Hi everybody. Been lurking (and lusting) on Mini forums for 3 years now, and the time has finally come.

I'm making final spec decisions, and the last piece I haven't nailed down is the interior. I want leather, but I'm not sold on any one option. The factory leather doesn't wow me. The Enlish Leather option feels slightly softer, and I like the tucks, and the look. But I don't really like the gray color. I'm going with anthracite headliner and piano black dash/door. My dealer offers an almost limitless array of custom leather options. I'm leaning towards black with contrast stitching, with smooth leather on the outside and perforated black leather where factory seats have the contrast color.

Here's my question(s).

First of all, to do the custom leather I'd be ordering cloth or leatherette, so the seat would not have the lumbar support. It feels great when you dial it up, but I'm not sure I'd really miss it. I know many of you are on your second or third Mini, so I'd like to hear from some of you who've had seats both with and without lumbar support as to whether it is really "missed" when you don't have it.

Second, other than lumbar, are there any differences at all in the framework underneath? and is the English leather seat the same underneath its skin? (It's gonna be an MCS, so I'm talking sport seats, not the standard Mini seat).

I can't afford everything I want at purchase, so if I opt for custom leather, I can add that at a later date and get the aero kit at delivery, or perhaps spring for the webspokes rather than the s-lites. Factory leather at 1300, custom for 1595, or English for 1700... my final dilemna.

All feedback, opinions and information on the leather options will be greatly appreciated.

 

another q: who's got aftermarket leather and are there any things to watch for or avoid? i've seen some look great, but some sags a lot...?