[MikeBeemer]

I got a loaner car today and got a 2016 328i with sensatec interior. Im used to leather on my current car and it felt a bit "hard". For those that have sensatec interior, does the seat break in eventually like leather does. Do you find it uncomfortable? Thanks for the replies I'm worried because I ordered Venetian beige sensatec leatherette on my 428i gc.

[wilbur_the_goose]

IMHO, it doesn't break in, but I find it just as comfortable as the Dakota leather.

I actually prefer it to leather. Maintenance is a lot easier, and my wife didn't know it wasn't leather till I told her

[MikeBeemer]

Wow, you find it as comfortable as leather? I guess I just need to get used to the seat.

[st3v]

My last F30 was sensatec (only time I got a BMW with it). Now I opted for leather again. The sensatec was pretty much the same after 3 years, and didn't soften. I prefer the leather; the sensatec felt & looked cheap to me. Not sure why, but I was inside a coworker's X3 recently, and the sensatec seemed even worse than the one on my previous F30.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by wilbur_the_goose

IMHO, it doesn't break in, but I find it just as comfortable as the Dakota leather.

I actually prefer it to leather. Maintenance is a lot easier, and my wife didn't know it wasn't leather till I told her

Dakota leather is 0 maintenance since it's sealed.. Cleaning every now and then with a leather cleaner or distilled water is all that is ever needed. That said, my Dakota is wearing terribly in my 435i.. Surprised because my e92's Dakota still looked like new after 90,000 miles.

[AndDown]

There was a poster who had the Sensatec and it was cracking slightly just below the side bolster, probably from sun/heat damage. I've Sensatec in my 3 current bimmers and they still look good but they are garaged and not parked outside (2001 X5, 2003 325i, and 2016 428i GC).

[cmplaya]

i have dakota in e92 and sensatec in f30. didnt think it was worth anywhere near the price differential, would choose sensatec again without thinking twice

if anything, i would try to pay the upgrade to merino if i wanted nice leather

[Zirenz2006]

I think Sensatec looks cheap and I don't think it's hard to tell the difference from Dakota.

JMO

[TheRealEssad]

Living up north I'm addicted to having heated seats so I feel like considering the sensatec is a moot point.

[BimmerF32_430i]

Dakota leather is comfier and breaks in nicer than sensatec. With that said, I still like my sensatec as it still looks just like new and isn't by any means uncomfortable. Mine came with heated seats so nothing much lost really

[kadify]

Sensatec isn't great, but considering the minor improvement dakota makes, it isn't really worth the cost. The only reason I would get dakota leather in my next car would be to get the cold weather package OR to get a non black or tan interior. Otherwise the dakota isn't that nice.

[MikeBeemer]

I agree with you Kadify. I saw the dakota and was really turned off by the lack of quality. Definitely not worth the extra $1,450.

[metallicpea]

I have owned both and went with the sensatec this time. Only the saddle and coral are worth the money, and they weren't available on the 320...

[goj]

I got black leather and I love it. Especially the contrast stitching. No doubt to me it's a large upgrade from sensatec and worth getting (especially when negotiating the price towards invoice) but at the same time it's up to each individual to decide

[metallicpea]

My last BMW had the black Dakota. It was nice, but at 7 years old it looked older than my leatherette did at 11 years old. Not shot or anything, just used/faded. Leatherett looks great, but the piping on the outside drivers seatback bolster did give up the ghost maybe year 8 or 9.
I've had leatherette twice and I think the seat comfort is the same, but as I hope to keep my F30 for awhile, thought paying less and having it hold up better years down the road wasn't a bad idea.
Both are nice, and the value is up to you.
I will say the leatherette might appear more stiff over time, as the vinyl holds it shape, whereas the Dakota stretches or forms a bit giving the seat a more comfortable appearance. I never noticed a difference in actual seat feel. I have found all my BMW sport seats to be comfortable - leatherette, Dakota, Nappa, manual, power, comfort - all were similar in seat feel to me.

[QTC]

It doesn't break in, but I find it comfortable - only complaint is it doesn't breathe well (at all?) - that alone would make me splurge for leather next time around.

[AndDown]

Originally Posted by QTC

It doesn't break in, but I find it comfortable - only complaint is it doesn't breathe well (at all?) - that alone would make me splurge for leather next time around.

Not sure why BMW is not able to do what MBZ has/had with their leatherette - I recall my old 190E had small perforations/dimples in their leatherette for "breathing". Theirs were named MBTex if I remember, which brings up the question how BMW came up with their "Sensatec" name. Does it have technology to sense when I'm sitting on it? LOL

[kadify]

I don't understand why BMW can't just make a nicer synthetic material. The lexus Nuluxe is even nicer feeling than actual leather and it costs less.

[Michael Schott]

Originally Posted by Vegetable

Dakota leather is 0 maintenance since it's sealed.. Cleaning every now and then with a leather cleaner or distilled water is all that is ever needed. That said, my Dakota is wearing terribly in my 435i.. Surprised because my e92's Dakota still looked like new after 90,000 miles.

The Dakota on my car with 61,000 miles is in great shape. The only issue, and I had this on my 2 E90's is wear on the left bolster from the seat belt.

[u5g335]

Would def consider fake leather option if it was perforated like real leather found in ventilated seat package. Sweaty back/butt on hot days is not ideal.

[Vegetable]

Originally Posted by Michael Schott

The Dakota on my car with 61,000 miles is in great shape. The only issue, and I had this on my 2 E90's is wear on the left bolster from the seat belt.

Interesting... I'm having them reupholstered under warranty.. They aren't in the worst shape ever, but the upper body bolsters definitely show wear on both passenger and driver's side.

[Jbrock22]

Had both, Sitting on plastic or leather. Never plastic again.