Ivory white Dakota

TouringPleb · 08-19-2017, 08:23 AM

I've ordered my 440i GC in Snapper Blue and after a visit to Barons Cambridge this morning I think it's stunning.

However I can't make my mind up on the interior. My heart says Ivory white. I've had 4 years of F31 interiors, 3 years black Dakota and 1 year Coral red. As I'm having the 440i for 4 years I want it to feel different and new. So I've gone for the digital cockpit to make it feel different and was thinking of the Ivory white. The white also really lifts the ambience of the interior I think, making it look a lot brighter. I think the GC with tinted windows could be quite dark and gloomy inside.

What's holding me back is what sort of state is it going to be in 9 months, let alone 4 years and 80,000 miles later? Some of the cars in the showroom had white Merino leather and they were already marked and showing signs of wear and that's just in the showroom.

Anybody on here got Ivory leather? How does it hold up to wear and tear? Anybody doing high mileage with it? Do you still get dye transfer from jeans?

Thanks for any advice.

ronime · 08-19-2017, 09:05 AM

No experience of ivory myself but a friend with white Merino in his F31 individual confirmed that it was a nightmare to keep clean. Dye transfer from blue denim being the main culprit requiring just about weekly cleaning with leather cleaner. He swore never to have white leather again.

I can't see ivory Dakota faring much better to be honest - dye transfer is dye transfer and there is almost always some blue staining on the cleaning cloth when I clean our black Dakota.

Snapper Rocks Blue and Ivory sounds like a great combination though so might be worth asking if any of the many leather protection products on the market actually work.

JNW1 · 08-19-2017, 09:15 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TouringPleb

I've ordered my 440i GC in Snapper Blue and after a visit to Barons Cambridge this morning I think it's stunning.

However I can't make my mind up on the interior. My heart says Ivory white. I've had 4 years of F31 interiors, 3 years black Dakota and 1 year Coral red. As I'm having the 440i for 4 years I want it to feel different and new. So I've gone for the digital cockpit to make it feel different and was thinking of the Ivory white. The white also really lifts the ambience of the interior I think, making it look a lot brighter. I think the GC with tinted windows could be quite dark and gloomy inside.

What's holding me back is what sort of state is it going to be in 9 months, let alone 4 years and 80,000 miles later? Some of the cars in the showroom had white Merino leather and they were already marked and showing signs of wear and that's just in the showroom.

Anybody on here got Ivory leather? How does it hold up to wear and tear? Anybody doing high mileage with it? Do you still get dye transfer from jeans?

Thanks for any advice.

Think we've discussed this recently on another thread and, based on my experience with Oyster leather, I'd say go for the Ivory White; unless it gets hard use with young children I think regular use of Dr Leather wipes or similar will keep it looking fine (or at least it's worked with the Oyster on mine).

I'd also share your concern about a GC interior being a bit gloomy with black leather and no sunroof. Had a sit in one at a local dealer a few weeks ago and it felt a tad oppressive to me (albeit I do concede I prefer lighter interiors!).

Saw a 4GC in SRB at a dealer this morning and it had coral red leather; certainly wouldn't go for that combination, looked bloody awful to my eye!

Ss66 · 08-19-2017, 10:16 AM

have white merino no problem looking after it, Dr leather does a great job keeping it clean once a week. Certainly wouldn't recommend it if your gonna chuck dogs and young children in it. Had my puggle in the back once, never again lol

Steve_M_Sport · 08-19-2017, 10:59 AM

I had Ivory Dakota leather in my previous car and that was a nightmare to keep clean as I wear jeans every day so the dye transfer was horrendous. Needed cleaning every few days to keep it looking good.

Now have saddle brown which seems a lot better.

Drek · 08-19-2017, 11:45 AM

Opal White Merino in mine, whilst I need to stay on top of keeping it clean it's hardly a nightmare.

MashinBenzin · 08-19-2017, 11:52 AM

I have oyster Dakota. Whilst not as light as ivory, it's still very light and I get dye transfer from jeans. Two minutes with a dr leather wipe is all it takes to clean it though. I'd never worry about getting a light colour, as the cleaning with these wipes is so hassle free and fast.

JNW1 · 08-19-2017, 11:58 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MashinBenzin

I have oyster Dakota. Whilst not as light as ivory, it's still very light and I get dye transfer from jeans. Two minutes with a dr leather wipe is all it takes to clean it though. I'd never worry about getting a light colour, as the cleaning with these wipes is so hassle free and fast.

Absolutely! Dye transfer does happen but it's very easy to remove with Dr Leather wipes.

I'm in normal work attire during the week (so suit or slacks) and hence only need to use the leather wipes around once a month. If I was wearing jeans in the car every day that might mean using leather wipes each week but, as you say, it's no great hardship and a small price to pay for what it is (to my eye at least) a much nicer looking interior!

stefan4 · 08-19-2017, 12:54 PM

as others have said, you do get die transfer, but it comes off so easy. 18 months in and no regrets, just do it.

R0B · 08-19-2017, 12:54 PM

I have oyster. It's been nice to have once, but would probably not have it again. What's worse is BMW leather seams to have a bad wear rate - and I think the lighter colour is more susceptible. (That's just a personal theory though).

Nobby Clark · 08-19-2017, 01:18 PM

I have ivory Dakota. When the car was new, I coated the seats with Dr Leather dye block (rakes all of 5 minutes to do). Any marks will wipe away with Dr Leather wipes which I use, at most, every other week. Every 6 months or so, I give the seats a clean with a cream cleaner and re apply the Dr Leather dye block. Jean dye does show but just wipes away. Stubborn marks or ingrained dirt can be lightly steam cleaned off although I've only done this once in the 2 years I've opened the car. Hand on heart I can say my seats look new after 16000 miles.

MrChumley · 08-19-2017, 02:20 PM

I've had light colours in the past and agree they're OK if you're prepared to put in a little bit of effort (and don't let children anywhere near them).

I think the night blue leather looks good with SRB but whether that would be too gloomy I don't know.

isleaiw1 · 08-19-2017, 02:38 PM

The son in law has ivory leather or something similar in his new 530d MSport - with a 1 year old.... good job he doesn't keep cars long!

NISFAN · 08-19-2017, 03:19 PM

Snapper rocks and white.....nice combo.

08-19-2017, 08:23 AM	#1
TouringPleb Brigadier General 4372 Rep 4,230 Posts Drives: SRB 440i GC Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: Cambs iTrader: (0)	Ivory white Dakota I've ordered my 440i GC in Snapper Blue and after a visit to Barons Cambridge this morning I think it's stunning. However I can't make my mind up on the interior. My heart says Ivory white. I've had 4 years of F31 interiors, 3 years black Dakota and 1 year Coral red. As I'm having the 440i for 4 years I want it to feel different and new. So I've gone for the digital cockpit to make it feel different and was thinking of the Ivory white. The white also really lifts the ambience of the interior I think, making it look a lot brighter. I think the GC with tinted windows could be quite dark and gloomy inside. What's holding me back is what sort of state is it going to be in 9 months, let alone 4 years and 80,000 miles later? Some of the cars in the showroom had white Merino leather and they were already marked and showing signs of wear and that's just in the showroom. Anybody on here got Ivory leather? How does it hold up to wear and tear? Anybody doing high mileage with it? Do you still get dye transfer from jeans? Thanks for any advice.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

08-19-2017, 09:05 AM	#2
ronime Captain 344 Rep 834 Posts Drives: BMW X1 sDrive20i M Sport MHT Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: West Yorkshire, UK iTrader: (0)	No experience of ivory myself but a friend with white Merino in his F31 individual confirmed that it was a nightmare to keep clean. Dye transfer from blue denim being the main culprit requiring just about weekly cleaning with leather cleaner. He swore never to have white leather again. I can't see ivory Dakota faring much better to be honest - dye transfer is dye transfer and there is almost always some blue staining on the cleaning cloth when I clean our black Dakota. Snapper Rocks Blue and Ivory sounds like a great combination though so might be worth asking if any of the many leather protection products on the market actually work. __________________ BMW X1 sDrive20i ///M Sport MHT Last edited by ronime; 08-19-2017 at 09:11 AM..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 10:16 AM	#4
Ss66 Captain 346 Rep 897 Posts Drives: F32 440i Join Date: May 2014 Location: Warwickshire iTrader: (0)	have white merino no problem looking after it, Dr leather does a great job keeping it clean once a week. Certainly wouldn't recommend it if your gonna chuck dogs and young children in it. Had my puggle in the back once, never again lol __________________ 2014 f330d 2015 f335d 2016 f32 440i tanzanite/white merino 2008 Toyota Yaris sr 2005 e46 320d. 1996 316i.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 10:59 AM	#5
Steve_M_Sport Lieutenant Colonel 614 Rep 1,799 Posts Drives: U06 230e Active Tourer Join Date: Feb 2013 Location: Leicestershire iTrader: (0)	I had Ivory Dakota leather in my previous car and that was a nightmare to keep clean as I wear jeans every day so the dye transfer was horrendous. Needed cleaning every few days to keep it looking good. Now have saddle brown which seems a lot better. __________________ U06 230e Active Tourer \| Previous : 2019 F31 340i : 2017 F31 335D M-Sport
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 11:45 AM	#6
Drek Major 579 Rep 1,215 Posts Drives: Ferrari F430 F1 Join Date: Jan 2015 Location: West Berkshire iTrader: (0)	Opal White Merino in mine, whilst I need to stay on top of keeping it clean it's hardly a nightmare. __________________ Ferrari F430 Spider F1 RRS Autobiography 2CV6 Special www.bmwland.org.uk
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 11:52 AM	#7
MashinBenzin Major General 8472 Rep 8,788 Posts Drives: Eiger D5 Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	I have oyster Dakota. Whilst not as light as ivory, it's still very light and I get dye transfer from jeans. Two minutes with a dr leather wipe is all it takes to clean it though. I'd never worry about getting a light colour, as the cleaning with these wipes is so hassle free and fast. __________________ Drives - 2020 LR Discovery HSE-L Previous - 2019 LR Discovery HSE-L // 2016 F36 440i // 2009 E90 320D SE
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 12:54 PM	#9
stefan4 Colonel 1084 Rep 2,376 Posts Drives: 340i on order Join Date: Mar 2013 Location: sheffield iTrader: (0)	as others have said, you do get die transfer, but it comes off so easy. 18 months in and no regrets, just do it. __________________ Current - X3m Comp Gone but not forgotten - F80 m3 Comp, F30 340i, F30 - 320i
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 12:54 PM	#10
R0B Colonel 1535 Rep 2,217 Posts Drives: a car Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Location Location iTrader: (0)	I have oyster. It's been nice to have once, but would probably not have it again. What's worse is BMW leather seams to have a bad wear rate - and I think the lighter colour is more susceptible. (That's just a personal theory though).
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 01:18 PM	#11
Nobby Clark Lieutenant Colonel 759 Rep 1,863 Posts Drives: F36 430d xDrive M Sport Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Scotland iTrader: (0)	I have ivory Dakota. When the car was new, I coated the seats with Dr Leather dye block (rakes all of 5 minutes to do). Any marks will wipe away with Dr Leather wipes which I use, at most, every other week. Every 6 months or so, I give the seats a clean with a cream cleaner and re apply the Dr Leather dye block. Jean dye does show but just wipes away. Stubborn marks or ingrained dirt can be lightly steam cleaned off although I've only done this once in the 2 years I've opened the car. Hand on heart I can say my seats look new after 16000 miles.
	Appreciate 1 ronime343.50 Quote

08-19-2017, 02:20 PM	#12
MrChumley Major 454 Rep 1,116 Posts Drives: F33 440i convertible Join Date: Oct 2016 Location: East Midlands iTrader: (0)	I've had light colours in the past and agree they're OK if you're prepared to put in a little bit of effort (and don't let children anywhere near them). I think the night blue leather looks good with SRB but whether that would be too gloomy I don't know.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 02:38 PM	#13
isleaiw1 Lieutenant General 8814 Rep 12,271 Posts Drives: iPace / Mini Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	The son in law has ivory leather or something similar in his new 530d MSport - with a 1 year old.... good job he doesn't keep cars long!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

08-19-2017, 03:19 PM	#14
NISFAN Major General 3489 Rep 9,709 Posts Drives: BMW M2 Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Bedford UK iTrader: (0)	Snapper rocks and white.....nice combo.
	Appreciate 0 Quote