Leather or Vinyl?

[Jparkr]

I want opinions! Benifits and Cons. your experiences... my mom is helping me reapolster my sportseats, i have the color ideas but which material should i use? Go...

[erik325i]

I prefer leather. Vinyl seems too cheap for me.

-Erik

[Jparkr]

yeah but its too expensive for me to cover 3 seats in all leather right now, maybe leather bolsters with vinyl seats?

[KenC]

I'd do vinyl bolsters if you're going to do any vinyl. It pretty much doesnt wear out and the bolsters see the most 'action'.

[MrK]

I say save up and go all-out leather. vinyl just doesn't do the e30 justice.

[Dave]

I had leather in my cabrio. The stitching was coming apart on some of the bolsters, and I replaced them for a while with vinyl sports in better shape.

I slid on the vinyl (but not the leather). The Vinyl made my back and legs get sweaty in the summer, unlike the leather. And it brought back memories of my parents 1977 Mercury Comet.

I now have cloth sports in my 325i. I'd do cloth if I couldn;t do leather. Vinyl is teh suck.

[Mastrcruse]

Not tryin to jack the thread but I am in the same boat. I am looking at $900 dollar sparco's and they are vinyl w/ suede and the leather ones are 1300 a seat so what about suede? would that make you sweat a lot also. Should I just save up for the leathers also?

[Jparkr]

hmm, ok thanks, i didnt get as many opinions as i hoped but i went with vinyl, mainly because of the price and the durability but i got a thick vinyl that looks and feels like leather. 5 yards in all and my mom is sewing. i think it will come out great for her and i seeing as how we are first timing this project. ill send before and after pictures when the first seat is complete.


Mastrcruse, i would save up, its only 400 more dollars for such a better quality seat. thats just me though. As for the suede, my buddy re-did his 1974 jaguar in black suede and he loved it and it hasent worn out yet, its been about 2 years of daily driving. its all up to you though

[AdironRider]

Vinyl seats can have 200k and look ten times better than most leather seats out there.

[delatlanta1281]

Vinyl seats can have 200k and look ten times better than most leather seats out there.

+1
You have to take care of the leather. I switched to vinyl 318 sport seats and have had no problems, armour all once a month quick wipe down and go. My friend re leathered his seats at the same time almost and they are showing wear after a year and a half. I would go with vinyl. maybe with clothe inserts, that's what I am gonna do.

[Mastrcruse]

I was thinking about cloth or even full suede (just a thought) because I was told vinyl is really sticky and I am going to have the top down so I might run into a problem there.

[Purdue89E30]

I have vinyl and i really like it, it's clean, holds up 1000x better than leather, easy to care for, and i think the black perforated vinyl looks great.

[318i1985]

I'm thinking of doing vinyl bolsters with cloth centers personally.

[browntown]

got to drive my bud's 06 audi s4 with alcantara recaro's this weekend, was worried about the suede, but damn it was comfy and looks mighty nice too. I know it's expensive for us, but was surprised to learn it was a zero cost option over the regular leather recaros.

[BDSax]

i just got 2 hides of leather (about 39 square feet each) for alittle over $200. its a nice dark grey. going to be doing my seats soon, cant wait. got it through a seller on ebay. their email is kysonleather@yahoo.com , very nice people