Vinyl Upholstery

Leather or vinyl ... how can you tell the difference?

I am going to purchase a BMW 325i. This one is a 2003. It has the Premium package. I searched to see what was included in the premium package, it does not say leather. I found out that some cars have vinyl instead of leather if the leather option was not chosen. Other than flipping the upholstery over to see the mesh on the botton if it is vinyl, any other way of telling? Thank you.

A trained eye can tell the difference due to the pattern in the leather/pleather. But this is not an easy eye to have. Best way is to look under the end of the seat, flap on the back side. If it has stitching, its vinyl, if it has a swede back, then its leather.

Normally feel alone on a BMW you can tell the difference. The leather will be hard as in solid but have a smooth feel where the pleather will have more of a plastic feel, more stretch. Last resort, smell it.

Most likely if it doesn't say leather, its pleather. Last resort, run the VIN through a BMW service adviser and they can tell you what is stock on the car.

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