Photo of leather seat from a '96 Z3

Does anyone have a photo of an original leather seat in a '96 Z3? The insurance company is trying to say I didn't have leather seats in my car. It has been towed away, so I can't go look at it. I could have sworn those were leather seats I had, but I'd like to see a picture of them from someone before I get to strident with the insurance company.

I don't have a picture of a 96 seat, but I do remember that the James Bond car in the BMW Zentrium had the exact same style leather seats that are in my car.

Cloth seats were never an option on the Z3 at any point. It would be funny to see what kind of seats they would try to get put in...

Is the insurance company claiming the original seats were cloth or fake leather?

They are probably claiming the seats were Leatherette - a popular setup amongst early cars. Did your seats have ostrich looking leather on the center section of the seat bottom and back?

Here's some information on Z3 interiors.

http://users.belgacom.net/bmw_z3/bmw_z3_interior.htm

Mickeyamc:

On eBay at Item Number 200163863356 is a 1996 BMW Z3 offered for sale. The seller has provide some excellent photos including interior photos of the vehicle's seats. The seller indicates that the seats are cloth, not leather. They look to me to be leatherette although I don't have a lot of experience in this subject.

At this url are details about Z3 interiors including photos of various seat options in leather, letherette, fabric and so forth:

http://users.belgacom.net/bmw_z3/bmw_z3_interior.htm

All this may be of only minimal help.

I thought some of the very earliest U.S. 1996s were cloth. There was an owner in Houston with one of the very first (if not the first) 1.9s, who then immediately had the interior re-upholstered in leather.

Cloth was always an ROW option.

Memory fades...

Your dealer can get you a printout of all options on your car if you give him the VIN. He can also include any/all service done at BMW dealerships. If your car came with leather seats, this printout should satisfy the insurance company; if not, sue the bastards.

They are claiming that they are vinyl. Yes, the ostrich looking leather on the center and seat bottom! That's the real deal isn't it? If not, it's a pretty good fake.

Originally Posted by turbo5spd

They are probably claiming the seats were Leatherette - a popular setup amongst early cars. Did your seats have ostrich looking leather on the center section of the seat bottom and back?

Thanks for the tip on the dealer. They are leather!

Originally Posted by GeorgeT

Your dealer can get you a printout of all options on your car if you give him the VIN. He can also include any/all service done at BMW dealerships. If your car came with leather seats, this printout should satisfy the insurance company; if not, sue the bastards.

My '96 z3 has leatherette seats -Does anyone know if the original leatherette material can be purchased anywhere ???

Here's a great VIN decoder link:

http://www.rubmw.ru/vincode/eng/

On my car, specifically says Sport Seats and upholstery says Leder Oregon/Beige

Originally Posted by dkindig

Here's a great VIN decoder link... On my car... upholstery says Leder Oregon/Beige

Same with my 1997. Leder is leather in German. Maybe the rough dotted pattern was called Oregon Leather to associate it with the American West and particularly the Oregon leather trade.
http://oregonleatherco.com

My build date is 6/96 and I have leather seats.

Here are my seats:

BTW: I was told by the experts at LeatherSeats.com that the BMW Ostrich-leather-looking seat inserts were actually made by stamping the pattern into the leather. It's a common technique, but nobody is producing it at the moment.