My 2006 MCS has leatherette seats and I don't like them. Even in mildly warm weather I stick to the back of the seat. Unfortunately, when I purchased the car the only options were leatherette or leather, which was too expensive for me. I would have much preferred cloth seats. As a side note, I've just order a set of Wet Okoles seat covers to try and alleviate the sticky seat syndrome.
I also find the seats uncomfortable-I'd love an adjustable lumbar.

 

one more thing. When I ordered my bmw, I wanted the lumbar option and I got the same "you have to buy leather". I did a heck of a lot of research, found out what the option number was for lumber support, insisted that the dealer order that option. Dealer kept telling me it didn't exist. Guess what, my ette in the 330 has lumber support!

 

On hot muggy days, the leatherette burns my butt and has me breaking out ito a sweat when I get in the car. This July, in San Diego, we had some of the hottest most humid weather I can remember. I was dreading getting into the MCS for several weeks. I was also wishing I had ordered leather or cloth (but cloth was not available for a short time in early 2006 when I ordered my car)

I have three other cars with leather and they are much cooler than leatherette. But I must state that unless they use the best leather, the seats start to wear and look bad after a few years. The only leather seats in my other cars that still look good after six years are in the Mercedes.

Now that the temp is cooler, the leatherette seems tolerable. Have you considered the cloth seats?

 

so maybe the answer is quality aftermarket leather seats. that makes a girl go hmm......

 

Oh, my ears hurt!



I've had cloth seats and never really liked them for maintenance, even the space-age diver's material. I don't sweat too much unless I'm in the gym or watching my stock. Also, I live in Northern California, where the Devil's breath comes only several days out of the year. I don't mind it so much, even an occassional ruined shorts.

 

Wow.

That is some convo line for leatherette. I was going to either go the new black leather thing or the cloth thing. Cloth is cloth in center and leather where you get the grip from or 'ette where you get the grip from.

What's the big stigma against cloth? Upkeep? I have had 12 year old cars, 2 of them with cloth and all I had to do was... clean them! Like 2x in their lifetime I had them shampoo'd.

I wish I knew if the cloth seats were SOFTER riding than the leatherette. It dawned on me that jarring of bumps might translate more through leatherette.

Also, for the leather person who posted: Are you above 150 lbs considerably? I am just at that weight and 5' 7", my soon to be wife is 5 4 and 118 lbs. Also, did you regularly treat the leather with natural, breathable oils?

I dont think anyone does. First thing should be done with all leather is to use a substance like Doc Marten's shoe balm. Its a very absorbing sort of light grease.

I dont want to be sticky though. so maybe no leather? I wear a lot of odd Gothy/punk attire that already is often made from ill breathing materials.

Yet another dimension to this question: Gothic clothing !

 

my drivers side ette is cracking.

 

Here's my seats

 

Leatherette... the leather is overpriced and the cloth is 'scratchy' on your back... ick...

 

I have the Leatherette Sport seats in my 06 MC PW/B and love them. I have not had the leatherette seats before as I have always had cloth. So far they have been great and offer all the support that I require to be comfortable even on a long ride. They get a little warm on a very sunny day but I got the stratmosphere sunroof shade and that has eliminated the hot seat syndrome as well as helped in keeping the inside much cooler on those days where we hit nearly 100. I guess the only thing I can say is that with the seats if you are going to skip the leather...dont skip on the sport seats as they are well worth it in my opinion

 

IMO, leatherette feels like rubber... And the rear seats look plain.

I'd choose leather or cloth...

 

I'm a fan of leather, but my dealer talked me into the leatherette (after letting me compare samples in the showroom). I haven't regretted it. Yes, it's hot as blazes in the sun, but I knew that going in, and I've had leather seats before that were just as hot. Cloth was not something I would consider, so, all-in-all, my vote is for leatherette. Too bad there's not a better name for it!

 

My 4+ year old Cooper with 98,000+ miles on it has leatherette seats. A slight crack has started to appear on the driver's seat on the side bolsters of the seat bottom.

They are not indestructible.

 

Leatherette here... FWIW- three years and 2 MINIs later, and my friend still argues with me:
friend: "nice leather"
me: "it's not leather"
friend: "nah dude- that's leather"
me: "i paid for it- i would know"
friend: "i'm telling ya- that's leather"
me: "if you say so"

An aside note- To me, the quality of the leatherette has improved from 03 to 06. Am I just imagining things?

 

I got the grey leatherette in my Cooper with the standard seats and I love them. I was concerned about the seats and interior getting too hot because I live in sunny Orlando Florida and I also got the sunroof. I got into my car the other day and it was 103 degrees. Since then I got sunshades for my sunroof that work great.

Yes the seats get hot but only if the sun light is hitting them directly ... hence the sunshades ... otherwise they just get warm. Pay attention to the angle you park your car to prevent the sun from hitting your seat.

I don't have a problem sticking to the seats or sweating in them. In my opinion that depends on 2 factors: 1) whether you have standard seats or sport seats and 2) your body type. I think the sport seats envelop you more, like they should, but cut down on air circulation around your body. They might also retain more heat because they have more mass/padding to them. I also think if you are "bigger" you have a tendancy to sweat more. I hope I don't offend anyone by saying that, I don't mean to. Of course some people sweat no matter what. As I said this is all my unprofessional opinion.

Choosing the leatherette was based on the fact that I did not want cloth and I did not want to pay for leather. My sales person said the same thing that "leatherette doesn't breathe like leather". I think that translates to "I get a bigger commission if you buy leather."

Hope this helps and good luck in your decision.

 

Space Cloth! No stickiness or burning and no extra money!

 

When I bought my 330i, I thought that the quality of the leatherette should be excellent. I admit, no one knows that its vinyl. You still have to clean them a vinyl product ( I chose one from lexol). Despite the care, the seat is still cracking. If you are in an area with seasons leatherette will suit you well. But for so cal, the sun is just too strong! I sweat in my seats and I am a not a "larger" girl. My fiance has the same problem and he is downright skinny! (he hates it when I say that) I almost chose a cloth interior, but a very hairy golden retriever and chocolate lab made that impossible.

 

I have leatherette. It's easy to clean and after a year and a half, still looks like...umm...leather. On hot days, I put a towel on the seating surface so as not to burn my buns....

 

Ya you just get that 'prickly' feeling most of the time!

 

I have the leather, love it..
I use Lexol cleaner and conditioner religiously..
I have some small cracking on the left side but I think it adds to the character of the car. I'm in South FL and I find that cloth is hotter that leather...
Have you see the English leather option...I LOVE THAT..
An English car must have leather IMO...LOL..

 

I do this too, it might look cheesey but it's better than scorching the backs of your legs. I also have the sport seats and find they support me well. I'm 5'5" and the seat support is in just the right place. I have had both leather (03 MCS) and the leatherette in my 06 MCS. I sweat in both seats. If it's hot enough to have the a/c on I don't sweat at all if the car hasn't been parked in the sun. I would agree leatherette is good choice. I use Zaino products to keep everything looking good inside and out.

 

I just did a major interior detail on my MINI yesterday. I have not folded up the back seats in over a year, and they have only been sat in a handful of times, so no wear or sun on them.

The front seats look like the rears, like new. I use Aerospace 303 on them. Poco is an 03 Cooper, with 80k miles on him.

They may be a bit warm in the heat, but with the a/c on I don't have a real problem with them.

Mark

 

The quality of the leather in my '06 is superior to the leather I had in my '02....sturdier and softer. It will stay in great shape if you clean and condition at regular intervals. If you don't....it won't.
I have some back problems and this weekend I made the mistake of driving my wife's 325ix with leatherette & no lumbar support on a three hour trip to Long Island. Afterward, my back was killing me for two days. I needed a chiropractic adjustment and theraputic massage to get it back to normal. Each time I got into her car while wearing shorts the leatherette burned the back of my legs. I've never had to deal with either of these issues in the Mini.

So for me, leather was a no brainer and well worth every dollar.

 

Leatherette wears very well. I have a LY 2002 MC and not one scratch or holes on the seats. Plus, they're comfy...I have the seat warmers and ohh baby!! Cost wise, I'd suggest the leatherette, same look for a lot less.

 

Aerospace 303? I'm probably asking a stupid question, but what is it? A product that I can get locally? Thanks in advance.