discussion Cloth Seats on BMW's

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
You live and learn. I have never seen cloth (again outside of Alcantara) on a car in real life. Didn't even see it as an option before.

Leather is definitely easier to keep clean but if you have an extractor or a good detailer, cloth is not bad. I'd probably have Cloth over fake/synthetic leather if those were my options.
 

Mr Krabs

Active member
You live and learn. I have never seen cloth (again outside of Alcantara) on a car in real life. Didn't even see it as an option before.

Leather is definitely easier to keep clean but if you have an extractor or a good detailer, cloth is not bad. I'd probably have Cloth over fake/synthetic leather if those were my options.
Ah I see. Thanks. Is aftermarket leather installs worthwhile? Like if it costs like 10K for aftermarket leather seats.
 

KarshS

///Member
Cloth seats are lukker when you dont have pants on. Especially in winter or if your cars out in the sun. Less likely to burn your butt on cloth....

Dont forget to Scotchgard to reduce stains.
 

Bugger

///Member
My wife's 128 has Sensatec/Cloth combination, it's actually pretty nice.

Cloth/Sensatec combination - Black/Red highlight (BK) (KFL3)

This is a nice link for those of you snobby enough to have the best leathers 😁


My understanding is that now most BMWs not of the top end ilk will come with Sensatec unless specified. My M6 GC had Merino leather, yet the 760 "only" had Nappa.
 

Mr Krabs

Active member
Cloth seats are lukker when you dont have pants on. Especially in winter or if your cars out in the sun. Less likely to burn your butt on cloth....

Dont forget to Scotchgard to reduce stains.
Doesn't cloth absorb sweat?
 

Mr Krabs

Active member
Also will cloth last the test of time? Our current E90's leather seats are 17 years old and look perfect. I am concerned if at that age, cloth will deteriorate like in other cars like VW or Toyota etc
 

TurboLlew

Honorary ///Member
Doesn't cloth absorb sweat?

Yes it will, as well as your body's natural oils as well as all the stuff you put on to it (creams, sunblock... 1000 bottles of baby oil etc). And guess what? So will leather be it bonded, finished or raw. It will adhere to the top treated layer and get into the lower 'natural' layers regardless of theories to the contrary. There is no material that is naturally 'cleaner' than others. They just do a better or worse job of disguising how dirty they are. Whatever material you have, you need to deep clean it at least annually to avoid the dirt degrading the material. Leather and cloth (and carpet for that matter) wear and 'shine' is actually caused by the ingrained dirt and oils more than mechanical abrasion from getting in and out.

With Leather that means steaming and chemically cleaning it. With cloth and carpet it means extraction.
 

Bugger

///Member
I think that cloth interiors have come a long way since their heyday in the 80s and 90s, the technology has evolved quite a bit and typically, I do say this through slightly gritted teeth, your more premium brand manufacturers should have good quality cloth materials that they use. So it should be pretty durable. As Llew says, the fabrics, whether they be leather or cloth, will absorb all your nasty body outputs, it's how you maintain them that's the key element.
 

Mr Krabs

Active member
I think that cloth interiors have come a long way since their heyday in the 80s and 90s, the technology has evolved quite a bit and typically, I do say this through slightly gritted teeth, your more premium brand manufacturers should have good quality cloth materials that they use. So it should be pretty durable. As Llew says, the fabrics, whether they be leather or cloth, will absorb all your nasty body outputs, it's how you maintain them that's the key element.
Thank you.
 

tamgoem

Well-known member
Excuse me? It is a genuine question. I like to understand the long term aspect of it. As a lot of newer base model BMW's are starting to get cloth than leather.
Like i said, acting like a poor.

Son do you know the 7 series was sold with cloth interiors, my E60 530d had a cloth interior. These are far from base cars. The "leather" you keep harping on about as as much leather as Pam Andersons tits is real. Rather go moan at WBC for being "skelm"
 

r0ckf1re

Well-known member
Get one with leather seats and place a sheet over it, when you need to clean the sheet or get bored of it you can enjoy the leather !


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 

Mr Krabs

Active member
Like i said, acting like a poor.

Son do you know the 7 series was sold with cloth interiors, my E60 530d had a cloth interior. These are far from base cars. The "leather" you keep harping on about as as much leather as Pam Andersons tits is real. Rather go moan at WBC for being "skelm"
Thank you for the history lesson, but my question was about recent trends, not the past. I was simply curious about the reasoning behind the shift towards cloth in newer models. There's no need for the insults – we're all just here to discuss and share insights. As for WBC, I’ve already shared my experience with their business practices.
 

tamgoem

Well-known member
Thank you for the history lesson, but my question was about recent trends, not the past. I was simply curious about the reasoning behind the shift towards cloth in newer models. There's no need for the insults – we're all just here to discuss and share insights. As for WBC, I’ve already shared my experience with their business practices.
There is no efffing trend. It's always been that way. For years BMW just sold you pleather instead of cloth.
 

rodga

Well-known member
Like i said, acting like a poor.

Son do you know the 7 series was sold with cloth interiors, my E60 530d had a cloth interior. These are far from base cars. The "leather" you keep harping on about as as much leather as Pam Andersons tits is real. Rather go moan at WBC for being "skelm"
If you can touch it, its real! ok!!!!
 
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