I'm surprised how much I don't like the leatherette seats in my CM! I really thought I would love them. It doesn't help that we're having a record-high hot summer and that my car is all black, but the seats can get horribly hot.

But the worst is the smell ... especially on a hot day, the outgassing reminds me of permanent magic markers. Someone recommended making a sachet filled with coffee beans to absorb any odors in the interior. I didn't go to the trouble to make a sachet, but I did keep a bag of coffee beans in my center rail for a few days. It made the car smell like coffee instead of Sharpies (which was an improvement, but not a remedy).

I did a search on this forum and can't seem to find any one else with this complaint. I do have a pretty keen sense of smell, but am I the only one?

 

I have leather seats, but I agree the "new car smell" is not as pleasant as my 2002 MINI was when it was new, which reminded me of a leather shop. My CM smells more plasticky.

Maybe someone more familiar with the materials used in the interior can give a clue.

 

i've had my cms all4 since 3/31/2012 and i notice no odd smell, other than "new car smell"

i have the black leatherette seats

a friend of mine that just got a new truck with vinyl seats had it detailed, inside and out, and since the detail, it smells terrible if sitting in the sun and heat

have you treated the interior vinyl with anything?

scott

 

No strange smells on my Leatherette.

Agree that they are hot though. I expected this but didn't want to pay extra for cloth. Regret that now, got cloth in the Clubman and it is much more comfortable in the summer.

 

Just the usual new car smell in our 7 week old leatherette CMSA4. And even given the unusually hot weather, our experience is that the leatherette in our all black car is not objectionally hot. We were very concerned about some of the compaints we read from last summer before ordering ours, and actually would have ordered the red leather/cloth until we learned the red color line is a mandatory option with those seats. We did not like the red color line as we felt it had too much orange in it. No doubt the red cloth/leather seats would be cooler (and warmer in the winter, and more grippy, too), but we saved $1000, and we have been fine with the leatherette in the recent unusual heat.

 

We were 98 Fahrenheit here yesterday and the summer has been really hot thus far and no odd smell inside the car that I am aware of.

 

No odd smell here either - just that nice new car smell.

 

Leatherette - strong new car smell. Bit hot, but putting on Ceramic tint helped that alot.

 

No smell here either and it's been DAMN hot. I actually like them more then my brothers leather.

 

There are actually lists of which cars offgas the most if you can believe it. As expected it's usually, but not always, the ones with cheaper interior materials.

 

Yeah, mine can get pretty hot, but haven't noticed any strange smells either. Still enjoying my new car smell here!
I made my own towel seat covers that do a great job! Just bought the supplies to make two for my backseats! I'll post pics later, if you guys want to see.

 

Behave!

 

Who is misbehaving Starman!?!

 

 

LOL *facepalm* there needs to be a facepalm emoticon.

 

I would love to see pics with some instructions, too, if you have time! I'm not crazy about the few I've seen for sale online.

Thanks!

 

Loving the new car smell since May, even in 90+ weather!

 

My Volkswagen with leatherette seats had THE WORST smell to it...it was almost toxic. It slowly went away as the seats were used more, and was pretty much gone 6-8 months later.

 

My Clubman has the Lounge Leather, and I've definitely noticed that its interior smells different from the Leatherette loaner cars I've driven. The leatherette smell seems stronger when the car has been parked in the sun, but it's not awful. But then, I like the smell of Sharpies too . . .

 

Have you considered adding more raw broccoli to your diet?

 

How would this help? By making the car smell farty?

 

I have to agree with you. I was not fond of the "new car" smell. Took a while to dissipate. Just survived the heavy chemical smell from the car and then we bought a Tempur-pedic Mattress. I think I will live with our old stuff for a while!

 

Will do, Madolyn! I'll get my stuff together and take a few pictures tonight.

 

i have a 2012 cooper in florida , no unusual odors it is 3 months old , I WAS A SMOKER IN THE PAST BAKING SODA IN THE CAR KEPT ALL SMELL OUT!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

It won't smell like Leatherette.