BMW shift to cloth seats and red stripe steering wheels

[HampshireUK]

I have been looking around for options for a new car and both the M240i xdrive and M340i xdrive have moved to cloth seats ,with leather an option and have a very cheap looking red stripe on the steering wheel. Good money maker for seats with a price rise and optional leather.

Not having leather isn’t a problem the alcantara seats in my view M135i xdrive are much more supportive, grippier and less impacted by extremes of weather, even if they are heated.

What are people thoughts on the cloth and red stripe

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by HampshireUK

I have been looking around for options for a new car and both the M240i xdrive and M340i xdrive have moved to cloth seats ,with leather an option and have a very cheap looking red stripe on the steering wheel. Good money maker for seats with a price rise and optional leather.

Not having leather isn’t a problem the alcantara seats in my view M135i xdrive are much more supportive, grippier and less impacted but extremes of weather, even if they are heated.

What are people thoughts on the cloth and red stripe

All I see offered here in the US is Sensatec or Vernasca leather for the M240i xdrive and M340i xdrive.

[HampshireUK]

Here is the M340i but M240i is almost identical

[BMWbiker]

All else equal, I’d rather have cloth over vinyl. But cloth isn’t available in the U.S.

I also like leather, which is what I have.

I don’t care either way about the red stripe.

[BobBMWX3]

The seat has a red stripe on one side and the blue on the other. That is matching with their regular color scheming. Though I dont like them being split apart on each side. I would rather have the red and blue stripes next to each other, offset to the right or left side. Probably the right side.

[noemon]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

All I see offered here in the US is Sensatec or Vernasca leather for the M240i xdrive and M340i xdrive.

It's bloody ridiculous British stealers pre-reging cars with zero options.

Very typical so whatever is in stock is crap with only a few good 'uns for a premium.

That's how they play the market across the board.

It's always been the same sort of lacking; with many cars on the street lacking sunroofs, h&k sound systems which is a pretty big step down(audio is effectively worthless) on the lesser models, and now they have added leather on the list of things not to option while pre-reging some hundreds of cars each.

[eliphil]

Cloth ? Talk about going backwards

[heavyD^2]

I love cloth and will always take it over leather. Warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Also ages better than leather or the fake leathers in most cars. As for the red stripe on the steering wheel I don't love it but it's not like BMW is the first to do this as it's the C8 Corvette for example has the same stripe.

[DubaiRich]

Originally Posted by eliphil

Cloth ? Talk about going backwards

...and the price will go up!

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

As for the red stripe on the steering wheel I don't love it but it's not like BMW is the first to do this as it's the C8 Corvette for example has the same stripe.

It would be really cool if the stripe on the steering wheel matched the paint color of the car.

[Germanauto]

Originally Posted by heavyD^2

I love cloth and will always take it over leather. Warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. Also ages better than leather or the fake leathers in most cars. As for the red stripe on the steering wheel I don't love it but it's not like BMW is the first to do this as it's the C8 Corvette for example has the same stripe.

Then go buy an economy car?

Cloth looks and feels terrible.

[Llarry]

My ideal BMW interior would be a nice grade of full leather but with cloth seat inserts. And I like color in my interiors so black or anthracite cloth would not cut it for me.

I suppose if I wanted such an interior I'd need to buy a Porsche 911.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by eliphil

Cloth ? Talk about going backwards

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Then go buy an economy car?

Cloth looks and feels terrible.

[tturedraider]

Originally Posted by Westside Guy

All I see offered here in the US is Sensatec or Vernasca leather for the M240i xdrive and M340i xdrive.

Unfortunately, because of American attitudes, BMWNA will never offer cloth here. Americans would rather have vinyl with a fancy name than cloth.

[heavyD^2]

Double post

[heavyD^2]

Originally Posted by Germanauto

Then go buy an economy car?

Cloth looks and feels terrible.

We agree to disagree. If cloth is so terrible why do so many exotics have Alcantara plastered all over their interiors? Porsche options Alcantara seats on plenty of their vehicles last I heard those aren't economy cars.

[Silence*]

Cloth > Leather all day long. While I love my red leather right now for the looks, I'd much prefer having cloth or alcantara like the Euro cars had the option for. My first E36 had a dove grey cloth interior that I miss to this day.

A shift going back to cloth versus the fake leather these days is a win in my books.