Nappa leather/contour seats - KIDS?

[TRAINER]

Looking for advice..

I'm going to be ordering my X tomorrow. Here's my dilemma.

I want the full nappa package (seats & dash) and would like the contour seats as well. (who wouldn't?)

Nappa:
There are two variables - 1. I'm trying to keep the cost down 2. I have 2 kids, a 15 month old and a 1 year old. I'm thinking the nappa will be wasted back there with the car seats installed 100% of the time - but not on my wife and I up front. The nappa dash is $1900 as a stand alone but then $2400 for the seats and dash. I see the value here..

Contour:
Buy the way BMW bundles everything when building, it looks like the contour seats are only an additional $900 when included in on the sport activity (I will be getting that). Compared to $1300 as a stand alone. I can't see myself going for both the nappa and contour - these things add up quick!

Question - I had nappa in my 06 4.8is but didn't have kids. Would YOU get the nappa knowing that it's going to get destroyed by the kids? The Nevada is more durable, I know, but I love the way the nappa feels.

Should I just pull the trigger for the dash? But for only $500 more I get the seats - I hate compromising! - I'm losing my mind over this crap!

Then there is the contour seats.. I never had them.. Are they really worth it? I do a fair amount of driving..

This is the way it's looking so far:

X5 50i
Tit. Slvr or Space gr - loosing my mind over this too!
Black ________ leather
Bamboo
Prem
Prem sound
Rear climate
Sport Activity
20" 336
Tech
Comfort access

[cmyX6go]

Once you go contour, you'll never go back! I have the full napa with contour and can't imagine anything else. I can't however comment on the kids.

Good luck.

[335xray]

I am facing very similar choices and here is my take...

The multi-contour seats are something you use everyday. Long trips, short trips etc. It is your back and butt comfort. Get them!

The nappa dash looks nice, but for $1900...I would either save the $$ or put it elsewhere unless price is not really a factor, but obviously it is to you since you are making trade offs. Besides, nappa seats with 2 kids is going to be wasted, if not made to look bad since it is softer and wears easier, especially with 2 car seats sitting on it...and food getting smashed into it

X

[alexmish]

Your kids will destroy the leather.... and you dont really want to get angry at them for doing so... after all, they are just kids... I would definitely go for the multi-countour seats, I'd not get the nappa dashboards nor seats. Save your money on something else, like active ventilated seats package, which will add cooling seats and butt massage for the driver

[nom3rcy]

Just get the rear seat cover from BMW.

I would use it no matter what leather I had.

[Naz24]

get the nappa leather and contours, forget the dash (so pointless since youre not actually sitting on it)

and go for space grey

[RPX5]

My dad has the nappa leather. Its gorgeous, but doesn't wear well. There's only 12 k on his car now, and I noticed some wear at the edge of the passenger seat. No one even really sits there. Odd.

I think he wishes he got the ventilated seats, but then there will be a whole new can of worm. What happens when one of your kids smooshes a french fry in the perforations, or drops ice cream? Ya, good luck cleaning that.

The nappa wrapped dash is really cool. It adds a really high end luxury sports car appeal. But I'm guessing that you'll need something durable, and not a fine work of art in your car.

[mtech8]

The grass is greener on the other side... at least for me.

I wish I got nappa. I decided against it based on the non-durable nappa in our Mercedes, but after seeing it and feeling it in person in a BMW X5. I wish I got it. It's much higher quality and more durable (of course not as much as BMW Dakota). Plus the dash although never actually physically used, really adds the finishing touch.

I would never do nappa dash and dakota seats. Do all or nothing. You'll hate yourself if you have the nappa dash and sit in the dakota seats. Constant reminder of "you should have just upgraded all". But if you do decided on all dakota, there isn't anything physically reminding you (except the feel of the dakota).

I got the contour seats. Do love them, but don't really know if I would have been unhappy in the sports seats. I'm fine with firmer seats too. But don't know if the added seating positions really helped or is utilized by me. Try them out more at the dealerships. One thing about the contour that I love is the overall look of them. Especially the headrest.

Agree with nom3rcy. Just get the back seat protective covers for the kids. Plus it really depends on what you allow the kids to do. I don't permit my kids to eat in the car (unless completely supervised by an adult). No messes back there. My parents were very strict on us when we rode in their cars, we grew up fine. Plus if they are strapped in a car/booster seat most of the time. How much trouble can they really get into.

Not really a fan of the ventilated seats (until they can actually blow cold air when it's hot). Just think whatever temp the car is, it the air you'll get on your back. Not a fan of the active seats either, really feel like things jabbing at my bottom in all the wrong ways. Mercedes massaging seats are much more pleasant feeling.

On a side note, my dakota is already showing signs of wear and tear on the side of the seat (where I touch climbing in and out). Just 2 years old and less than 30K miles on it. The sports seats might show even more due to the bolster (though i can't confirm. Just a guess). Wondering how the nappa would wear since it's smoother.

Good luck with your choice. My vote it to get all nappa plus the contour.

[ard]

I cannot imagine upgrading the leather but NOT getting Comfort seats. The leather just incidentally touches your skin on occasion, and looks different- BUT the comfort has a continual impact on your body....

I cannot see the value in a leathre dash, but to each his own- me it just seems like something to degrade in the California sun... still, surely it will be unique

I cannot speak to kids and one leather versus the other, but I've raised two with leather seats in 5 different cars and the animal hides are tougher than any fabric....

Nice problem to have, eh?

A

[bigx5er]

Make sure you try the multi-contour seats before buying. I am tall and hated them (I ordered them before trying them). My wife who isn't tall also wasn't a big fan of the thigh support. We are both happier with the standard seats in our 2011.