Hello everyone! I'm new here and I've had a question puzzling me for some time now. Should I order with leather seats or synthetic seats. I've previously owned a MINI with synthetic seats and I wanted to know if it was worth the $1,500 upgrade to leather!
Thanks!! 😃

 

Real leather breathes. However, I don't know how deep the leather goes on the F56, and what is under it. My 2007 MCSm R56 had "lounge leather," which wore through at the piping, exposing the real stuff beneath; MINI replaced the seat skin, but it was a disappointment anyway.

On the R56, the only way to get the lumbar-adjustable backrest was to buy leather. So I went for the leather-cloth on my 2011 MCSm. I got a steer hide at Ikea, which I use as a seat cover.

I see that the F56 has a leatherette-cloth option, which is what I would get, if the lumbar support is included. The leatherette bolsters should last very well, and the cloth seating surface should breathe, giving the best combination. I would NOT get all-leatherette because I sweat

 

If the leatherette is perforated, it won't be too bad -- can't tell from the pictures. Leatherette may be more durable and maintenance free than leather depending on the quality.

 

After living with leather seats in my Lexus and hating them I ordered my Mini with cloth seats. I have never regretted it.

 

"leather" may only consist of the inner portion of the seat being leather, with the sides being fake... or only some portion of the seat containing some leather. (think mine are this way, not too happy when i found out)

somehow, manufacturers are able to call a seat that is only 50%? (or less, who knows) leather "leather seats"... "oh, theres a 1 square inch swatch of leather on this seat. its leather! thats $1500 please!"

id want to see it / feel it before i plopped down that kind of cash.

 

You guys get different seat options to us Yurpeens (the killing of those cute little leatherettes isn't allowed here, for example) but one thing apparent here is that we can't get non-leather sports seats any more on the F56. Previously the bigger bolsters on sports seats were available as an option on basic cloth seats, but that seems to have been stopped on the F56.

So don't assume F56 seat options are the same as they were on R56s.

 

Here's my .02 regarding interiors: it's hard to tell what they look like on the configurator. That's why I'm waiting until a dealer has some I can look at before I order. Same with seating options, it's pretty hard to tell on a screen. Different lighting makes it look different.

 

If you have children please do yourself a favor and get black leather. The cloth are hard to clean when they spill anything on them.

 

How about going with one of the two cloth options for about half the cost. You had a Mini with plastic seats sounds like it worked ok. Like the r56, some kind of a seat upgrade is necessary to get a lumbar.

 

If it was me I would go cloth.. Done the leather..its nice but cloth is the route I went this time when I ordered my 2013 MINI. After having both I would order cloth again. Good luck!

 

I have never liked cloth or synthetic leather seats. I have always preferred leather. I like the feel and rich appearance of leather. So I went with punch leather dark truffle seating. I'm driving up to my dealer at noon to see my new MINI and I'll report back later my impressions of the seats and the leather material.

 

Don't waste your money, stick to synthetic it won't show its age.

 

I sat in both today....The leather is not worth the upgrade in my opinion. The leatherette is very nice and comfortable.

 

I personally prefer the leather. The new leather seats are exceptional IMO. I'm glad I went with the leather option. There is a strip of Alcantera on the sides. Nice touch IMO. Here's a (partial shot)photo of my MINI which sits at the dealer until 4/15.

 

Depending upon where you live, heated seats are nice - i don't know which options allow heated seats.

 

I was able to configure heated seats with any covering. Cloth/leatherette/leather.

 

I didn't pay enough attention to the interior when we ordered and was trying to keep the already climbing price down. So we took the leatherette. I regret it. I would have liked cloth better OR the leather. It is common for sides to be something other than leather as it is usually more durable. As long as the seating surfaces are leather, I would be ok with that. Ours does not breath and bare legs stick to it and sweat on the mildest of days.

 

Nice info about leather seats that may not be all leather!

People expect all leather surfaces and thick quality leather, too

 

Key word is leather "SEATING" surfaces. Probably the bottom cushion and back cushion.

 

Few cars have had all leather seats in the recent past. I wouldnt be surprised if an Aston Marten, Rolls etc have all leather seats, but BMW, Mercedes, Volvo etc have been doing leather seating surfaces for many years. BMW leather is fantastic. My wife is on her 3rd 3 series, and the leather just seems to last forever. (She had one car for 15 years and the leather was flawless)

The leather on my MINI is thinner than her leather, but has worn great in the last 4 years. I actually got a crack in the non leather part on the side of the seat after 3 years, and the dealer replaced the entire lower seat cover.

If the leather on the new MINIs is of typical BMW quality, it should last for a very long time without cracking and be easy to care for. I am not sure about the ease of cleaning of the cloth or alcantera surfaces though.

 

Alcantara is pretty easy to clean if you know how to do it. My '03 Cobra had Alcantara seats. I still have the cleaning instructions direct from Alcantara in Italy.