My wife and I are considering purchasing an '04 Mini... In our minds it unfortunately comes with cloth seats. Does anyone know roughly how much it would run to switch out to leatherette? Should we be this adverse to cloth? Thanks much... Oh yeah, the other option is going ahead with a customized March build!

 

You can always go with custom leather. Around here (TX), it runs about $1200-$1300.

 

Hi Saltydogs,

I have a brand spanking new set of gray & black leatherette seats for sale from our 2005 MCS (they're a perfect match for the space gray ones, but they're leatherette instead). I'm asking $1,000 for all three seats (driver's, passenger's, and back seat). With my seats, you could get brand new leatherette sport seats for less money than what it would cost you to recover the cloth ones you'd be getting. They look totally awesome and are complete with airbags, etc. Only four bolts hold in each of the front seats in and they're very easy to swap out (anyone can do it!). If you're interested, you can see pictures of them here:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=37072

BTW, we had the space gray cloth seats in our first MCS and while I really liked the look and feal of them, I found that they stained VERY easy (the worst stains came from rain dripping into the car when the doors were opened on a rainy day). Thus, for our next MINI, we went with the gray & black leatherette ones instead.

 

When it comes to MINIs, you have to go with what you personally like. For me (and where I live) the cloth seats are super. Love it...I'd order it again tomorrow. Unless you've really had a bad experience with cloth, don't worry about it. I wouldn't have anything else.

 

I've had the cloth for the poast 2.5yrs, and wouldn't have it any other way. I hate leather. Cold in the winter and damn hot in the summer. Then there's the wear, tear, creases and cracks that occur after awhile which makes it look like crrrap. I've come across some spills and such, but there's tons of cleaning products out there that you can buy instead of getting it professionally done. My seats look brand new and they've had their share of spills on them. While leather may be easier to clean up messes, I think they have more cons than the cloth. But that's just my opinion, and why I chose cloth. Depends on what YOU want and like.
Cheers,

 

We have a cooper with cloth LOVE IT, we also have an S with half leather half cloth LOVE IT MORE ! Personally Idont like sitting on vinyl ( leatherette ) and reall leather doesnt wear all that well.

 

Talk to an auto upholstery shop and find out your options for redoing the seats at some point. Check out the materials and labor cost.

The cloth is fine, just wear it out and re-cover the seats when ready. Pick a material you are happy with. Go custom!

If you want leatherette then the MINI seats offered by theOfficeMaven sounds worth checking out.

 

Its definately personal choice. My MINI unfortunately (for me) came with leatherette and I desperately want the cloth. My first MINI had cloth and I just prefer it. I'd swap my leatherette seats for cloth ones in a second (and have gone so far as to contact salvage yards in search of cloth seats).

 

I ordered cloth deliberately and love it. It looks great and doesn't get hot and sticky in the Vegas summer.

 

03 MC with cloth seats. No stains, no tears, no problems. It's a personal choice. Go with what you want most - be sure to try a car with both leatherette and cloth seats before you make up your minds.

 

I ordered cloth, too. Doesn't get hot and sticky in the Sacramento summer and doesn't get cold and clammy in the winter, either.

My wife tells me I should have ordered heated seats, though. Don't miss 'em myself, but she likes toasty buns! (And they're a bargain.)

 

Another vote for cloth! Personally, I like the fact that cloth can "breathe". I didn't think leatherette would work in Florida and on a convertible. I didn't want to "stick" to the seat!!

I wanted to try leather, but I just couldn't get past the dollar amount. I've also very poor things about MINI leather.

It really is a personal choice. I'd rather have my MINI built for me than buy a used one, but that's just me. Go with what you want and what you love . . . it's your MINI afterall!!

You'll have fun either way!!

 

I have leather, but had I bought new I would have gotten cloth. Other than the hot/cold mentions above, if you place anything in the back seat (or passenger seat, for that matter) it will slide around mercilessly on the smooth surface. Call me lazy, but I don't want to have to open the boot and tuck things away back there.

 

I love the cloth too! I specifically ordered it, knowing it would be more grippy when taking turns at nauseating speeds

 

Hmm... I was just checking the MINI configurator, no option for black cloth, well, that sucks

Doug

 

cloth to vinyl(pretty much what leatherette is). It's warmer on cool days and cooler on warmer days.

 

For 2005, black cloth is only available on the MC standard seats (Octagon Panther Black Cloth), which is what I have. I really like the cloth as it's a nice black-on-black pattern. And even though I do find the standard seats comfortable, I wish I had gotten the sports seats. I'm happy with the cloth, but if I was ordering now, I'd probably go with sports leatherette. The only reason I'd choose leatherette over the cloth is for ease of maintenance and not for looks, as the the space cloth on the sports seats is very nice.

 

Thanks all for the great imput. Exactly the feedback I was hoping for! Ohhh and now to decide whether to go for this used 04 or go new to spec

 

My wife and I have an 03 MC and an 05 MCS. I think the 05 has been improved enough that you should really consider ordering one. The good news is... no matter which way you end up going, you'll have a MINI! :smile:

 

Sorry cloth seat lovers, but to me cloth seats are nasty! Yuck!

I hate carpets, rugs and cloth furniture. The dust/dirt gets trapped and embedded in the fabric of these time of seats and more so in a car environment.

Body sweat and odors get also caught in fabric seats.

After owning 2 MINIs with leatherette and the new '05 MCS also with leatherette, obviously I will never ever get back to cloth upholstery.

When something accidentally spills on fabric seats, good luck to you cleaning up the stain and getting the smell out.

Leatherette, on the other hand, looks classy, it is a very high quality material that is comfortable on any climate. I live in hot and humid South Florida and have never had a problem with my leatherette seats.

Forget about all your memories about vinyl seats from American cars in the 50's, 60's and 70's. The vinyl used in cars of that era was discustingly smelly, shiny and hot and sticky in hot weather. Those problems are non-existing with the current Leatherette seats.

And best of all, for 2005 you have a choice of Panther Black leatherette or Gray (Black and Gray 2 tone) leatherette seats. And both choices cost $0.

Leatherette is the upholstery to have in a MINI.

 

Sorry cloth seat lovers, but to me cloth seats are nasty! Yuck!

I hate carpets, rugs and cloth furniture. The dust/dirt gets trapped and embedded in the fabric of these type of seats and more so in a car environment. This is a place where allergies start!

Body sweat and odors get also caught in fabric seats and they get smelly over time.

After owning 2 MINIs with leatherette and the new '05 MCS also with leatherette, obviously I will never ever get back to cloth upholstery.

When something accidentally spills on fabric seats, good luck to you cleaning up the stain and getting the smell out.

Leatherette, on the other hand, looks classy, it is a very high quality material that is comfortable on any climate. I live in hot and humid South Florida and have never had a problem with my leatherette seats.

Forget about all your memories about vinyl seats from American cars in the 50's, 60's and 70's. The vinyl used in cars of that era was discustingly smelly, shiny and hot and sticky in hot weather. Those problems are non-existing with the current Leatherette seats.

And best of all, for 2005 you have a choice of Panther Black leatherette or Gray (Black and Gray 2 tone) leatherette seats. And both choices cost $0.

Leatherette is the upholstery to have in a MINI.

 

If you're interested--and your cloth seats are in PERFECT condition--I would trade you the panther black leatherette's from my 05. I wanted cloth, but my car came with leatherette off the lot. Let me know. If you are in So. Cal. we could swap them out in an afternoon.

 

I ordered cloth. Leatherette is too slippery for spirited driving and the cloth in the MINI is superior to any other cloth I've had before.

 

I have a 05 with the half leather, black with red, and they're great. I'd order the same if I had to do it over again.