I do not have a BMW yet (give me a few years), but I noticed some BMWs come with alcantara and I am looking at using this material in my custom interior for my car. I am wondering what I can use to clean it (besides lemon juice, ethyl alcohol, or water), how durable how this cloth proven for you (I'm particularly interested in resistance to dogs claws and water since I live up north where snow is a way of life)?

thank you in advance

In regards to wear and tear due to the dogs... I couldn't tell you... and its always best to avoid getting upholstry wet, and from what I understand alcantara even more so, as it's like seude... if you have every owned suede shoes before, you know you can't get them too wet before they lose their original luster. But aside from that, if you're getting it custom done, have it removeable for the most part and it's machine washable, then air dry, and brush (to get the seude texture back) otherwise a very thuroughly wrung out cloth/ sponge in lukewarm water does the trick, along with a casual dusting now and then...


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Car: 1995 BMW 318ti Sport
Color: Hellrot
Mods: None... yet

Other vehicles: 2005 Toyota Corolla S, 1999 Chevy Silverado

it will be custom, so I may be able to request this, but it will be the seat body and door inserts that will be alcantara. I of coarse don't plan on soaking a $1100 interior (roadwire), but I live where snow gets on your seat no matter how hard you try, as does rain. hopefully more will chime in, but thank you.

I also find it interesting you can machine wash it, but you are supposed to keep it dry.

Well, if it gets wet in the car (and assuming you can remove them) then it isn't a problem, you just take it out and air dry them like after a wash. The problem only comes up when it's stuck on the seat and it has to sit there against the foam still wet, then like seude it just takes it all in and loses fabric integrity and the little fibers fall out/ off. and it would just be smooth and not seude/ alcantara like... either that or you can get that sham-wow thing haha it might dry it out enough

- Troy


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Car: 1995 BMW 318ti Sport
Color: Hellrot
Mods: None... yet

Other vehicles: 2005 Toyota Corolla S, 1999 Chevy Silverado

it makes sense it holds on to moisture, it is not woven, though, fyi. the bolsters will be leather, which is not machine washable. so washing it would be out of the question, right?

I know its not woven, just like the little fibery/ textured part of seude, that stuff falls off/ wears down if it isnt taken care of properly. And it is machine washable, I dont remember the setting it has to be on off the top of my head, but it is. But with the leather bolsters... I dont think so... But leather is usually really easy to clean, basically just wipe down, so, your just going to have to hand wash the whole thing I suppose, either way, I'm sure it'll look good

- Troy


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Car: 1995 BMW 318ti Sport
Color: Hellrot
Mods: None... yet

Other vehicles: 2005 Toyota Corolla S, 1999 Chevy Silverado

yeah, the leather they use is nice, and thick, too. I would consider two tone leather, but I hate how slippery all-leather seats are. my car is no M3 or M5, but it's not stock, and loves the twisties.

Go for the alcantara! I love the look and feel of it, and you can get just about any color to match the scheme of the car, that and it just adds a touch of class to the vehicle I think, it just has that impression on most people. And I know the feeling of sliding all over, I'm not a fan of it either.

- Troy


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Car: 1995 BMW 318ti Sport
Color: Hellrot
Mods: None... yet

Other vehicles: 2005 Toyota Corolla S, 1999 Chevy Silverado

yeah, now I just need to wait on the samples from roadwire so I can pick the right matching one for the leather. this will fix the biggest gripe I've had with my car, the crappy cloth on the seats... I love cloth in general, and never considered leather until I saw the roadwire seats came with alcantara inserts. I appreciate your comments, I'm hoping more people chime in, though, as to the durability aspect. I've read some M5s having problems with the alcantara bolsters and wheel covers, but I'm only going to have the inserts on the seats and doors.

I just dont know about the dog aspect, but again its very similar to suede, as long as it's well taken care of it'll last a long time, but if not, like suede, it'll wear down, and just not look good overall. Although I would like to hear from others as well. Best of luck regaurdless!

- Troy


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Car: 1995 BMW 318ti Sport
Color: Hellrot
Mods: None... yet

Other vehicles: 2005 Toyota Corolla S, 1999 Chevy Silverado

thanks, I hope to have this car at least until 350,000 miles with 26,000 on it right now, so if the alcantara is durable enough, these seats will be well worth the money.

I got my truck (this is where I have the alcantara) in 1999 and got the seats re-done in 2004 i think? and they are still going strong and look beautiful, color is still rich, and the fabric is still soft, mind you I am a bit of a clean freak and wash them at least once a month, but I have no complaints what so ever


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Car: 1995 BMW 318ti Sport
Color: Hellrot
Mods: None... yet

Other vehicles: 2005 Toyota Corolla S, 1999 Chevy Silverado

anyone?

I am also trying to do the same things. But didn't figured out any way till now?


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