What interior do I have? (E46 M3)

[msm]

I've seen dozens of M3's with normal nappa leather and my seats seem to be a bit different. The leather texture is the same softish nappa, but the finish is almost like the "comfort seats in other non-M models". AFAIK, the local M3's only had one type of leather (i.e. Nappa). The only difference I found was that some post 2004 models did not have the M embossed headrest, which mine does not have.

I've pulled apart various bits in/around the seats since I got the car and manufacture dates on most items was late 2003 or early 2004. Official build date on the car was: 2004-06-14

However, here's a quick pic of the leather - notice how the "joint" areas are crinkled like comfort seats. Every other M3 I've seen is straight. I also poked around a bit and removed the rear seats completely too - it all looks like original covers without a trace of it being redone. Anyone care to shed some light - my only guess is that some of the early "facelift/updated" versions might have had been different until BMW standardised again.

Here's a quick pic of mine - you can clearly notice the place where it's not "flat" at the joints.



Here's what all the others look like (pic taken from the net). Notice the flat sections where the leather meets - this is how all the other local M3's are:

I'm confused, as I initially thought it was recovered, but everything, including the little seat belt area on the rear seat is consistent :thinking:

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EDIT: Just to add. According to BMWVinDecoder, this is the upholstery I have:

Upholstery: TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

Can other owners please confirm their upholstery type on your E46 M3 (please state year model too)

 

[444YYY]

Very interesting!!!
Do they feel softer, when you sit on them, compared to other M3's?

I think you have found a gem enjoy!

 

[applehero]

It should be in the list of options that your car was sold with

 

[///Moose]

That's interesting Mo, definitely looks different to the two I had...

 

[msm]

Very interesting!!!
Do they feel softer, when you sit on them, compared to other M3's?

I had a E70 X5 with comfort seats and they feel similar to those. The texture is the same as Nappa, but it feels like it has a layer of "sponginess" under it.

Will pop into a dealer one of these days and see if they can trace an original spec list on the car, but AFAIK, local E46 M3's did not have additional options when it came to seats - this is why I'm confused as to what it is.

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That's interesting Mo, definitely looks different to the two I had...

Yep - all the models I've seen so far are the flat type.

 

[NavZ]

Looks like a job for:

 

[SP33DYV]

Mo, check in the list of options what it is.
http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

 

[msm]

Mo, check in the list of options what it is.
http://www.bmwarchiv.de/vin/bmw-vin-decoder.html

Site says I have this:
Interior: PART LEATHER WN / BLACK (N5SW)

No other options listed about seats or leather.

Did a google search on the code (N5SW) and it seems to be Nappa leather. What's even more interesting is the following, but it was mentioned specific for the US E36:

Why do some late North American-spec E36 M3 sedans have M stripes on their headrests?
Due to supplier issues, BMW was no longer able to produce sufficient quantities of the Black (N5SW) or Light Grey (N5TT) Nappa leather interiors for the North American-market E36 M3 sedan beginning in March of 1998. Therefore, these E36 M3 sedans received the lower-grade Montana leather from the normal E36 3 Series and a "leather credit" refund (listed as Option Code S996A on the build sheet) of several hundred dollars was applied to their MSRP. M3 sedans with Montana leather can be identified by M stripes on all four headrests, as the Montana leather did not include the usual M stripes on the seats themselves.

Source

Can some of the other M3 guys please confirm your leather type on the link that SP33DYV provided - this has gotten me very curious...

 

[calypso]

TEILLEDER W.N./IMOLAROT (N5IM)

2001 car

 

[///Moose]

Innenraum: TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

 

[calypso]

Seeing as though mine has M in it, im sure its worth at least another 20hp

 

[Crash_Nemesis]

Mine is

TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

Looks like your seats may have been reupholstered. Never seen that on any other M3.

 

[msm]

Mine is

TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

Looks like your seats may have been reupholstered. Never seen that on any other M3.

That's what I suspect too.

 

[Rommies]

Mine is

TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

Looks like your seats may have been reupholstered. Never seen that on any other M3.

+1

 

[444YYY]

Mine is

TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

Looks like your seats may have been reupholstered. Never seen that on any other M3.

That's what I suspect too.

Even the back seats? At that low mileage? The back seats don't wear much, on a coupe.....

 

[msm]

Mine is

TEILLEDER W.N./SCHWARZ (N5SW)

Looks like your seats may have been reupholstered. Never seen that on any other M3.

That's what I suspect too.

Even the back seats? At that low mileage? The back seats don't wear much, on a coupe.....

Front and back are identical, which is weird, as normally only the front is recovered when worn. Gonna visit a leather upholsterer one of these days and try to figure it out - there's nothing wrong with it, just my curiosity :fencelook:

 

[calypso]

Does it have the adjustable sides?

 

[msm]

Does it have the adjustable sides?

Yes

Might explain why the front leather is different, so there is more room for movement. And maybe they matched the back too. Strange though if they did.