Interior Color (colour?)

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Bwana

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Finally getting around to doing the interior, probably go with carpets, front seats, and trunk. We've found some vinal that is real close to the elephant skin so I'm happy with that, it looks really good.

But what to do with the front seats? The original is blue as delivered to Italy so I usually try to wear my leisure suit and platforms when I drive it :lol:

I'm sticking with the velour instead of going with leather but should I tone down the ultra-blue or stay with the original color? Does it matter in terms of value or should I just go with what I like?
 
I much prefer cloth seats. I think if I could make it stock, I'd do that unless you don't like the look, then you have freedom to get what you want with the rest of the interior. Can you post some shots of the stock colour scheme?
 
i prefer leather seats - but above average leather, i also prefer leather that patinas slightly.

if you decide to go with fabric that is non-standard / more contemporary - i.e. solid color, you might look into some of the new sunbrella (outdoor) velour fabrics. they are stain resistant, u/v resistant, and are comfortable, and best of all look good enough to put in a nice house.
 
I prefer leather also (comfort, aroma, elegance, etc) and imho would add more value to your car.
 
Nicad said:
I much prefer cloth seats. I think if I could make it stock, I'd do that unless you don't like the look, then you have freedom to get what you want with the rest of the interior. Can you post some shots of the stock colour scheme?
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Pretty much stone stock, blue interior, Polaris exterior. I see your point about the leather, I'll check tonight on how much it will cost. Right now it's about $1,800 for the seats, full carpet, and trunk. You can see how beat the carpet is

Before:

P1170017.jpg


Not going to do anything with the rear seats, they look good. Part of the reason I think I'm staying stock, I don't have to recover them too.

P1170018.jpg


Thanks for the input!
 
This is making me crazy

After talking to the upholsterer and my wife, I've decided to go with leather. As the upholsterer pointed out, "I don't see too many BMW's with cloth interior". Come to think of it, I don't think I've seen any other than mine......

So I went thru all the cars in the "photo" section and picked out some cool interiors. I see both horizintal and verticle sections. And some of the verticle sections have a crease or "dimple" look one half or one third down the seat. There also seems to be a wide range of leather, from soft and supple to stiff. So I think I'm going with the softer, more up market leather on verticle panels with dimples.

Then I looked at the head rests. What a hoot!!

"I'm Batman!"

P1030170.jpg


I'm assuming this is stock? I didn't see anything like these in the photo section. I think I'll have the guy replicate these in leather but keep the velour just because it's so......weird :lol:

Any comments?
 
Bert35csi has velour also, maybe he can give some insight

Bwana said:
Then I looked at the head rests. What a hoot!!

"I'm Batman!"

I'm assuming this is stock? I didn't see anything like these in the photo section. I think I'll have the guy replicate these in leather but keep the velour just because it's so......weird :lol:

Any comments?
Click to expand...
 
lets see, all CSL came with cloth interior, many euro coupes had cloth. i can think of a few other BMW that came with cloth interior. in 1976, a cloth interior was an option on a 2002. the 320is around 1980 had textured cloth recaros. realistically in recent years, leather has overtaken vinyl. almost all 2002 had vinyl, prior to e30, most 3 series had vinyl. early 5 series had vinyl (e12).
 
Well it does look to be in very good shape. I like the rear seats. Anyway, I think Leather does look better, but I have always found it hotter in the summer and colder in the winter. I'd love some Blue Scheels with cloth centers and leather bolsters for my car.
 
Bob,

you need better leather. full grain leather has the pores of the hide ... which allows the hide to breathe. you can also micro perforate leather which will allow top grain leather to breathe. (note - top grain is not the top of the hide - it has been topped - which is the full grain leather). i find leather to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. face it, nothing is cool when it is sitting inside a closed car in the direct sun in texas (or most places in the southwest USA). BTW - BMW is not known for having used great leather in their interiors.
 
I have blue velour also and have grown to love it - thought it was a bit 70's yuk at first - but then it is a 70's car!

Would not change it to poor dead cow skin but perhaps red vinyl would be cool!
 
rsporsche said:
Bob,

you need better leather. full grain leather has the pores of the hide ... which allows the hide to breathe. you can also micro perforate leather which will allow top grain leather to breathe. (note - top grain is not the top of the hide - it has been topped - which is the full grain leather). i find leather to be warmer in the winter and cooler in the summer. face it, nothing is cool when it is sitting inside a closed car in the direct sun in texas (or most places in the southwest USA). BTW - BMW is not known for having used great leather in their interiors.
Click to expand...

You know your leather Scott. I can tell you Subaru certainly uses Crap leather you can wear the surface off in a year and a half. I used to be into Corrados, Had three of them. One with Cloth Recaros (stolen in Montreal) One with Tan Recaros (stolen in Toronto) and one with Black Recaros (written off). You could not get into the Black one in the summer and sit on those hides. I also remember the sticky thigh feeling when wearing shorts. Never had that with cloth. Another thing not mentioned was how much extra grip you had with the cloth seats when driving the car hard.
Anyway, the Coupe is made to be a leather experience I suppose. Just curious which brands use the good stuff if BMW isn't one of them? Is the Cayman leather? They look spectacular with winter tires BTW.
 
Blue Velour Interior

Bwana,

I too debated leather versus velour interior for my E9. My car is inka orange with the same dark blue velour as your interior (apparently a very rare colour combination - most inka orange cars had black or beige interiors).

I finally went velour as it is such a '70s finish (as is the orange).

I found the blue velour very hard to match as it is quite dark (blue/black), and not too much is produced for car interiors any more. I ended up using a Holden Commodore (Australian car) colour which is not quite as dark.

Your interior seems to be in very good condition, why do you need to change it? If you have wear it may be able to be died to match.

Cheers,

rod
 
rodspock said:
Bwana,

I too debated leather versus velour interior for my E9. My car is inka orange with the same dark blue velour as your interior (apparently a very rare colour combination - most inka orange cars had black or beige interiors).

I finally went velour as it is such a '70s finish (as is the orange).

I found the blue velour very hard to match as it is quite dark (blue/black), and not too much is produced for car interiors any more. I ended up using a Holden Commodore (Australian car) colour which is not quite as dark.

Your interior seems to be in very good condition, why do you need to change it? If you have wear it may be able to be died to match.

Cheers,

rod
Click to expand...

Rod,

Two reasons for the change:

1) You can't see it but the carpet and a lot of the front seats are hammered. The seats are thread bare and the carpet is faded and really dirty.

2) As mentioned, it's really difficult to get the proper velour for the seats. I think it's available from an outfit in Germany but appears to be NLA in the U.S.

My car is not a trailer queen, it's a daily driver. Hence the decision to go with a bit more practical materials. Thanks for the input
 
Bwana
I am in a similar situation trying to replicate the original tan/beige fabric, later replaced with very tired leather, interior on a 72 CSi. Another challenge is that I have no good photo documentation of the pre-74 interior in the beige velour cloth except for E3s, which are very different. Currently awash in cloth samples. If you have not looked at some of the samples at LeBarron Bonney and the usual suspects(worlduph and GAHH), they all have been prompt with sending samples when I called them.
Good luck.
 
I purchased a 73 CSi parts car, yes it was way beyond redemption, don't fret, with a beautiful grey velour interior. Original. Sadly a family of mice had taken up residence long ago and the smell was rank. I stripped them of any usable parts and tossed the remains in a dumpster.
I would have LOVED to swap the rich grey for my worn out blue. Fortunately the kid who sold the parts car threw in tan leather front and rear seats in great condition. I did swap the black door panels from the parts car for the blues in mine. So I have an interior the factory never offered made up of factory original parts.

Go Grey!!
 
snj5 said:
Bwana
I am in a similar situation trying to replicate the original tan/beige fabric, later replaced with very tired leather, interior on a 72 CSi. Another challenge is that I have no good photo documentation of the pre-74 interior in the beige velour cloth except for E3s, which are very different. Currently awash in cloth samples. If you have not looked at some of the samples at LeBarron Bonney and the usual suspects(worlduph and GAHH), they all have been prompt with sending samples when I called them.
Good luck.
Click to expand...

not sure what others have found, i got all of the tan leather samples from GAHH, and i don't think any of them match the original color very well. worlduph's samples looked better, but felt terrible.
 
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