[EXE46]

Update: I will be closing on the Portimao Blue M340i tomorrow, thanks all for the insight.

[530iDriver]

SensaTec for me as well. Have it in my G30 530i and could not be happier. Easy to clean and maintain. I have to say automotive leather is overrated!.

[kalien34]

Originally Posted by EXE46

Update: I will be closing on the Portimao Blue M340i tomorrow, thanks all for the insight.

Wise choice!

[Fuller]

Originally Posted by EXE46

Update: I will be closing on the Portimao Blue M340i tomorrow, thanks all for the insight.

Congrats! Enjoy your new car.

[EXE46]

I just got a notification from this thread and realized I never updated it. I forgot to mention I had cancelled that deal a day or two later at the time because dealer was dragging their feet. Furthermore, I had also come across a much better deal. This is how I ended up with the AW M340i, which has been a great car sans the color. AW shows dirt like no other and therefore I would never choose this color again. Also, this car was optioned with leather and the 19" wheels so I never got to experience Sensatech.

[KoenG]

Had 2 sensatecs and 2 dakota's.

The sensatec feels actually softer, but both of my cars had the drivers' seat left leg bolster torn after ~75000 miles (sport seats). I presume that this is because of the torture they have to endure when you get in/out your car? For the rest, it remained like brandnew for the 100k miles I did with them and experienced no different experience on sweating/breathing actually.

[KoenG]

Originally Posted by EXE46

Update: I will be closing on the Portimao Blue M340i tomorrow, thanks all for the insight.

Congratulations. The M340i is a car on which the portimao looks a perfect match. Another mineral grey is also nice, but not doing justice to the special machine it really is!

[gofast182]

The Sensatec in my new PB M340i feels great and has fooled people who have sat in the car. As long as it doesn't cause any more perspiration than normal during summer months, it seems like a win-win.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by gofast182

The Sensatec in my new PB M340i feels great and has fooled people who have sat in the car. As long as it doesn't cause any more perspiration than normal during summer months, it seems like a win-win.

It doesn't cause any added heat or perspiration. It is a fantastic material and has made me question the "Need" to spend thousands on plasticized leather upholstery.

[A6bullet]

Chiming in, even the sales people who were there when I test drove a base 330 thought Sensatec was leather!

[Cortexiphan]

I don't know, I drove one M340i with sansatac and one with leather. I could clearly tell leather felt and looked better. (Well maybe it depends on how you define 'better'.. More luxurious, more 'posh' if you're Brit) Actually, I didn't even know why the second one I drove felt a bit cheaper inside, I've realized it was sensatec just when I was leaving... I'd be very interested in alacantra one though, if they brought it to US.

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by Nabzpv

I am really, really happy with VL in my M340i, and decided to never do sensa tech due to the poor breathability (had it in a 2013 f30). For a frame of reference, I had Nappa (sp?) in my 2016 535i and genuinely disliked it—I might even prefer sensa tech over those! I don’t know what the popular opinion

Finally, I’d personally go with grey. Obviously totally subjective, but that would be the understated option between the two.

We are exact opposites. I had Dakota in my prior car and hated it. I have Nappa now and love it and would never go back.

So...what's the lesson? Different folks react differently to external inputs. Go ahead and solicit advice in a forum such as this one but remember that folks are very different from each other and therefore from you and you are the only one that matters (when it comes to your purchase or lease).

[Longdoggy]

Having owned three BMW's, one with sensatec and two with leather, I vote leather all the way. Just feels and smells better. Won't lie, sensatec is very durable and looks good from a distance, but you can tell the leather is of higher quality once you get into it a bit.

[Benjamin_Nicholas]

Leather.

The sensa looks cheap and wears nowhere near as well as cared for leather.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by Benjamin_Nicholas

Leather.

The sensa looks cheap and wears nowhere near as well as cared for leather.

Respectfully, I see it differently.

[premier3is]

Originally Posted by Benjamin_Nicholas

Leather.

The sensa looks cheap and wears nowhere near as well as cared for leather.

Looks cheap?? Disagree, everyone that's been in my car with SensaTec immediately thought it was leather till I said it's leatherette...

[hans007]

i have whateve Audi leather is currently. have sat in a bunch of leather BMWs and sensatec in my previous f30.

really can't tell at this level of leather. nappa or Merino or something is noticeable but dakote/vernasca its very hard to tell. even in Dakota car the seat backs and door cards and seat edges might be sensatec.


I do with the door covers got stitching on them on the G20 but I feel like it's not much if any difference with this grade of leather.

[NewM3driver]

The sensaTech looks fine and wears better than leather.... but BMW plays games and won't let you get heated rear seats and a few other options unless you go for the leather. Total bull shit.

[EddieA1]

I've always owned leather in my Bmw's. As I always thought that's the route to take with premium German luxury autos, but to my surprise, the current generation Sensatec is much improved from prior versions. This generation feels supple, soft and substantial, and it can take a beating without appearing worn, creased, but, better yet, they are satisfyingly grippy, kind of like alcantara. They really hold your bum and torso in place when hard cornering. Unlike leather which gets slick/kinda glossy over time and tends to cause sliding everywhere under spirited driving, not to mention the wear and tear evident in creasing, scratches and the ever present ass indent on seat pan, not to mention the slick l, kinda slimy appearance of patined leather (which can look gross with time). Aside from the matte appearance, and uniform graining, the Sensatec can easily be mistaken for leather. I love them and may never go back to leather as each succeeding generation of Sensatec has gotten much more better. Once again, I love the matte appearance and grippy feel of them. The hand feel feels really premium. So very happy I got them. They just always look brand new and durable. Lastly, the door panels lack the stitching embellishment, which augments the cars minimalist, ultra modern appearance. That looks really cool. Once again, I love it all around. Btw, I had the option and dollars to get leather but passed for the reasons above and I haven't looked back. Although, I wish it had contrast stitching, I think that looks cool, but whatever that's BMWs stupid segmenting philosophy.

[530iDriver]

Originally Posted by EddieA1

I've always owned leather in my Bmw's. As I always thought that's the route to take with premium German luxury autos, but to my surprise, the current generation Sensatec is much improved from prior versions. This generation feels supple, soft and substantial, and it can take a beating without appearing worn, creased, but, better yet, they are satisfyingly grippy, kind of like alcantara. They really hold your bum and torso in place when hard cornering. Unlike leather which gets slick/kinda glossy over time and tends to cause sliding everywhere under spirited driving, not to mention the wear and tear evident in creasing, scratches and the ever present ass indent on seat pan, not to mention the slick l, kinda slimy appearance of patined leather (which can look gross with time). Aside from the matte appearance, and uniform graining, the Sensatec can easily be mistaken for leather. I love them and may never go back to leather as each succeeding generation of Sensatec has gotten much more better. Once again, I love the matte appearance and grippy feel of them. The hand feel feels really premium. So very happy I got them. They just always look brand new and durable. Lastly, the door panels lack the stitching embellishment, which augments the cars minimalist, ultra modern appearance. That looks really cool. Once again, I love it all around. Btw, I had the option and dollars to get leather but passed for the reasons above and I haven't looked back. Although, I wish it had contrast stitching, I think that looks cool, but whatever that's BMWs stupid segmenting philosophy.

Amen brother!

[TheRetroGuy]

My primary reason for Vernasca Leather over Sensatec wasn't related as much to the feel of the material (I've found modern synthetic leather to be soft and durable, in some cases superior to the feel of leather).

For me it was more about appearance. Contrast stitching, and the impact it has overall on how the interior looks (door panels, center console, headrests, door panels, seating surfaces, etc.) is the main reason. To see an example of impact on interior apperance, go to the BMW config website and switch back and forth between Sensatec and Vernasca contrast options several times. Like all preferences it's subjective but I love the stitched look.

I always go for black interiors and I guess that's where it mainly pays off. If I wanted white interior or had other concerns about the surfaces getting discolored and so forth, it might have affected my decision.

[alpinewhite3]

5,000 miles and a hot NC summer update :

Pros:
-sensatec is so soft compared to my old Dakota leather. I’m assuming vernasaca is close to Dakota. Sensatec feels more like fake nappa than fake Dakota
-since it’s so soft, seats seem more comfortable
-easy to clean and wipe down
-nobody can tell it’s not leather...my wife still thinks it’s leather

Cons:
-this is the first time I’ve gotten a car without leather and my back did feel sweaty on some of the hotter summer days which has never happened before
-does offgas a bit for the first month or so. Can still smell subtle vinyl smell but mostly gone now.

In conclusion, if I had to do it all over again, if it was between sensatec and Dakota type leather, I would choose sensatec. Better overall. Dakota was not worth the money. That being said , i would pay the extra $ for nappa if available.