[Dan335]

Hey everyone,

I'm about to order my F10, shooting for Space Gray / Oyster, but my CA is advising me not to take Oyster because it stains easy. For example wearing blue jeans on them will slowly rub off and stain it blue etc.

Can any owners please give me your feedback and experience? Thanks a lot!

[uhn2000]

Any light colour will stain over time but if you give it a good wipe down and keep it clean the longevity of the leather will last... Oyster looks amazing but just needs a bit of upkeep .

Its kind of like dark interiors versus light interiors - both look great clean but need some detailing.

[blackhawk_pilot2000]

Oyster does stain easily. My drivers seat looks like a shade of dirty blue from my jeans and the like. That's mostly because I have yet to clean the seats, but once I get a leather cleaner I'm positive it'll go back to being light and clean again. Like it's been said it just needs some more up keeping than other colors.

[Simmo24]

Mines Venetian Beige and after a few months it was looking pretty dirty. 30 mins with a good leather cleaner and now it looks like new again.

[james d]

Oyster/Black is agreat choice/compromise as you get the light classy leather with the more practical black carpets wich is handy if-like me- you have a couple of teenagers and a black lab with a moulting problem to ferry around.Looks even airier if you can stretch to the panoramic roof(I couldn't!)

[bimmernic]

Dirt and other stains are more visible with the Oyster leather. Having said that, in >5 months of ownership. I have not seen any sign of blue jeans or dye transfer stains or nothing that cannot be removed along with other dirt stains. Dirt stains can be easily cleaned away with AutoGlym leather cleaner or similar products. I clean mine about once one month - twice a month would keep it pristine.

Unless you go for the nappa leather version, Dakota leather is coated leather so stains are unlikely to seep through.

[indus]

Wish I'd known this before. I really wanted oyster/black but even bmws own blurb said it could stain with dyed clothes. With two small kids I felt it was too much of a risk and went for black.

[V1k1ng]

Originally Posted by indus

Wish I'd known this before. I really wanted oyster/black but even bmws own blurb said it could stain with dyed clothes. With two small kids I felt it was too much of a risk and went for black.

I had the same thoughts, but i went for the oyster/black option. I have also spent some cash on quality leather care products.

You take more care of the leather if it's light color..

...and, buy proper quality clothes that dont stain on your seats when wet or dry... You got a BMW and can affort it

[pogodog]

What is the name of the best product out there for monthly light color leather maintainance? And any tips for doing it?

[bimmernic]

Btw, avoid using sunblock/suntan lotion when in the car. Its likely to leave a yellow stain that will be almost impossible to remove. Happened to another car (non-BMW) of mine, with similar coloured leather.

[Autojack]

I had a light interior 540 for about 6 years, as did some of my friends. Over time, all of the lighter color BMW leather seats will gradually show dark areas, especially the front passenger seat. But the new Oyster seat is absolutely beautiful. Perhaps best suited for an older, professional couple with no kids or pets who only wear wool or cotton slacks or shorts. Most of the dirt seems to come from dark jeans, your briefcase or purse etc.

IMHO, dark leather is the only way to go unless you lease and release every three years.

[JOHNBMWM5]

I have had Oyster on three BMW's , M6,X6, and now 550i M Sport. Any wet-wipe will clean the seats back to new in one minute flat.

[NewBimmerMD]

I've had my oyster interior for about 3 months. I Clean the driver's seat about once a month with a leather cleaner and conditioner and have had no problems. You know what they say about an ounce of prevention. I use Griot's but I'm sure any good quality leather cleaner would be fine just don't let the dirt build up or it will get harder to clean.

[Shake n Bake]

Originally Posted by johnbmw6

I have had Oyster on three BMW's , M6,X6, and now 550i M Sport. Any wet-wipe will clean the seats back to new in one minute flat.

We once paid for a guy to clean our beige leather couches and when we asked him about best products to use ourselves his answer was wet-wipes. We've been doing that now for nearly ten years and it works. When my 520d with Oyster arrives next month a pack of wet wipes will go straight into the door pocket. Cheap and effective.

[tim-atl]

Two votes for wet wipes, gonna have to try that.

I use the two Lexol products, they work but what would really work best is if my wife would stop wearing those freakin jeans. For what ever reason, the jeans my son wears don't bleed out on the seats but hers do (btw, this is venetian on our X5). I told her if I order Oyster there will be a no jeans policy in my 5er

[727jbh]

I always get black, I had grey in my 2000 740i and on the seat back my belt was staining the leather along with blue jean stains.

[Bmrmeup]

Color is nice but a black interior looks good and is less of a problem to take care of!

[JOHNBMWM5]

Wet Wipes is the way to go, so easy to use and effective.

[indus]

To be honest I know that after the novelty of the new car wears off I just won't bother to clean it regularly. Black is probably best for somebody lazy like me!

[B R A N D X®]

My first new BMW was an '02 325 with a beige interior. After about 2 years of driving it while wearing jeans the driver's seat started to turn greenish.

Since then I've learned a lot more about automotive cosmetic care.

Buy Leatherique's Pristine Cleaner and Rejuvenator Kit ($77.75 shipped for a 32oz bottle of each which will last several years), consider no other brand of leather care product (!) , use it on the driver's seat whenever you wash/detail your car and on all leather surfaces quarterly and you should have showroom leather for a very long time!

One thing I really love about these products is that they leave a factory look matte finish behind not an unnatural gloss.

I'd say that your salesman is not necessarily wrong, but he, like most people, just doesn't know all the professional detailer's tricks.

Will my Nappa Oyster hold up as well as Black or Gray Dakota with regular care? Probably not, but with the Leatherique treatments I believe it will look great for many years and I really love the Oyster/Black combo so that's the way I went.

Check out this 5 part You Tube video of a Rejuvenator Restoration project on a beige BMW interior to see what's possible with their restoration and dye kits. Pretty amazing stuff!

[N16E]

I already have a stain (looks like jeans) on my rear seat (oyster) already.

N16e

[Salter]

I agree with all. I love the look of the Oyster (never had a light color interior before). And I'm willing to invest a bit of effort in keeping it clean. Like others, I got the Lexol product and it's doing a great job cleaning the seats. Like others, stains and dirt did show (as well as a pair of my wife's Jeans bleeding their blue). I never worried about it with my previous dark interior cars. But cleaning it was 2 minutes of work (the Lexol is now in the trunk with a couple of clean towels and a small bottle of water).
If you really like the Oyster, as so many of us do, and willing to put a bit of extra effort in maintaining it, I'd say go for it.
The only exception I would have made, are kids. I'd probably stick with dark interior colors if kids regularly travel in the car.