Good morning Mini fanatics :smile:

Now THE final questions. To leather or not to leather, I'm
seriously considering going to Thunderbird (school in AZ), in
two years. So... Does anyone have the lapis blue leather in AZ?
How is it? Bearable? Holding up ok? Here in MI I've survived
with leather for the last 3 years, dig it :smile:

How about the lumbar adjustment, helpful or a waste?

caio,

-Matt

 

The lumbar has been helpful for me. I've had back surgery in the past, so it is a must have. I have seen other posts on this site complaining that the lumbar isn't too useful, but I have found it to be OK. Just my .02. I would not get a car without it.

 

I have had the lapis leather for a year in central Florida and have no problems with wear. My car is under carport at home and in a garage during the day which helps keep the heat index down considerably. I also clean and treat the seats with a leather compound three times a year.

 

I've had my Lapis Leather equipped MCS for a year. To date, I'm pleased with the quality, wear factor and durability of the leather. As far as the lumbar support, I adjusted it once upon arrival, and I have no complaints. It still supports just where it should. I use a little Connely Hide food, and Lexol cleaner from time to time, and it looks like new. If you like leather interiors, its a worthwhile option. I also got my seats with the electric bun warmers. High, medium and off are the only positions, but on a cold morn' or a long trip the heat is welcomed.

 

Hi Matt,

I have the lapis leather and after a year it looks pretty good. It has developed a slight "pucker" in one spot but nothing serious.

As for the lumbar, I must have a strange shaped back because I just could not stand the lumbar support even completely loosened. I have actually opened up the seat back (surprisingly easy) and detached the lumbar springs, easing the support tension further. Now the seats are quite fine even over longer periods.

Good luck with your decision!

Cheers,
OzMini

 

Matt,

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. If you live anywhere near Detroit, Holland, Traverse City or Negaunee I'd check it out. CST has authorized installers in those cities.

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.

 

Key- you just whetted my appetite. Can this leather by turned into other colors? I would be very curious to have an MCS with custom leather- could they match it to the Electric Blue? I didn't see a color for this... This might look very interesting indeed! Hmmmm, something to think about indeed!

With a 3yr/36,000mi warranty, good chance it will be good for a while too!
Yup, I live in Bloomfield Hills, so Detroit is certainly my neck of the woods!

Caio,

-Matt

 

>>Key- you just whetted my appetite. Can this leather by turned into other colors? I would be very curious to have an MCS with custom leather- could they match it to the Electric Blue? I didn't see a color for this... This might look very interesting indeed! Hmmmm, something to think about indeed!
>>
>>With a 3yr/36,000mi warranty, good chance it will be good for a while too!
>>Yup, I live in Bloomfield Hills, so Detroit is certainly my neck of the woods!
>>
>>Caio,
>>
>>-Matt

Matt,

I assume you were addressing me, although you may have mistaken the spelling in the first half of my username. Never the less, I'm not sure I understand your question "Can this leather be turned into other colors?" Perhaps you can explain. If you are interested I suggest you go to the Detroit location and ask to see swatches. The location in Ft. Worth TX where I will have mine done gave me two different chains of swatches. Both have a lot of similar if not exact colors, but some differences too. One was Classic Soft Trim leather and the other a company called Katskinz. If they hesitate to give you the swatches, try your best to talk them into it, even go so far as offering to leave a deposit. They may offer a brochure similar to a paint store color choice pamphet with little 1" x 1/2" samples.

That is not what you want. You want the larger ones, the size of a drink coaster, and you want to take them home. You're going to find you go back and forth between choices, and you'll even want to sit in a MINI to see how the color looks with the trim and door panels.

Keep in mind, if you order cloth in an MCS your interior will be black, which is actually graphite. The Classic Soft Trim Leather 008 Graphite is about exact. I guess if you can order Cordoba Beige cloth you would get beige carpet and trim. I'm also curious if it is possible to order an MCS with MC interior choices as a special order. If that were a possibility I may have ordered a red cloth seat which would have come with a medium red doors, carpet etc. I then would have done red inserts on my leather seats. If you want Lapis blue carpet, doors etc the only choice you have is MINI. Unless you spend a sh*t load on custom carpet and dye for the vinyl. By the way I'm gonna have the oval insert on the doors dyed to match the red leather in my seats.

Bloomfield Hills huh? I lived on a street called High Pointe Court in Bloomfield Hills. Two blocks east of Telegraph off Hickory Grove Road which runs parallel to and is just south of Square Lake. Parents moved us out of there in '76 to Lake Angelus, which is on the southwest corner of 75 and Baldwin. Graduated from Lahser High.

_________________
On the Dock, waitin' for a boat: B/B MCS w/Black interior, custom Leather, 1,2,3, H/K, rain, SSR Comp's w/Yoko's

 

KerMini- Sorry, low on the caffeine! Wow, you were pretty much walking distance
from where I am now (near Aspen Lane / Wilshire- three blocks east of
Telegraph off of Hickory Grove :smile: Yup, I also went to Lahser as well, 1996 was when I departed there.

I'm going to investigate, I'd like to have the colors matched to the electric
blue, might be difficult, but worth a try? Sortof a two-tone match. I think it would look really cool and be something different. I totally agree about perforated leather, makes a difference in the summer indeed! I notice a big difference between my Oldsmobile (no perforation) and Corvette (perforation) in the summer.

I like the lapis leather, but the blue isn't spot on to the Electric Blue,
thats the problem (blues are hard to match). So perhaps they can provide
a light blue that might fit the bill??? I totally agree, I want to go to a dealer
an see how closely the colors match!

Thanks for the info, now I have a side project this weekend :smile:

-Matt

 

IMO Lapis goes better with Indi-Blue than with Electric Blue. Special tanning in Electric Blue, if possible, might be very expensive, as a whole batch of leather would have to be made in that color. Then again, there just might be enough interest to warrant such an expense. Would your seat then be known as the "electric chair"??