I know that the cars are supposedly exactly the same save 6 inches and 2 doors, but are the seats really the same?

I just bought my Mini and it's being made right now, but I'm unhappy with the seat that I got (cloth). I'm looking at buying some from http://www.leatherseats.com/shop/lea...%20S&year=2014, but that's for the F56.

Thoughts?

 

What don't you like about the seats. Reupholster is common.

If you go to realoem.com you can compare the part numbers.

Let's see...
It looks like some parts are the same and some are different.

F56
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...84&hg=52&fg=10
(these are seat parts, not whole assemblies)
52107389109
52107389126
52107340245

F55
52107389109
52107414996
52107344585

More important would be the frames.
Those have the same numbers.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...88&hg=52&fg=10
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...88&hg=52&fg=10

But some different numbers on the seat backs.
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...89&hg=52&fg=10
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...89&hg=52&fg=10

And the rear frame is all different.

 

So it looks like I'll have to use ones specifically made for the F55 then. Thanks!

And to answer your question, I'd just prefer leather over cloth. I put in the order and then unfortunately changed my mind afterwards.

 

Obviously the F56 seats flip forward for access to the rear, and the F55 seats do not. Perhaps that is the difference in the seat backs you noted from the part numbers.

 

Wow - that is quite an interesting company you linked to. They have an installation video showing a Ram bucket seat being recovered in real time - the guy does it from start to finish in 20 minutes and it looks fantastic.

The online sales tool allows you to spec some pretty amazing seat covers - contrasting inserts and piping and stitching.

Anyone have any experience with these guys?

 

If you got the Black Pearl seats you may be pleasantly surprised. They are really very good. I will have them for a long time before I decide to cover them. Your link is a good one though.

 

I haven't used them myself (yet), but leatherseats.com seems pretty favorable with the NSX crowd. Recovering NSX seats is a bit different because they recline but the seat and back don't separate, but people seem to be happy with how this place's kits work out. One thing to watch for on Mini seats is that the airbags are built into the seats, so you don't want something that'll compromise deployment.