Still looking at which options to get. My last 3 cars have had leather and I love the smell, durability and cleanup (have a toddler). I've seen some negative comments on Mini leather, but I've had concerns about cloth b/c most used BMWs I've seen with cloth, the cloth looks awful, and in many cases was threadbare whereas I've had Japanese cars for over 10 years with cloth interior in good shape. I had not really considered leatherette since I have vinyl in my MGB, and it is terribly hot in the summer.

 

Get the best of both worlds and save money while you doing it. Get the Leatherette seating option. Has all the positive attributes of real leather, but it is made of very, very high quality vinyl. Easy to clean, maintain and makes the car look classy. My 2 MINIs have the standard Leatherette and a lot of people think that I sprung up for the real Leather seats...their jaws drop to the floor when I tell them they are seating on plastic seats

I live in hot and humid South Florida so no issues whatsoever with sticky or hot seats under the sun. In fact BMW's Leatherette (Also offered on the $30K BMW 3 series as standard equipment) has thousands of tiny microspic holes in the material to allow it to "breathe".

Our first Cooper has 15K miles and 13 months of use and the seats still look factory fresh. I just took deliver of a new '04 MCS that was also ordered with Sport Leatherette seats and they are fantastic.

Don't waste your money on real leather seats (Questionnable quality) when you can get the next best thing for $0 dollars.

 

>>Still looking at which options to get. My last 3 cars have had leather and I love the smell, durability and cleanup (have a toddler). I've seen some negative comments on Mini leather, but I've had concerns about cloth b/c most used BMWs I've seen with cloth, the cloth looks awful, and in many cases was threadbare whereas I've had Japanese cars for over 10 years with cloth interior in good shape. I had not really considered leatherette since I have vinyl in my MGB, and it is terribly hot in the summer.


I have kids too, and ALL my vehicles have leather. Nothing as ugly as a Wendy's frosty all over your cloth interior. Clean up of leather is one of the reasons I have it, as well as the aroma and resale value.

p.s. I've got leather in my MGs too. Find one pre-1970 for factory hides, or give Moss Motors a call, they can help your MGB.

 

Any difference in quality of leather on sport seats and standard or between the soft leather and the "profile leather?"

 

It seesm to me the Profile leather is the one that generates the less amounts of complaints because it seems the hide material is tougher than the soft leather used in the Cordoba, Emerald and Lapis blue seats.

If I were you I would give the Leatherette a serious look. The MINI's Leatherette is 100 light years away from any other vinyl seat material made during the last 40 years. Comparing the old vinyl seats of an MGB to the leatherette of a MINI/BMW is a poor comparison IMO.


Try both and see which one you like better. I personally think that $1,300 for MINI's leather is an absolute and blatant ripoff.

 

31K with the leatherette and lovin' it!!! (MCS) Only miss the smell of real leather that I enjoyed with my previous cars. Might load the "boot" with leather boots, and then I'll have that covered too!

God speed.

 

Although you only asked about leather or cloth my vote, based on my experience, is also leatherette. I considered leather (dogs so cloth seemed to much pain) and am really happy I got this high grade leatherette. To each their own, but why pay $1,200 extra for leather than threads seem to indicate sag quickly. Just one guy's experience though.

 

I chose leather over leatherette for one feature. The additional adjustable lumbar support. For long drives, having this feature is well worth it. But if it weren't for that, I would have gone for leatherette as the quality was very high.

I also have the profile leather which is great. I love the dimple dots--really goes well with the overall theme. My rubber floor mats have the dots also!

 

Leather at 9,000 miles still looks like new. One of the things I really like about the Mini is the availability of some very high end options not even available on many other comparably priced cars on the market today.

 

>>I chose leather over leatherette for one feature. The additional adjustable lumbar support. For long drives, having this feature is well worth it. But if it weren't for that, I would have gone for leatherette as the quality was very high.
>>
>>I also have the profile leather which is great. I love the dimple dots--really goes well with the overall theme. My rubber floor mats have the dots also!


So you paid $1250 for the Lumbar support ****? That's one expensive piece of hardware!

 

I've offered the following advice to a number of members, both here and on metroplexMINI.org, so some of you might be inclined to think I've got some financial interest in the company I suggest you check out, but that is not the case.

With that on the table I'll simply copy a post I added to a thread last night. Here it is.....edited.

"Before you order the leather I'd check out Classic Soft Trim in your area. You can get leather in your MINI for $1195 in an almost identical blue or maybe you'll find something different!

I'm getting seats done in Med Red and Graphite with perforated leather for breathability. The graphite is the same color as the panther black, the seat pattern is the same as factory. I ordered the black cloth seats and the guys at the leather shop will just take them out. Go to the locations part of their site to see if they have a location near you.

My dealership is taking care of this for me. When the car arrives, they will take it to the leather shop, have the work done and bring it back to the dealership and finish dealer prep and then call me to come pick up my new MINI with custom seats! No cash out of pocket 'cause they are rolling it in with MSRP."

Classic Soft Trim

 

Octane-- I LOVE the look of the profile Leather!!! Saw one in the show room and was floored! But, mine was nearly there with the leatherette... no regrets, but congrats on that great look! I did get the rubber floor matts with the "dots" and they look very cool in my MCS.

God speed.

 

Don't get the leather seats! I made that mistake and am regreting it! The mini leather is very low quality.

 

My leatherette's great!

 

Never having had leather in a vehicle before I have nothing to compare to but I thought the quality of the leather in my Mini was good - also the Cordoba leather and the tan interior looks good with the BRG. I have read some of the comments regarding the quality of the leather - I guess longterm will tell.

 

>>Never having had leather in a vehicle before I have nothing to compare to but I thought the quality of the leather in my Mini was good - also the Cordoba leather and the tan interior looks good with the BRG. I have read some of the comments regarding the quality of the leather - I guess longterm will tell.

I have leather in my 04MCS & had leatherette in my MC. The leather is nice and soft to the touch and it has a very nice scent! The Leatherette is not as soft but it seams more durable to rubs and scrapes etc. Cloth seats are hard to keep clean. It retains pet hair, human hair, lint, etc.. You will also have to shampoo the cloth from time to time to prevent a smelly situation! :smile:

The cloth seats, however, are pretty nice in the MCS red cooper I saw at the dealer yesterday. I think that if you want easier cleanup of spills, go with leatherette or leather. If you want lumbar support and or you are are someone who doesn't mind spending a day cleaning/treating and protecting your car, & have an extra $1300 to spend go with the leather. I'm not a big fan of cloth.

 

I have 7000mi on my MINI w/ profile leather. What can I say but, I'm impressed with it. The leather still looks (and smells) like new and doesn't have that cracked greasy look to it. I like the textured bumps the most, it's very unique and I get nice comments about it all the time.

 

>>>>I chose leather over leatherette for one feature. The additional adjustable lumbar support. For long drives, having this feature is well worth it. But if it weren't for that, I would have gone for leatherette as the quality was very high.
>>>>
>>>>I also have the profile leather which is great. I love the dimple dots--really goes well with the overall theme. My rubber floor mats have the dots also!
>>
>>
>>So you paid $1250 for the Lumbar support ****? That's one expensive piece of hardware!

Yeah and $1,800 for the NAV (LCD TV and DVD player). Heh heh, so I like my expensive toys, but they sure make driving fun!!!!!

 

*OctaneGuy: CUTE, AWESOME KIDO YOU GOT THERE

 

>>*OctaneGuy: CUTE, AWESOME KIDO YOU GOT THERE

Thanks!!! I wish he were mine though! I'm his uncle. But I got one on the way---11 weeks in the tummy as of yesterday!

 

>>Thanks!!! I wish he were mine though! I'm his uncle. But I got one on the way---11 weeks in the tummy as of yesterday!

===>>>Congratulations, OctaneGuy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! 11 weeks?? That's wonderful, dude :smile: ...

 

>>===>>>Congratulations, OctaneGuy!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!! 11 weeks?? That's wonderful, dude :smile: ...

Thanks Erik! The wife is eager to be done with this morning sickness that last all day! You can bet our baby will grow up with one of coolest cars around.

 

Congrats OctaneGuy!

Oh and I'm still using the octane!