how do you fix ripped/cracking leather? - BMW 3-Series (E90 E92) Forum

kiwi29 · 04-03-2012, 04:53 PM

I have a few rips, crakcs and a light burn on my seat, any diy fixtures for it? I don't have real leather, I have the mtech seats. Please help, I don't wanna spend a grand on re wrapping it over again

e92oholic · 04-03-2012, 04:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi29

I have a few rips, crakcs and a light burn on my seat, any diy fixtures for it? I don't have real leather, I have the mtech seats. Please help, I don't wanna spend a grand on re wrapping it over again

look around for a vinyl/leather repair guy. They can fix the seats for easy and cheap.

edirtaynine · 04-03-2012, 06:01 PM

what are mtech seats? theyre different from sport seats??

kiwi29 · 04-03-2012, 06:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e60oholic

look around for a vinyl/leather repair guy. They can fix the seats for easy and cheap.

I got quoted for 100 bucks for some tiny tears :/ any recommendations ?

Quote:

Originally Posted by edirtaynine

what are mtech seats? theyre different from sport seats??

To be honest I'm not sure but its the same design as the dash

Hey Ant · 04-03-2012, 06:24 PM

mtech seats are pleather, sport seats are real leather, but 100 bux for the repair is a fair price.

gunnerxq · 04-03-2012, 06:41 PM

Does anyone know where I can buy new sports seats?

kiwi29 · 04-03-2012, 06:41 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

mtech seats are pleather, sport seats are real leather, but 100 bux for the repair is a fair price.

Hmmmm well it doesn't seem logical because they're only tiny messups, is there a way to do it myself?

Hey Ant · 04-03-2012, 06:43 PM

e92oholic · 04-03-2012, 06:45 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi29

Hmmmm well it doesn't seem logical because they're only tiny messups, is there a way to do it myself?

100 bucks isn't bad at all. At my uncles dealer we would pay 75 for a couple little tears and that was with our repeat customer discount. I once had a tube of deodorant melt on my seat and it left a discolored circle he airbrushed it with the same color you couldnt even tell and it lasted for 2+ years. Sure you could probably do it yourself but the guy doing it is going to have a wide selection of colors and years of experience doing it. And if you feel ilke messing up a seat to try and save yourself 50 bucks thats up to you.

kiwi29 · 04-04-2012, 03:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Does anyone know where I can buy new sports seats?

Id just browse on here for some M seats or used sport seats. People usually sell them every so often

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hey Ant

Sweet

thanks ill try this lol but my rip isn't that severe

Quote:

Originally Posted by e60oholic

100 bucks isn't bad at all. At my uncles dealer we would pay 75 for a couple little tears and that was with our repeat customer discount. I once had a tube of deodorant melt on my seat and it left a discolored circle he airbrushed it with the same color you couldnt even tell and it lasted for 2+ years. Sure you could probably do it yourself but the guy doing it is going to have a wide selection of colors and years of experience doing it. And if you feel ilke messing up a seat to try and save yourself 50 bucks thats up to you.

True, ima see where my wallet leads me. Thanks for the heads up

1QuikWS6 · 04-04-2012, 03:33 AM

I totally agree - $100 is nothing...

I worked for a custom auto upholstery shop while in college. There's a lot of labor involved in replacing individual damaged seat material panels.

Obviously, seat covers are made of seperate individual panels stitched together to make an entire seat cover.

To replace a damaged section you first have to order the matching material, remove the seat from the car, remove the seat cover, mark and cut out the damaged panel from where it is stitched to the others, use that piece to trace/cut out the new panel, sew the new panel into the seat cover, replace the seat cover, & finally install the seat back in the car.

I wouldn't touch the job for $100 unless it was only (1) panel that needed replaced.

kiwi29 · 04-04-2012, 03:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

I totally agree - $100 is nothing...

I worked for a custom auto upholstery shop while in college. There's a lot of labor involved in replacing individual damaged seat material panels.

Obviously, seat covers are made of seperate individual panels stitched together to make an entire seat cover.

To replace a damaged section you first have to order the matching material, remove the seat from the car, remove the seat cover, mark and cut out the damaged panel from where it is stitched to the others, use that piece to trace/cut out the new panel, sew the new panel into the seat cover, replace the seat cover, & finally install the seat back in the car.

I wouldn't touch the job for $100 unless it was only (1) panel that needed replaced.

Definitely keeping that in mind, any recommendations for a place around the socal area?

ENINTY · 04-04-2012, 11:53 AM

I just repaired my driver's seat a month ago. BMW sells the seat covers as replacement parts. They are pretty reasonably priced (if compared to having a shop remake the cover or replace panels on the cover). I paid an upholstery shop about $380 to replace the upper and lower foam and upper seat cover. It was about 6 hours labor and included removal and replacement of the seat in the car. The upper cover I think was about $300.

kiwi29 · 04-04-2012, 12:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENINTY

I just repaired my driver's seat a month ago. BMW sells the seat covers as replacement parts. They are pretty reasonably priced (if compared to having a shop remake the cover or replace panels on the cover). I paid an upholstery shop about $380 to replace the upper and lower foam and upper seat cover. It was about 6 hours labor and included removal and replacement of the seat in the car. The upper cover I think was about $300.

covers? i've never heard of them selling seat covers as replacements? O.O please enlighten me on how this one works. is it just like a walmart style strap over? or is it one where you'd have to remove the old leather and replace it with the new one?

Ehwnnc · 04-04-2012, 06:09 PM

I work at a toyota dealership and have done some seat work. You use a "cover" which goes over the foam. You remove the factory clotch/leather which is held on by a series of pins and then put the new on. It can be a pain in the ass but if you have done it a few times its not too bad.

ENINTY · 04-04-2012, 08:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kiwi29

covers? i've never heard of them selling seat covers as replacements? O.O please enlighten me on how this one works. is it just like a walmart style strap over? or is it one where you'd have to remove the old leather and replace it with the new one?

Well just because you never heard of "them" selling seat covers as replacemets doesn't mean the parts don't exist.

It works by going on realoem.com, looking up your car by entering the last 7 digits of your VIN. Looking under the parts header name "seats", looking at the pretty pictures and deciding what OEM seat part you need to replace, buying it, and either taking it to a shop to do the replacement work, or DIY.

I'll make it easy for you; google P/N 52106956391 and see what comes up.

gunnerxq · 04-04-2012, 08:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ENINTY

Well just because you never heard of "them" selling seat covers as replacemets doesn't mean the parts don't exist.

It works by going on realoem.com, looking up your car by entering the last 7 digits of your VIN. Looking under the parts header name "seats", looking at the pretty pictures and deciding what OEM seat part you need to replace, buying it, and either taking it to a shop to do the replacement work, or DIY.

I'll make it easy for you; google P/N 52106956391 and see what comes up.

Wait could I slowly build my sports seats like that?

ENINTY · 04-04-2012, 08:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Wait could I slowly build my sports seats like that?

Probably, if the seat frame is the same...

BAMxi · 04-04-2012, 09:33 PM

I had a big tear in the outside bolster of my driver's seat and a bunch of wear on the edge from the previous owner getting in/out when I bought my car. I took it to a good local auto trim shop and had the whole section replaced for $100. They did a good enough job so that you can't even tell unless you get very close and notice the replacement piece is slightly smoother than the rest of the seat. But you'd never know if you weren't looking specifically for it. I also have leatherette. Mine is black.

kiwi29 · 04-04-2012, 11:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by gunnerxq

Wait could I slowly build my sports seats like that?

Might as well get m3 seating

Kuch335 · 04-05-2012, 12:36 AM

actually tried one of those Permatex leather repair kits you buy off the shelf at the auto parts store for a 1in cut in the leather in my wife's lexus.. they're black seats, so I didn't get into color matching, and it actually worked surprisingly well.. practically invisible and has held strong for over a year now..

kiwi29 · 04-17-2012, 06:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kuch123

actually tried one of those Permatex leather repair kits you buy off the shelf at the auto parts store for a 1in cut in the leather in my wife's lexus.. they're black seats, so I didn't get into color matching, and it actually worked surprisingly well.. practically invisible and has held strong for over a year now..

Was the work hard? Ona scale of 1-10 10 being the hardest what would u rate it?

04-03-2012, 06:41 PM	#6
gunnerxq Captain Drives: e90 "325i" Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Staten Island and Albany Posts: 940 iTrader: (0)	Does anyone know where I can buy new sports seats? __________________ Bilstein shocks, eibach pro-kit springs, Remus exhaust, stage 3 intake manifold,Stage 2 AA tune, BMW Short shift kit.

04-04-2012, 03:33 AM	#11
1QuikWS6 No 55mph Drives: 09 E92 328ix Cpe Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA Posts: 3,143 iTrader: (68)	I totally agree - $100 is nothing... I worked for a custom auto upholstery shop while in college. There's a lot of labor involved in replacing individual damaged seat material panels. Obviously, seat covers are made of seperate individual panels stitched together to make an entire seat cover. To replace a damaged section you first have to order the matching material, remove the seat from the car, remove the seat cover, mark and cut out the damaged panel from where it is stitched to the others, use that piece to trace/cut out the new panel, sew the new panel into the seat cover, replace the seat cover, & finally install the seat back in the car. I wouldn't touch the job for $100 unless it was only (1) panel that needed replaced. __________________ 2009 328ix E92 Cpe//SGM//ACS Roof Spoiler//MTech Aero Lip+Trunk Spoiler//M3 Side Skirts//CF Roundels//CF Grilles//M3 Novillo Interior//Perf Shift Lever+Boot//M3 DCT Wheel//M3 GT3 eBrake Handle/Boot//ACS Pedals//M3 Mirrors//LCI Tailights//LUX H8v3 AE/MTec 6000K D1S/HPB HID 6000K Fogs//HPB LED Interior//RPI Scoops//CF Euro Airbox+Underhood Hsgs//K&N//MTech Rear Bumper/iS Sport Diffuser//MFD Strut Brace//PBX//BMW 193M's+Kumho 4X

04-04-2012, 09:33 PM	#19
BAMxi First Lieutenant Drives: E90 328xi Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Kansas City, MO Posts: 374 iTrader: (3) Garage List 2007 328xi [5.00]	I had a big tear in the outside bolster of my driver's seat and a bunch of wear on the edge from the previous owner getting in/out when I bought my car. I took it to a good local auto trim shop and had the whole section replaced for $100. They did a good enough job so that you can't even tell unless you get very close and notice the replacement piece is slightly smoother than the rest of the seat. But you'd never know if you weren't looking specifically for it. I also have leatherette. Mine is black. __________________ Eibach Pro Kit \| 19" Avant Garde M341 \| BMS PBX

04-05-2012, 12:36 AM	#21
Kuch335 2007 335i E92 Drives: 2007 335i TiAg Coupe Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Maineville, OH Posts: 391 iTrader: (4)	actually tried one of those Permatex leather repair kits you buy off the shelf at the auto parts store for a 1in cut in the leather in my wife's lexus.. they're black seats, so I didn't get into color matching, and it actually worked surprisingly well.. practically invisible and has held strong for over a year now.. __________________ 2007 335i E92 - JB4, MR5 Intake, VRSF DPs, Sachs SRE Coilovers, UUC Corsa Exhaust, MDF Scoops, Tint, LED Int, LUX V3, 6k D1S & HID Fog, Custom painted CF Hood, Mini Battery

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search

04-03-2012, 06:01 PM	#3
edirtaynine Major General Drives: e92 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: SoCal Posts: 5,100 iTrader: (0)	what are mtech seats? theyre different from sport seats??

04-03-2012, 06:24 PM	#5
Hey Ant Form & Function Drives: AWE92 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles Posts: 2,028 iTrader: (13)	mtech seats are pleather, sport seats are real leather, but 100 bux for the repair is a fair price.

04-03-2012, 06:43 PM	#8
Hey Ant Form & Function Drives: AWE92 Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: 818 Los Angeles Posts: 2,028 iTrader: (13)

04-04-2012, 11:53 AM	#13
ENINTY Banned Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia Posts: 3,415 iTrader: (0)	I just repaired my driver's seat a month ago. BMW sells the seat covers as replacement parts. They are pretty reasonably priced (if compared to having a shop remake the cover or replace panels on the cover). I paid an upholstery shop about $380 to replace the upper and lower foam and upper seat cover. It was about 6 hours labor and included removal and replacement of the seat in the car. The upper cover I think was about $300.

04-04-2012, 06:09 PM	#15
Ehwnnc Private First Class Drives: 135i Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: North Carolina Posts: 104 iTrader: (0)	I work at a toyota dealership and have done some seat work. You use a "cover" which goes over the foam. You remove the factory clotch/leather which is held on by a series of pins and then put the new on. It can be a pain in the ass but if you have done it a few times its not too bad.