So, decided to have a plunge and do the drivers seat refurb. With the Orinoco being an individual colour i had to have the colour mixed and would like to give a shout out to Colourlock for getting the dye spot on.
Seat refurb.
- Thread starter beemz
- Start date
Nice job they have come up a treat.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 208
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
They are looking nice do you have any before pictures 
Thankyou. Unfortunately not, the seat bolster and seat base were badly worn as you would expect with a 21yr old car. The bolster was nearly through but i have caught it just in time. It was my first attempt at this kind of thing so i am very happy with the way things have turned out.They are looking nice do you have any before pictures
Thankyou. It was worth the effort and the match with the passenger seat is perfect. I was a tad nervous to say the least with the colour.
- Joined
- Apr 1, 2016
- Points
- 208
- Location
- Maybole , South Ayrshire
- Model of Z
- Z3 Individual Dakar / Orinoco Individual
Nice to see the difference as you have but if its as you are saying got a fair idea what they would be like.
You have done a first class job.
How did you get on with the seats being piped.
You have done a first class job.
How did you get on with the seats being piped.
Thankyou. I wish i had taken photos before hand. I masked up the piping leaving a few mm overhang, then carefully slid a butter knife down along the joint to get all the piping covered. I then touched up the piping using a touch up sticks.
Looks great. You mentioned the bolsters. The bottom of my seats need the foam looking at. Did you take off the seat cover to look at the foam? How easy is it to take the leather off and replace it? Going to be doing mine next week.
Not too sure how you could look at the foam or at least work on it without taking the cover off
Yes, it has to come off. And there are hog rings on some seat types which tie the leather tightly to the foam and can be a b*gger to work with.
But put it this way. If you would be happy changing suspension strus and springs I'd put bolster repair in the same sort of league.
Mine goes in to the garage for that stuff. Will be interesting to see how we get on with the seats. CheersNot too sure how you could look at the foam or at least work on it without taking the cover off
Yes, it has to come off. And there are hog rings on some seat types which tie the leather tightly to the foam and can be a b*gger to work with.
But put it this way. If you would be happy changing suspension strus and springs I'd put bolster repair in the same sort of league.
Well that doesn't of course mean you can't sucessfully have a go. But you do need to be happy with taking things apart and getting them back together again. On the Sport seats at least. Never done a non-Sport seat. You'll need some upholstery spray adhesive and scrap foam to rebuild the bolsters. Although some people just tape them up with duct tape.
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
And some cable ties to replace the hog-rings. Certainly worked for me.
Or be a real glutton for punishment and buy a pair of hog ring pliers and bag of hog rings. You'd never believe how much it's possible to swear at in inanimate object if you do
- Joined
- Oct 19, 2014
- Points
- 174
- Model of Z
- 2.2i Sport
After a lifetime of mechanicing? I can swear, in several languages, too.
My bolsters weren't all the way through so i managed to get away with filling the leather with a few coats. Not really sure how i would have got on if i would have had to remove the upholstery but i would have given it a go and done a fair bit of research before attempting a repair as your describing. Good luck and post some pics when you get a chance.
The problem is that the leather wears because the foam collapses and the wire frame starts coming up and rubbing the leather.
You've done a lovely job on the seats so watch out for that.
Btw is the product sprayed or sponged on? And did you need to seal it afterwards?
Thankyou. The dye is the sponge on type. I found the right technique for applying it evenly after I had done a couple of coats. Then it has a leather creme product as a protection to finish with.