[Matt in Berkshire]

Hi,

Am about to push the button on ordering my company car post the sale of my E86.

My last car had individual amarone leather, and I loved the fact it was different to the standard black, so am keen to do something similar with my f10.

With it being a company car, my hands are pretty tied when it comes to adding new trim rather than stick with what the M-sport comes with. Anyway, onto the quesiton in my mind....

With the aluminium trim from the M-sport spec and the Oyster coloured leather, am I in danger of having the interior a little washed out? I've seen cars and photos, but can't make up my mind vs the high contrast effect of black leather with the aluminium trim; however that doesn't quite give me something 'different' if you understand my point?

If Oyster is all good with the alu trim, then car will be ordered in Imperial Blue, failing that most probably Space Grey.

Rest of the car will be fairly basic:

520d M-sport
Sports Auto
Business speakers
Electric seats & lumbar
Sun protection glass
Spoiler

Thanks

Matt

[xenon]

I have oyster / black and it looks great but it's a bitch to keep clean.

[Matt in Berkshire]

I tend to be pretty clean in cars - no food or drink, ever.

Hard to keep clean from just daily usage, or with kids etc?

Its only the two of us, and mainly me 99% of the time on a commute

[xenon]

I don't eat or smoke in the car, nor do I have any kids. 90% of the time it's just me in the car and 90% of the time wearing a suit. My car is immaculate but the oyster marks very easily from jeans. I keep leather wipes handy but it's a pain in the arse.

[Matt in Berkshire]

Cheers Ian,

Wow, will have to insist nobody wears indigo denim, it must be hell to get back right again!

Leather wipes is a good call, or my trusty supply of Gliptone cleaner & cleansers - they 'used' to last for ages, but I'm guessing I'll be having to get them out a little more frequently with this.

Looking forward to this arriving - just pressed the button, awaiting a delivery date now...

[Jon D]

I have oyster and wear jeans nearly all the time; never had a problem with staining. All I ever do is give the seats an occasional wipe and after 18k miles the leather still looks immaculate.

[Matt in Berkshire]

That's more like it - cheers Jon!

[xenon]

Must be something wrong with mine then. I regularly use Gliptone but they mark very easily. Perhaps you have the Nappa leather, Jon, as it's a 535? The basic leather is shit IMO. I wish I'd gone for alcantara which is a no-cost option.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by Matt in Berkshire

That's more like it - cheers Jon!

No problem; you might care to have a look at 'fine line anthracite' as opposed to aluminium trim. It provides additional contrast and shows off the satin chrome trim edge finishing strips to very good effect.

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by xenon

Must be something wrong with mine then. I regularly use Gliptone but they mark very easily. Perhaps you have the Nappa leather, Jon, as it's a 535? The basic leather is shit IMO. I wish I'd gone for alcantara which is a no-cost option.

Just standard Dakota Ian. Although it's probably highly unlikely, the fact that your seats are staining, might be due to what you're using to clean and protect the surface.
In 18k miles I've used Autoglym leather cleaner two or three times; other than that I give the seats an occasional swab with an 'Armour All' leather wipe.

[Matt in Berkshire]

Originally Posted by Jon D

No problem; you might care to have a look at 'fine line anthracite' as opposed to aluminium trim. It provides additional contrast and shows off the satin chrome trim edge finishing strips to very good effect.

Like the anthracite, but have a phobia of wood in cars! Love the piano black that I had in my Z4 coupe, but with a limited budget I'm struggling to do anything, as my other oprions are my must haves! If I struggle with the lack of contrast, I can always look to wrap it.

[arnsbrae]

Originally Posted by Matt in Berkshire

Like the anthracite, but have a phobia of wood in cars! Love the piano black that I had in my Z4 coupe, but with a limited budget I'm struggling to do anything, as my other oprions are my must haves! If I struggle with the lack of contrast, I can always look to wrap it.

Personally, I think that in real life the contrast between aluminium and oyster will be much more apparent than in pictures.

I might well have chosen the same combination myself but unlike some, I like a bit of timber in my car so I went for light ash. I think it looks modern and fresh.

Have you found Jason's thread with about a kazillion interior photographs?

[Matt in Berkshire]

If Jason's is the one that is a sticky with about 4 pages of pictures, then yes....but will check!

A few of the photos seemed washed out / over exposed which probably talks to your point on having better contrast in real life.

Ah well, ordered now so we will see....could always wrap a carbon leather over it if I think it's too much.

[andyk500]

I have black with aluminium trim and after 37k miles still looks like new. I like the contrast of the dark leather and brushed aluminium. Looking at your spec I would drop the business speakers and try to squeeze in visibility pack if you can, a must in my opinion, folding mirrors are another good choice for such a wide car..

[Jon D]

Originally Posted by andyk500

...Looking at your spec I would drop the business speakers and try to squeeze in visibility pack if you can, a must in my opinion, folding mirrors are another good choice for such a wide car..

Totally agree with you about these two options.
OP, if you do any night driving on unlit roads you'll find the adaptive (cornering) bi-xenon headlights amazing and the electrically folding mirrors make it easier to squeeze through narrow openings such as the standard British garage door.

[Matt in Berkshire]

I hear you, but 99% of my time I'm on the M4, plus it won't fit in the garage length wise so wing mirrors aren't a concern. Like my xenons on previous cars, but I'm not doing enough of that driving to make it worthwhile.

[xenon]

Originally Posted by Matt in Berkshire

I hear you, but 99% of my time I'm on the M4, plus it won't fit in the garage length wise so wing mirrors aren't a concern. Like my xenons on previous cars, but I'm not doing enough of that driving to make it worthwhile.

The DRLs on halogen cars look pants though.