: My major question: Can you sit on the leatherette seats, in shorts, after the car has been sitting in the summer sun? Every other plastic seat I have encountered is like sitting on a hot frying pan upon entering the car after it has been in the sun unoccupied. (By the way, You can not grab the hot steering wheel if it is plastic either!)

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: : Sounds like you're leaning toward leatherette, and I, for one, think it's the right way to go. If you're the kind of guy for whom it is important to get leather, then God bless you, go buy yourself leather. But don't feel obligated to spend $1400 on hide unless it's a real priority. You could pay for a sunroof and foglights with that $1400, or xenons and the HK, or...

: : I just got my new 323i with black leatherette. I love the stuff. My kids have already messed up the back seat, and it came up perfectly clean this afternoon with a damp towel. No soap, nothing. Just wipe and wear.

: : I think it feels really great. Totally durable. Looks exactly like the real thing unless you compare them side by side. And it costs nothing but the admission price of the car.

: : If the choice had been cloth vs leather, I would have gotten leather in a heartbeat. But this stuff is really superior, unless nothing but that real leather smell will do.

: : Or unless you want grey or tannin red on the inside, because those don't come in leatherette.

: : As for sport, I didn't get it, but my decision-tree involved the suspension, not the seats. A seat cushion tilt function would be nice though, and the standard seats don't have it. Only fwd/back, height, and seatback tilt. Not a big deal to me, but maybe it is to you.

: : Good luck and have fun putting together your car.

: : : I was down at Mckenna BMW near whittier yesterday.I was very surprized that I couldn't tell the difference between leatherette and leather by looking(craftmanship and technology is very good).Leather seemed to be 10% softer,but not enough to make me want it as an option.Sure it's higher quality,but for the average guy(with average money!)leatherette will be just as nice.If a guy keeps his leatherette emaculant,it will last just as long or longer than the person who takes little care of leather.Also,sport seats where a little more confertable,but not much more in my opinion.Standard seats where cool enough to satisfy me.