger engine totally transforms the car.

I have read this forum to death about the pros and cons of leather and leatherette. But I was wondering if some of the Leatherette owners could speak up and say if they regret the move or not or if people who forgo-ed M-sport regret the decision. Main concern with leatherette is the stickyness and if there is a smell to it. I don't mind not having the leather smell as I kind of have a sensitive nose, but some people mention leatherette releasing a odour as well that isnt exactly pleasant.

This is the summary of my situation

- Will return X3 to dealer no intention of keeping it.
- Have a 21 Month year old girl who is quite messy
- Have two dogs but would keep them in the hatch area as they aren't very big
- Live in Edmonton, Alberta so not a hot humid climate, but it does get freezing cold. Although in summer we do have a few days over +30

Temperatures for Edmonton don't know if i trust this chart but anyways lol

Jan -2 / 18°F, (-19 / -8°C)
Feb 3 / 25°F, (-16 / -4°C)
Mar 19 / 34°F, (-7 / 1°C)
Apr 27 / 48°F, (-3 / 9°C)
May 37 / 63°F, (3 / 17°C)
Jun 45 / 70°F, (7 / 21°C)
Jul 48 / 73°F, (9 / 23°C)
Aug 46 / 72°F, (8 / 22°C)
Sep 37 / 63°F, (3 / 17°C)
Oct 30 / 52°F, (-1 / 11°C)
Nov 14 / 32°F, (-10 / 0°C)
Dec 1 / 21°F, (-17 / -6°C)

[turbovan82]

Again would really appreciate feedback from Leatherette owners specifically those in Canada hopefully in the Prairie region.

[lbjgh]

Turbovan82,

My x3 has the leatherette and I am very satisfied with its durability and looks. Cost was not the primary factor for me... Perhaps value was.

BMW IMO is not so much a luxury brand as it is a performance brand. My wife's car has leather and after a few years the seats look worn and crappy.

My car is only a year old and the seats look like the day I picked up my car. Time will tell if they will continue to hold up well.

Without leather my x3 was close to 70k. Other brands will give you much more luxury for that money but no where near the driving experience.

[turbovan82]

How's the sweat factor? Do you really notice the breathability issues?

Are you able to drive with the windows down in +25 degree weather without sweating?

[roadkillrob]

Originally Posted by turbovan82

How's the sweat factor? Do you really notice the breathability issues?

Are you able to drive with the windows down in +25 degree weather without sweating?

The leather doesn't breath anyway, as all leather is basically painted these days, the color is a top coat product, so you have leather seats with basically a plastic surface on them so it won't breath.

To test, put water on your seat, if it soaks in, they you have non coated leather that will breath, if it sits on top and never soaks in, then it is coated and will be the same in the summer as vinyl for the most part.

BMW vinyl is very good and most of the people that have it think it is leather -looks pretty much the same, just doesn't come in all the colors and will actually wear better than the leather. Cheap vinyl with no grain to it will stick to the skin in hot weather, but the bmw stuff is not really any worse than the leather for doing that.

[The X Men]

turbovan82, Leather just feels better in my opinion, the resale value is higher and without leather, there is no lumbar support. If you like the stiffer setting of the adaptive suspension, then I would go with the M-sport package.

[lbjgh]

Hey X, that ain't true. My m-sport has leatherette with lumbar support.

Here is a picture of my plastic seats: http://x3.xbimmers.com/forums/showpo...19&postcount=4

BTW if you want heated and cooled seats you may have to purchase a Hyundai or Kia.

Originally Posted by The X Men

turbovan82, Leather just feels better in my opinion, the resale value is higher and without leather, there is no lumbar support. If you like the stiffer setting of the adaptive suspension, then I would go with the M-sport package.

[The X Men]

I see where the lumbar support 4 way control blank out in your seats just like the US model sport seats. I think you are confusing the power adjustable side booster with the 4 way power lumbar support offer in the premium package.

[lbjgh]

Oops you are correct my friend.

[turbovan82]

Ok so Msport is gone however he has presented a new offer

its for a loaner vehicle its $5800.00 off with 2781 KM's on the clock 1728 Miles

The other option with leatherette is brand new with $3900.00 off but far less equipement

any comment on the loaner it is fairly low mileage and i would pay for extra warranty to cover me to lease term remeber I will give back vehicle.

[The X Men]

If the loaner is $5800 off msrp than its only about $2000 off invoice, I would ask for at least another $1000 to $2000 off.

[pokerface]

turbovan82, Quinn Auto group (BMW Toronto, etc) seem to have a bunch of used white M Sports with/without leather and with/without Navi. Seems like they've had them listed for a year already.

My dad has leatherette on his F25 and I have leather on my F25. The leather looks and feels better.. but my heart sank when I found an overturned milk bottle the other day.. lucky there was not a lot of spillage.

I find the leather breathes a bit better than the leatherette. The other thing is that the grain (pattern) and material on the leatherette makes it "sticky", which feels like it attracts dust more.

In retrospect I should have gotten navi despite its shortcomings (and eventual obsolescence), but I didn't feel like spending this much on a vehicle only to get plastic seats.

[am36]

Difficult choice...really dependant on the quality and feel of the leatherette (we don't have a choice in the UK - cow only). If pushed I would go with the M sport trim.

[KrisNL]

I get jealous when I read those american and canadian prices you pay... Can buy two of those here for mine ...

[lbjgh]

hehe, I just checked pricing and you guys pay about $15,000can more for a 20d than I paid for my 35i. DOH

Originally Posted by KrisNL

I get jealous when I read those american and canadian prices you pay... Can buy two of those here for mine ...

[KrisNL]

Originally Posted by lbjgh

hehe, I just checked pricing and you guys pay about $15,000can more for a 20d than I paid for my 35i. DOH

Indeed, and don't forget the fuel prices

[lbjgh]

I can just imagine... I'm paying $1.45/litre. or $5.50/us gal. ... and that's with Canada having the 3rd largest oil reserves in the world.

Originally Posted by KrisNL

Indeed, and don't forget the fuel prices

[stumblingtrout]

This is painful to read...

Here in the UK we pay $2.26 per litre (canadian) $2.23 (US) for diesel and I went on the BMW USA configurator and the 35i M Sport with all the options is over $16,000 cheaper than our prices for a 35d M Sport.

I want to cry.

But anyway, thats off topic...

[KrisNL]

Ontopic, M Sport and leather
Worth it.

[lbjgh]

If the leather seating was ventilated like Hyundia's I might have opted for it.

Originally Posted by KrisNL

Ontopic, M Sport and leather
Worth it.