[JMP14]

I just submitted my factory build order for a 540i xdrive m-sport in bluestone metallic with cognac sensatec and aluminum rhombicle Smoke Grey trim.

I was on the fence on how that interior would work together as I wasn't able to see any 5's with that combo in person, not even the aluminum trim with different seat color.

In searching youtube to find a match I came across this video which gives a detailed view of this exact spec. I know this is subjective and there are many who lean towards the classic wood options, but I must say this has confirmed my choice. I think it looks great together and provides the more modern, sporty look I was going for.

Also, for those who have not had a chance to see the latest version of the sensatec in person: it confirmed my choice over the dakota. Look and quality felt great. With the quilting and perforations it felt like a step up over the dakota.

[G30 B58]

I'm petty sure that's what we have with our Mocha, we didn't want any wood in our "sporty" G30.

[BMW012]

what is the rough ETA of receiving your order?

curious to know if the waiting time is less for a 530, 540 vs a 550.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by BMW012

what is the rough ETA of receiving your order?

curious to know if the waiting time is less for a 530, 540 vs a 550.

I was told arrival between 2-3 months. Things are a bit unpredictable due to impact of Russia/Ukraine conflict.

I am not sure the model of 5er you choose will impact build time. Believe they are all built in Germany?

[NGT2]

I hope I eventually see a combo like this in person. I love the idea of congac or mocha interior and I think both pair best with the aluminum trim. But I can't figure out if I'd like it for me. I can sometimes favor the traditional look, so I usually gravitate to the wood trims.

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by JMP14

...

Also, for those who have not had a chance to see the latest version of the sensatec in person: it confirmed my choice over the dakota. Look and quality felt great. With the quilting and perforations it felt like a step up over the .

I don't understand the preference of vinyl over leather. My Lincoln had a very soft leather and I still prefer the Dakota over that. It wrinkled way too easily.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I don't understand the preference of vinyl over leather. My Lincoln had a very soft leather and I still prefer the Dakota over that. It wrinkled way too easily.

I am really intrigued to check out this sensatec after all the comments on this board. If it's all it's cracked up to be, I'd definitely order it and out the money towards a different option if I were ordering new in the future.

If you want to feel bad about your life decisions, just buy a BMW with Dakota leather and then join this forum. My source on that is me!

[ezaircon4jc]

Originally Posted by NGT2

...

If you want to feel bad about your life decisions, just buy a BMW with Dakota leather and then join this forum. My source on that is me!

On my 3rd BMW (2 F10's and a G30; still have one F10) with Dakota. I like it just fine.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

On my 3rd BMW (2 F10's and a G30; still have one F10) with Dakota. I like it just fine.

That's good to hear. I've got it on the 2018 I bought a few months ago. It's my first BMW, so I don't know different but I have no complaints. I've done a handful of small 400-500 mile round trips in it and it's been a joy. Very fun and very comfortable.

[Joe-BMW33]

Congrats, looking forward to your actual pictures when it comes in. Definitely a good choice on Sensatec over Dakota for entry level seat covering. Even though it is faux leather, it actually looks and feels more like leather than the hard dimpled pigskin Dakota. I really wish they would offer the higher end leathers Nappa and Merino in Cognac. It is beautiful color interior.

Interior trim is definitely subjective. Piano Black has been my go to sporty trim for a while.

@NGT2 - I had Dakota in my F10, you learn what you want and what you don't want with every new BMW. It was "fine" but hard as a rock and those football like dimples just added to the cheapness of the look.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by NGT2

I am really intrigued to check out this sensatec after all the comments on this board. If it's all it's cracked up to be, I'd definitely order it and out the money towards a different option if I were ordering new in the future.

If you want to feel bad about your life decisions, just buy a BMW with Dakota leather and then join this forum. My source on that is me!

Haha....in part I think my comments (and likely some of the others) re dakota vs. sensatec are impacted by the expectation that dakota should be better, $1500 better in this case. I cant speak to the older versions of sensatec, but for this latest version I think the difference between them is negligible. I test drove a g30 with dakota and it was fine, but I did feel the sensatec was at least on par if not slightly better.

I would rather use that $1500 towards other options, or in this case the ceramic coating and window tints I plan to get as soon as I take delivery!

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Congrats, looking forward to your actual pictures when it comes in. Definitely a good choice on Sensatec over Dakota for entry level seat covering. Even though it is faux leather, it actually looks and feels more like leather than the hard dimpled pigskin Dakota. I really wish they would offer the higher end leathers Nappa and Merino in Cognac. It is beautiful color interior.

Interior trim is definitely subjective. Piano Black has been my go to sporty trim for a while.

@NGT2 - I had Dakota in my F10, you learn what you want and what you don't want with every new BMW. It was "fine" but hard as a rock and those football like dimples just added to the cheapness of the look.

Thanks...I will definitely post a few pics.

re piano black trim: I agree, the pics I have seen of that with cognac or ivory look really good. assuming u can keep it scratch free it looks great.

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by JMP14

Thanks...I will definitely post a few pics.

re piano black trim: I agree, the pics I have seen of that with cognac or ivory look really good. assuming u can keep it scratch free it looks great.

Yeah, I am pretty diligent about keeping my Piano black scratch free. It actually is pretty resilient. But, having dark glossy anything on the car (paint or inside), comes with a price, nothing looks better than dark gloss anything when clean. IMO of course.

[JMP14]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yeah, I am pretty diligent about keeping my Piano black scratch free. It actually is pretty resilient. But, having dark glossy anything on the car (paint or inside), comes with a price, nothing looks better than dark gloss anything when clean. IMO of course.

Looks really sharp!

[SteveinArizona]

Originally Posted by ezaircon4jc

I don't understand the preference of vinyl over leather. My Lincoln had a very soft leather and I still prefer the Dakota over that. It wrinkled way too easily.

Different strokes for different folks. I think that the sensatec is at least as nice as the Dakota. But, IMO, that is more of a knock on the Dakota than a credit to the Sensatec although the artificial leathers have come a long way. Now Nappa or Merino would be an entirely different matter.

[en1gma]

Here's a still photo of Cognac Dakota with the aluminium rhombicle trim…

OK, the exterior is Mediterranean Blue, but you get the idea…. Note this is after circa 4-years use.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Yeah, I am pretty diligent about keeping my Piano black scratch free. It actually is pretty resilient. But, having dark glossy anything on the car (paint or inside), comes with a price, nothing looks better than dark gloss anything when clean. IMO of course.

My biggest hesitation would be the part about keeping it scratch free. I bought used, which is a different animal, but the black around the shifter definitely has some thin scratches.

Any advice on getting them out? I figured just trying to prevent future scratches is all I can do.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by JMP14

Haha....in part I think my comments (and likely some of the others) re dakota vs. sensatec are impacted by the expectation that dakota should be better, $1500 better in this case. I cant speak to the older versions of sensatec, but for this latest version I think the difference between them is negligible. I test drove a g30 with dakota and it was fine, but I did feel the sensatec was at least on par if not slightly better.

I would rather use that $1500 towards other options, or in this case the ceramic coating and window tints I plan to get as soon as I take delivery!

I can believe all of that. And for sure, if I was ordering new, I think I'd rather use the $1,500 towards other options since I wouldn't have the freedom to just pick them all. It's amazing how if you go with sensatec upholstery, you can build a pretty otherwise loaded 540 for at or under about 70k (on the build site, anyway).

[Joe-BMW33]

Originally Posted by NGT2

My biggest hesitation would be the part about keeping it scratch free. I bought used, which is a different animal, but the black around the shifter definitely has some thin scratches.

Any advice on getting them out? I figured just trying to prevent future scratches is all I can do.

Sure do, it is pretty easy for the surface spiders and swirls you see when the sun hits it just right. Believe it or not, you would use the same polish or compound you would use on the the outside paint. Something mild and then just buff and wipe off. Start with as little pressure as possible and repeat. Don't try to be a perfectionist and have it look like it came from the factory. It will look 100% better. It's just a clear coat that scratches. You also could try Meguires PlastiX or even toothbaste.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Sure do, it is pretty easy for the surface spiders and swirls you see when the sun hits it just right. Believe it or not, you would use the same polish or compound you would use on the the outside paint. Something mild and then just buff and wipe off. Start with as little pressure as possible and repeat. Don't try to be a perfectionist and have it look like it came from the factory. It will look 100% better. It's just a clear coat that scratches. You also could try Meguires PlastiX or even toothbaste.

Oh that's awesome. Thanks!

[jcal65]

Originally Posted by Joe-BMW33

Congrats, looking forward to your actual pictures when it comes in. Definitely a good choice on Sensatec over Dakota for entry level seat covering. Even though it is faux leather, it actually looks and feels more like leather than the hard dimpled pigskin Dakota. I really wish they would offer the higher end leathers Nappa and Merino in Cognac. It is beautiful color interior.

Interior trim is definitely subjective. Piano Black has been my go to sporty trim for a while.

@NGT2 - I had Dakota in my F10, you learn what you want and what you don't want with every new BMW. It was "fine" but hard as a rock and those football like dimples just added to the cheapness of the look.

To each his own, which is why I prefer the cognac Dakota on my M550i. I would have gotten the Nappa, but I could just not get another black interior, did not want the ivory again, and I’m just not a fan of the mocha. I find the Dakota to be just fine, and I like the grey pinstripe finish, it looks classy. No one has ever been in my car and asked why I didn’t get the Nappa, your Dakota seats look cheap. I'm pretty sure only those of us who hang out in these forums know the difference anyway. If BMW offered the cognac in Nappa or Merino, I probably would have splurged.

A tip for your piano black trim: Spray some Plexus on a microfiber towel and apply to the trim. Lightly buff off with a dry microfiber cloth. This product creates an anti-static invisible film that will repel dust. I have used this for years and it is also great on the touchscreen and instrument cluster.

[NGT2]

Originally Posted by jcal65

To each his own, which is why I prefer the cognac Dakota on my M550i. I would have gotten the Nappa, but I could just not get another black interior, did not want the ivory again, and I’m just not a fan of the mocha. I find the Dakota to be just fine, and I like the grey pinstripe finish, it looks classy. No one has ever been in my car and asked why I didn’t get the Nappa, your Dakota seats look cheap. I'm pretty sure only those of us who hang out in these forums know the difference anyway. If BMW offered the cognac in Nappa or Merino, I probably would have splurged.

A tip for your piano black trim: Spray some Plexus on a microfiber towel and apply to the trim. Lightly buff off with a dry microfiber cloth. This product creates an anti-static invisible film that will repel dust. I have used this for years and it is also great on the touchscreen and instrument cluster.

Would you use that on other trim as well, or just the piano black?