Alcantara vs Leather value

[Avetiso]

Can anyone chime in on the value difference between a full black leather interior against a full alcantara? Which one is worth more on the street? Assuming they are in great condition (9/10 or better) what is the price difference?

[Johal E32]

Technically is an "option" for the 330 ZHP. So it cost more than alcantara when it was new..

Although, I would buy a 330 ZHP with alacantara given the choice, I think it's more unique. I would not pay more for it..

[nike001]

No price difference that I've seen really.

It's all about what YOU want. Alcantara is of course more rare, being that they're only in ZHPs that didn't have any sort of leather interior. The same leather can be found in other lesser packaged e46's as well, so no leather is a specific to our ZHPs

[Avetiso]

Well I am looking into swapping interiors, but I don't know value of my interior (only bad thing is the driver bolster is starting to wear, but not much). Rest is great. I also don't know what alcantara is worth.

[nike001]

Try to find someone to swap with - even trade. You get what you want and they get what they want.

That being said, I wish I got the alcantara interior. The leather is easier to clean and 'keep' clean (ie. spills (that would never be allowed in the car anyways) & dirt). I also didn't feel like explaining the package to every person that attempts to poke at the 'bmw with the cloth interior'

[Avetiso]

Heh, cloth interior. I actually think alc would be easier to clean, considering all you have to do it vacuum it. Unless of course you spill something, but with how useless e46 cupholders are, I won't be doing that often.

[alexandre]

Yup, even trade. If you had Natural Brown it'd be worth extra, but the standard colors and alcantara are all worth the same unfortunately. Dove gray is probably worth a lil' less.

I get the BMW w/ cloth joke every time someone enters my car for the first time LOL.

[BCS_ZHP]

My wife's convert has alcantara, don't see many of those. When people ask, she explains I got it that way for her so her legs wouldn't stick to the seats or be burned when entering the car after the top has been down. And she keeps the top down all summer,it only comes up if there's rain. Those who have ridden with her agree and are then disappointed when they can't find another convert with cloth/suede interior.

[Avetiso]

My wife's convert has alcantara, don't see many of those. When people ask, she explains I got it that way for her so her legs wouldn't stick to the seats or be burned when entering the car after the top has been down. And she keeps the top down all summer,it only comes up if there's rain. Those who have ridden with her agree and are then disappointed when they can't find another convert with cloth/suede interior.
Wow, now that I think of it, I've never seen a vert with alcantara.

[JupiterBMW]

Well, I'll chime in here because I've already done my share of interior 'swaps'... :rofl

When I sent my last car off to the scrap yard, I purchased non-sport black leather seats and matching door panels for the car. That was so that I could keep my natural brown leather. My new ZHP came with black leather, which I felt to be the MOST common. So, I swapped it for a guy that wanted to get rid of his 'garbage cloth interior'... Some of you may remember the thread... I traded him straight across, even though his alcantara had a small spot on the front passenger seat.

So, its all in preference. If I couldn't have my natural brown leather, I'd probably go with some sort of custom setup, just to be different. If I couldn't do that, I'd go with alcantara, just for it being unique to the ZHP. But, I like the two-tone look of the natural brown the best though. We have something very similar in our X3.

[zhpnsnv]

It'll be down to what someone wants to pay/trade. For instance, if you had an alcantara/cloth interior for my car, I'd give you a lung and a kidney.

[webster]

in my mind if the condition is equal the alcantara is worth more. i don't know how much more, not a whole lot, but it's rarer and more unique than leather and as such commands a bit of a premium.

[johnrando]

Probably not so much for the uninformed. The first time I saw it I thought "why would they put cloth in a BMW?" lol

[nike001]

in my mind if the condition is equal the alcantara is worth more. i don't know how much more, not a whole lot, but it's rarer and more unique than leather and as such commands a bit of a premium.

IMO, the 'beauty' is in the eye of the beholder.

If someone posts an add wanting black leather for alcantara, who's to say that for him to get what he WANTS, adding $$ on top of a trade wouldn't be out of the question? Same goes for vice-versa... someone wanting alcantara for black leather. If that's what someone WANTS, then they shouldn't have that much of a problem to add $$ on top. If both people want what the other has, I think it'd be fair for an even trade. (Depending on condition though of course)

[BavarianZHP]

It actually took some time for alcantara to grow on me. At first I was like the rest of the general population, "WTF!? Cloth instead of leather in a BMW??? Who would want that?" I asked for my family/friends opinions before purchasing my car and none of them enjoyed the idea of alcantara (granted, one friend had pets, so leather would be a must for her). The cloth doesn't look nearly as nice as leather in many pictures... In the end, I went with what I wanted (alcantara) after seeing both in-person and have converted all of them (except dog owner girl) to preferring this BMW cloth over leather. The more I spend time with the cloth, the more I appreciate it.

IF there is a premium for one material over another, Nat Brown/Alcantara/silvercube would have to be at the top of the list. Alcantara and silver cube would most likely only be more heavily pursued by the enthusiasts.