Author Topic: Keep Leather or go Original. (Read 20192 times)

Royalratch · « **on:** April 02, 2008, 09:41:46 AM »

The story so far:

I originally had the very nice Blue tartan interior in when I first got my iS way back. Had it re-trimmed in Blue leather a year or so later (dumb!).

It was done in Cabrio style front seats and Cabrio style rear seats which looks kind of odd in a Coupe. I should have at least done them in the original vertical stitching E30 Sports Seats style. Basically, it looks nice but is not original as at the time I was a kid and didn't know better - I've now had the car for 8 years.

I have the option to get a mint condition original cloth interior and offload the leather (it's heated by the way!) and end up in profit.

What's the verdict?

Car interior now:

Original Interior:

Random shots of the car:

Basically, the interior is the only non-original item and that bugs me...

hoevesruperd · « **Reply #1 on:** April 02, 2008, 09:49:11 AM »

i love those original seats. do it do it!

Royalratch · « **Reply #2 on:** April 02, 2008, 09:52:05 AM »

I know man they are sick and different, even though they are the standard seats!

PartsCar · « **Reply #3 on:** April 02, 2008, 09:52:25 AM »

the original seats are cool, but i like what you have now.

but if you want to keep it original, go for it.

sexy car btw.

boomer5 · « **Reply #4 on:** April 02, 2008, 12:54:59 PM »

IMO;cabrio's horizontal stitching looks better than the regular vertical stitching.As far as choice of fabric;Americans usually pick leather over cloth.My exception would be if the cloth were m-tech or one of the aftermarket tuner's fabric.
Either way you choose,you'll still have a great looking e30.

n2motorsports · « **Reply #5 on:** April 02, 2008, 01:14:49 PM »

keep the leather, there are no points for originality anymore, unless your goal is to do a full restoration using only geniune bmw parts.

btw - you're car is awesome, maybe i can check it out in october when i travel over the pond to watch my chargers play

txleadfoot · « **Reply #6 on:** April 02, 2008, 01:30:24 PM »

i think your leather seats look great!

dude8383 · « **Reply #7 on:** April 02, 2008, 02:03:20 PM »

I would stick the leather man...heated seats rock!

Royalratch · « **Reply #8 on:** April 02, 2008, 03:33:03 PM »

Thanks all for the nice comments.

n2motorsports, The car is original from new with no rust or damage anywhere. I'm the second owner from 55K and it has full service history (around 80% BMW) with all original BMW parts. The only thing non-standard is the interior.

I'll pick up the cloth and see how 'mint' it is. Otherwise I'm leaning toward getting a pair seat frames and foam from BMW and re-trim them in the same leather but with the correct patterns.

The cloth set is also heated.

I'll post up my M44 Touring soon which is the same colour, higher spec and has just been re-trimmed in BMW Buffalo so should look nice against the Lazer Blue.

Royalratch · « **Reply #9 on:** April 02, 2008, 03:50:52 PM »

And you're welcome to check it out - a 7K RPM tour round London is how to do it proper!

RED IS 91 · « **Reply #10 on:** April 02, 2008, 04:03:59 PM »

There's no question as far as I'm concerned ! Leave the leather! People pay more money to get leather in their car .
beautiful car too;) by the way

tampa e30 · « **Reply #11 on:** April 04, 2008, 06:33:57 AM »

Leather

318kid · « **Reply #12 on:** April 13, 2008, 06:44:33 PM »

I love the Original Interior, I think it would look great! I'd love to have those seats in my car someday!

Spec 2 · « **Reply #13 on:** April 14, 2008, 03:34:45 PM »

I'd keep the leather, I think it looks great! And I much prefer the horizontal stitching over the vertical. I think you'd be taking a step back if you went cloth... extra money would be nice though.

batsbats · « **Reply #14 on:** April 26, 2008, 11:41:07 PM »

Wow, really liking the paint color. What is it?