Black Interior

lumbergh · 11-13-2005, 08:55 AM

I just bought a 325i with a black leather interior. Normally I would never have bought a car with black interior but I think it looks great especially with the wood trim breaking it up a some and complimenting it.

I had a C5 (1999) Corvette with black interior that cracked up and became quickly worn looking in areas, which is the reason I didn't like black interiors, plus they get dirty easliy. Of course I'm comparing a GM product to a BMW product ,and the quality seems much different.

So far it's been easier than expected to keep clean and looks great! Has anyone had any problems with they're black interior becoming worn or faded looking in areas (steering wheel, armrests, seats, etc)

I do spend a lot of time in the car commuting to work, a little over 2 hrs per day.

shutterbug · 11-13-2005, 09:00 AM

I'm curious about this, too. Especially those with the (black) sports seats and the side bolsters, as my experience with these types of seats is that the bolsters start to wear out first. Anyone seeing any cracking in this area?

roburado · 11-13-2005, 09:40 AM

My buddy has a 2002 325Ci with black leather. No such problems. His previous car was a 2002 325Ci (which was totalled, so he bought nearly the exact same car as a replacement) which likewise didn't have those problems. The edges of the side bolsters in the "older" car were a little worn/abraded. I don't think that has anything to do with the leather, because the "new" car doesn't have those problems. Maybe, the "older" car suffered more abuse.

My father has had grey leather in his 1990 E34 535i. I read on the Roadfly.org detailing forum that grey leather is more prone to cracking than black due to the process used to make it. He had none of those problems. So, you should be fine as long as you take care of it (i.e., try to protect it from the sun, clean, condition, etc.)

Oh yeah...and one more thing, my father's E28 535is had black leather interior and sport seats. No such problems.

My Passat has black leather. No such problems.

db17k · 11-13-2005, 10:13 AM

do you guys sometimes feel claustraphobic with black interior? or anything to that effect?

indianboy821 · 11-13-2005, 10:37 AM

On my previous car (x3 with grey leather) i also noticed that the sport seats bolsters started to get worn. I am starting to notice the same with my 330. I guess it is gonna happen at some point or another given everytime you get in the car you rub on the bolster. Besides that i notice no other wear!

lumbergh · 11-13-2005, 01:33 PM

I don't have the sport seats so the bolster may not be a problem. The leather does feel solid and thick unlike some other cars I've seen with cracking.

As to feeling Claustrarphobic, not at all. If I ordered the car before really seeing the interior I never would have gotten black. My vette was very dark because every single thing was black but after seeing the interiors, black, grey, terra, and driving this one for a month now, I think it looks great. It's a very vibrant black, if that makes sense. The wood really breaks it up too so that it's not so monochromatic. I really like this interior and will be happy if it stays looking new. I do use sunshades on the windshield when it is parked outside. My vette was often parked with the top off. This probably contributed to the wear on it.

jss · 11-13-2005, 04:32 PM

My car is too new to get a handle on wear but on the claustrophobic question I can say I definitely don't feel that way at all. The sunroof, the wood trim and the grey head liner help break up the interior and I think make black a great interior choice. Before seeing it I was worried that it was too dark but now that I have it, I love it.

-Scott

David328M-Sport · 11-13-2005, 04:35 PM

my car has black interior, walnut trim and a sunroof with the cover opened 99.9% of the time. What a wonderful feeling to be in the car anytime.

SpeedFreak! · 11-13-2005, 04:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by lumbergh

I just bought a 325i with a black leather interior. Normally I would never have bought a car with black interior but I think it looks great especially with the wood trim breaking it up a some and complimenting it.

I had a C5 (1999) Corvette with black interior that cracked up and became quickly worn looking in areas, which is the reason I didn't like black interiors, plus they get dirty easliy. Of course I'm comparing a GM product to a BMW product ,and the quality seems much different.

So far it's been easier than expected to keep clean and looks great! Has anyone had any problems with they're black interior becoming worn or faded looking in areas (steering wheel, armrests, seats, etc)

I do spend a lot of time in the car commuting to work, a little over 2 hrs per day.

Both of my BMW's have black int... as long as you keep them up... feed the leather (condition it) and clean it regularly... you will be perfectly fine. You'll enjoy many years and many miles of great looks.

SCA · 11-13-2005, 04:47 PM

Out of the E90 choices I prefer either black or Terra (black carpet). My reasoning...tan/biege and gray gets dirty fairly easily, especially the carpets. I had an E36 with gray interior and it was a PITA to keep it clean. I spent some time this afternoon cleaning out a 745iL with beige interior...what a mess and sadly it was spotless yesterday afternoon. :mad:

11-13-2005, 08:55 AM	#1
lumbergh Private 2 Rep 54 Posts Drives: BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	Black Interior I just bought a 325i with a black leather interior. Normally I would never have bought a car with black interior but I think it looks great especially with the wood trim breaking it up a some and complimenting it. I had a C5 (1999) Corvette with black interior that cracked up and became quickly worn looking in areas, which is the reason I didn't like black interiors, plus they get dirty easliy. Of course I'm comparing a GM product to a BMW product ,and the quality seems much different. So far it's been easier than expected to keep clean and looks great! Has anyone had any problems with they're black interior becoming worn or faded looking in areas (steering wheel, armrests, seats, etc) I do spend a lot of time in the car commuting to work, a little over 2 hrs per day.
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11-13-2005, 09:00 AM	#2
shutterbug Private 18 Rep 61 Posts Drives: 330xi Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NJ iTrader: (1)	I'm curious about this, too. Especially those with the (black) sports seats and the side bolsters, as my experience with these types of seats is that the bolsters start to wear out first. Anyone seeing any cracking in this area?
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11-13-2005, 09:40 AM	#3
roburado Lieutenant 36 Rep 446 Posts Drives: '03 Passat, '09 Cayman S Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: Troy, MI iTrader: (0) Garage List 1991 318is [0.00]	My buddy has a 2002 325Ci with black leather. No such problems. His previous car was a 2002 325Ci (which was totalled, so he bought nearly the exact same car as a replacement) which likewise didn't have those problems. The edges of the side bolsters in the "older" car were a little worn/abraded. I don't think that has anything to do with the leather, because the "new" car doesn't have those problems. Maybe, the "older" car suffered more abuse. My father has had grey leather in his 1990 E34 535i. I read on the Roadfly.org detailing forum that grey leather is more prone to cracking than black due to the process used to make it. He had none of those problems. So, you should be fine as long as you take care of it (i.e., try to protect it from the sun, clean, condition, etc.) Oh yeah...and one more thing, my father's E28 535is had black leather interior and sport seats. No such problems. My Passat has black leather. No such problems. __________________ E30 1991 318is, Red on Black Leatherette Family History: Two E21 320i, One E28 535is, One E34 535i, One E34 540i
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11-13-2005, 10:13 AM	#4
db17k Chicketeh china the chinese chicken, you have? 34 Rep 790 Posts Drives: 335ci hold out Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: San Francisco iTrader: (0) Garage List 2003 S2000 [0.00]	do you guys sometimes feel claustraphobic with black interior? or anything to that effect? __________________ "In Soviet Russia car forks you!"
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11-13-2005, 10:37 AM	#5
indianboy821 New Member 2 Rep 27 Posts Drives: Two '06 330i's Join Date: May 2005 Location: Ellicott City, MD/ Scottsdale, AZ iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00] 2003 330i [0.00]	On my previous car (x3 with grey leather) i also noticed that the sport seats bolsters started to get worn. I am starting to notice the same with my 330. I guess it is gonna happen at some point or another given everytime you get in the car you rub on the bolster. Besides that i notice no other wear! __________________ 2006 BMW 330i-Sparkling Graphite-Black Dakota Leather-Steptronic-Premium Package-Sport Package-Cold Weather Package-Navigation/I-Drive-PDC-Power Sunshades-Harwired V-1-20% Tint and 2006 BMW 330i-Black Sapphire-Black Dakota Leather-Steptronic-Premium Package-Sport Package-Cold Weather Package-Navigation/I-Drive-PDC-20% Tint
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11-13-2005, 01:33 PM	#6
lumbergh Private 2 Rep 54 Posts Drives: BMW 325i Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: TX iTrader: (0)	I don't have the sport seats so the bolster may not be a problem. The leather does feel solid and thick unlike some other cars I've seen with cracking. As to feeling Claustrarphobic, not at all. If I ordered the car before really seeing the interior I never would have gotten black. My vette was very dark because every single thing was black but after seeing the interiors, black, grey, terra, and driving this one for a month now, I think it looks great. It's a very vibrant black, if that makes sense. The wood really breaks it up too so that it's not so monochromatic. I really like this interior and will be happy if it stays looking new. I do use sunshades on the windshield when it is parked outside. My vette was often parked with the top off. This probably contributed to the wear on it.
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11-13-2005, 04:32 PM	#7
jss Registered 1 Rep 2 Posts Drives: 2006 330xi Join Date: Aug 2005 Location: Maine iTrader: (0)	My car is too new to get a handle on wear but on the claustrophobic question I can say I definitely don't feel that way at all. The sunroof, the wood trim and the grey head liner help break up the interior and I think make black a great interior choice. Before seeing it I was worried that it was too dark but now that I have it, I love it. -Scott __________________ E90 330xi \| Sapphire Black \| Black Leather \| Burl Walnut \| 6 speed Manual \| Sports \| Premium \| Cold Weather \| 162's
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11-13-2005, 04:35 PM	#8
David328M-Sport Brigadier General 101 Rep 3,566 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Estoril Blue Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Melbourne Australia iTrader: (0)	my car has black interior, walnut trim and a sunroof with the cover opened 99.9% of the time. What a wonderful feeling to be in the car anytime. __________________ 328i M-Sport, Estoril Blue, Carbon XP 35 Tint, front heated seats, black Dakota, Sports Suspension, Anthracite Headliner, HUD, Pro Nav, Sunroof, hk 600w, Bi-Xenon, 19" 403M wheels, Reversing Camera, DAB+, Xenon, BT Ext Connect, MST turbo intake pipe, MST Cold Air Intake, JB4 on Map 2 with Catless DP produces awesome performance in Sport.
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11-13-2005, 04:47 PM	#10
SCA Brigadier General 565 Rep 3,742 Posts Drives: Multiple BMWs Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: 🇺🇸 iTrader: (0)	Out of the E90 choices I prefer either black or Terra (black carpet). My reasoning...tan/biege and gray gets dirty fairly easily, especially the carpets. I had an E36 with gray interior and it was a PITA to keep it clean. I spent some time this afternoon cleaning out a 745iL with beige interior...what a mess and sadly it was spotless yesterday afternoon. :mad:
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