How well is your interior holding up?

[Buschy]

ok, I am curious to see how well the current model e9* interiors are holding up compared to milage and use. I think I saw a similar thread but could not find it.
Please post:
1. A picture or more, at least the driver seat bolster which is usually first to show signs of wear.
2. Year, Mileage, Color and use of the car.
3. Maintenence procedures to care for the interior.
4. Windows tinted or not and percentage.
5. Garaged or not.

I am intersted to see all colors as this will help others with there decisions I am sure.
Thanks
Dennis

[apecush]

I'll start, though I have no pictures, just a description.
1. There is some slight wear on the outside bolster on the driver seat. This manifests itself as some beige showing through the silver leather. It is very minor and I plan to use leather dye to bring it back to normal. Otherwise, no obvious leather wear.
2. 27,000 miles, daily driver (bought used 2k miles ago)
3. No idea what the previous owner used, but i just gave the interior a treatment with AutoGlym leather balm
4. No tint
5. Garage kept at home, outside at work.

[h1d]

I had the E46 M3 prior to the E92 M3... All I have to say is that the E46 was made with much better material. It held up so much better then the current version. I have applied the same care as I did with my previous car and this one is falling apart. The wear on the front seats are bad in my opinion. I had 60k on the E46 before I sold it and I am at 30k with the E92. The E92 has more wear at this point then my E46 ever had.

Kinda sucks.

[onnex]

1. Don't have one at the moment, but they're for sure more worn than I was hoping.. as someone else said, Recaros will likely go in once they deteriorate enough.
2. 6000 miles, purchased 5 months ago.
3. Leather protectant every couple weeks.
4. 25% tint all around
5. Garaged.

Originally Posted by buschy

ok, I am curious to see how well the current model e9* interiors are holding up compared to milage and use. I think I saw a similar thread but could not find it.
Please post:
1. A picture or more, at least the driver seat bolster which is usually first to show signs of wear.
2. Mileage and use of the car.
3. Maintenence procedures to care for the interior.
4. Windows tinted or not and percentage.
5. Garaged or not.

I am intersted to see all colors as this will help others with there decisions I am sure.
Thanks
Dennis

[808MGuy]

2. 45k miles. Minimal wear. No scuffing. Just some creases developing on the drivers seat bottom and bolsters.
3. Wipe down every time I wash the car (once a week) with a damp microfiber cloth. Once a month, condition leather with Spinneybeck.
4. 35% tint and regular use of a UVS shade on the windshield while parked outside.
5. Parked outside during the day and garaged at night and on the weekends.

[Malakas]

My car is less than 3 months old, and it already has a wear mark on the driver's side bolster. 30% tint all around. Leather condition once a month (in summer).

I am very surprised to see such premature wear. Im taking pics in case it continues to wear at this rate.

[a burrito]

1. I dont have a picture but both my driver side left bolster and my passenger side right bolsters are starting to deteriorate. Drivers side more than my passenger side. It looks like someone got their nails and scratched the bolster along the edges.
2. 2011 E90. 1 year and 2 months old. 18k miles and it is a part time DD. I use my Range 75% of the time
3. I detail the whole car every 2 weeks. This includes full leather cleaner treatment.
4. huper optik 35% all around. 60% windshield. Limo sunroof.
5. Garaged.

FYI i have FR non extended.

The leather feels nice but is extremely delicate. This is my 5th bmw and none of my past rides have had this problem. All those cars were driven to 50k-120k miles minimum and were beat to death but still no issues with leather cracking or deteriorating.

[radiantm3]

I've had issues with premature wear in previous BMW's. Few things that seem to help is leather conditioner (I usually do it every other month) and trying not to lean against the side bolsters when you get in and out of the car.

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by a burrito

1. I dont have a picture but both my driver side left bolster and my passenger side right bolsters are starting to deteriorate. Drivers side more than my passenger side. It looks like someone got their nails and scratched the bolster along the edges.
2. 2011 E90. 1 year and 2 months old. 18k miles and it is a part time DD. I use my Range 75% of the time
3. I detail the whole car every 2 weeks. This includes full leather cleaner treatment.
4. huper optik 35% all around. 60% windshield. Limo sunroof.
5. Garaged.

FYI i have FR non extended.

The leather feels nice but is extremely delicate. This is my 5th bmw and none of my past rides have had this problem. All those cars were driven to 50k-120k miles minimum and were beat to death but still no issues with leather cracking or deteriorating.

What kind of cleaner and how do you clean it? Doing it that often can actually do more harm than good especially if you're using strong cleaners or rubbing/scrubbing it aggressively. The leather is delicate but that's to be expected with higher end leathers. I had a previous car with Nappa leather and it required similar care. I got too agressive with it as it got older and the wear along the bolsters described by many here started to show.

[a burrito]

Originally Posted by 808MGuy

What kind of cleaner and how do you clean it? Doing it that often can actually do more harm than good especially if you're using strong cleaners or rubbing/scrubbing it aggressively. The leather is delicate but that's to be expected with higher end leathers. I had a previous car with Nappa leather and it required similar care. I got too agressive with it as it got older and the wear along the bolsters described by many here started to show.

I use all leather master products. I like them, the cleaner is water based and the conditioner seems to be a very non abrasive non smelly cream. I use the cleaners VERY sparingly applying them in very little portions when cleaning. Ive been doing this for over 8 years so I know what to do or expect.

I've had nappa leather in my x5 4.8iS but it did not wear like the leather in my M3. I put 120k on that car and the leather looked brand new when i got rid of it. The front seats even had a adjustment feature that would let you move the upper half of the seat (which would create more creases and stretch on the leather) and still no creases or wear.

I think no matter how much "higher end" the leather is, it shouldn't deteriorate in 1 years time. I've read in other threads that some people should really becareful when getting in and out; I think that can be debated. If I was BMW I'd expect the customer to be careless and would put the kind of leather that would take all kind of beating from any type of consumer. Whether it be nappa or not.

[FVM3]

Had my e92 for 3 months, put 8000 miles on it. Never take care of the seats, just use a wet towel to wipe it when i clean the car. Still looks like new and my car is never garaged

[gallian93]

Originally Posted by buschy

ok, I am curious to see how well the current model e9* interiors are holding up compared to milage and use. I think I saw a similar thread but could not find it.
Please post:
1. A picture or more, at least the driver seat bolster which is usually first to show signs of wear.

I think... to be fair ...if people post this pic... there should also be a pic of "Gia-normaity" of their backside... that would determine if BMW is at fault of McDonalds’

[808MGuy]

Originally Posted by a burrito

I think no matter how much "higher end" the leather is, it shouldn't deteriorate in 1 years time. I've read in other threads that some people should really becareful when getting in and out; I think that can be debated. If I was BMW I'd expect the customer to be careless and would put the kind of leather that would take all kind of beating from any type of consumer. Whether it be nappa or not.

The reason I mentioned higher end leather is because it will typically be softer than other leathers so it will be more prone to damage or excess wear. I was just curious abotu your routine since my car is 2 years older, has more than twice the mileage and yet I'm not seeing the same issues as everyone else seems to be. The environment I live in is pretty harsh too so UV does tend to take a toll on interiors here as well but so far, this interior has held up well.

[SchnellM3]

1. Interior is holding up very well. I take anal compulsive to the next level though on getting in and out, as well as briefing passengers. Can't stand when they mark up the door sills with those spike heels

2. 2009 Melbourne and Fox Red

3. I condition it often. Also if I wear jeans I usually put a micofiber towel on the bottom of the seat.

4. 35%

5. She sleeps in the garage

[ES_TRADER]

11k miles and drivers seat bottom is wrinkled like prune...not meant for fat people

[sonnyb]

I condition my leather after anyone sits in any of the seats including me!

[ASGM3]

38K Kms done - the right side bolster in d driver seat is not in that good shape and the gear knob (6MT) . Rest of the interior is holding up well. My car is a DD So for the 3rd year now it seems to be pretty good.

[Time]

Originally Posted by h1d

I had the E46 M3 prior to the E92 M3... All I have to say is that the E46 was made with much better material. It held up so much better then the current version. I have applied the same care as I did with my previous car and this one is falling apart. The wear on the front seats are bad in my opinion. I had 60k on the E46 before I sold it and I am at 30k with the E92. The E92 has more wear at this point then my E46 ever had.

Kinda sucks.

Samething with me, I had a 2004 m3 and in 2006 my friend got an e60 M5. After 4-5 months his e60 interior looked older than my e46, now my e93 int is starting to look kind of crappy

[Grail05]

1. A picture or more, at least the driver seat bolster which is usually first to show signs of wear. SEE BELOW.
2. Year, Mileage, Color and use of the car. 2008 50K, DAILY 3. Maintenence procedures to care for the interior. USE LEXOL ONCE EVERY 3 MONTHS4. Windows tinted or not and percentage. 35%5. Garaged or not. BOTH... GARAGE AT NIGHT OUTSIDE DAYTIME...

THIS IS TAKEN AT 35+K MILES NOT MY CAR GOT 50K AND IT LOOKS THE SAME (SORRY FELT LIKE WHORING MY INTERIOR)

[GIdriver]

Originally Posted by radiantm3

I've had issues with premature wear in previous BMW's. Few things that seem to help is leather conditioner (I usually do it every other month) and trying not to lean against the side bolsters when you get in and out of the car.