Reupholstering Sport Seats

[Tricked 323i]

IRON-E, the part I don't get is that I have had a very high end upholstery store in northern Italy (they work on historic vehicles with 6+ figure pricetags, usually) redo the whole interior of an E46 - seats and doorpanels - for EUR 1500 + tax (~USD 2200). They are considered *very* expensive and italian labour prices are materially higher than they are here. Then I go to an upholstery place in NJ and they quote one-and-a-half times the money for a partly-vinyl hackjob on an E30 (seats only, the seats are smaller, there are fewer panels...). I'd love to understand where the differences are, especially seeing as leather is generally more expensive in europe.

I will throw my 2¢ in on this. What you are describing is a generalization. There are different grades of leather anywhere from Low low end leather $3 something a sq ft to high end $25- 30 sq ft with everything in between. Over all cost depends on Labor and types of materials used. I get the argument how come your micro is so much more than say JoAnnes etc. I tell them it is better made, specifically for auto use and has a better overall hand. Maybe the supplier in Germany has a better pricing since they purchase so many hides. I know of an upholstery shop that has well over a million dollars in leather hides alone. There are different grades of vinyl as well, as far as your vinyl quote it sounds as though their labor cost is high if they are charging you that kind of money for vinyl.
Kevin

[nmlss2006]

IRON-E, the part I don't get is that I have had a very high end upholstery store in northern Italy (they work on historic vehicles with 6+ figure pricetags, usually) redo the whole interior of an E46 - seats and doorpanels - for EUR 1500 + tax (~USD 2200). They are considered *very* expensive and italian labour prices are materially higher than they are here. Then I go to an upholstery place in NJ and they quote one-and-a-half times the money for a partly-vinyl hackjob on an E30 (seats only, the seats are smaller, there are fewer panels...). I'd love to understand where the differences are, especially seeing as leather is generally more expensive in europe.

[a2coupe2a]

I think we are 100% on the same page on this one. Its a big difference between doing an M car and a standard e30. I would never put vinyl in an M car if it was up to me. The value and demand of the M cars is only going to go up with each proper modification/restoration you do where as a standard 3 series wont quiet reflect the same investment potential.

[Tricked 323i]

Leather is not cheap but yet most people on r3v seem to think that with $500.00 they should be able to reupholster their whole car.

My brother has his own upholstery shop to run too but he can't compete with the tipical r3v member who comes by to ask "can you do leather and for how much?" and after getting,a quote these are the answers that they comeback with "that's too much, I can get the whole seat at the junkyard cheaper, plus my family member knows of someone a lot cheaper" or I'm gonna get bucket racing seats instead. I'll sure pay up the ass for those cause I'm a street racer and those are definitely more comfortable than a reupholstered sport seat......



Sorry guys (rant!!!) Carry on please.

Iron thanks for changing my quote......lol
I do a good amount of leather on bimmers, some E30's but mostly on M3s, M5s, M6s, Euros, etc. Most are restoring their cars back to factory. They have dumped a good amount of money on the restore process and I am usually the last person they contact.
Kevin
I mean would you want to put vinyl in this........

[IRON-E]

It is all a matter of "being able to open your wallet", only you can decide what you like.
Kevin

Leather is not cheap but yet most people on r3v seem to think that with $500.00 they should be able to reupholster their whole car.

My brother has his own upholstery shop to run too but he can't compete with the tipical r3v member who comes by to ask "can you do leather and for how much?" and after getting,a quote these are the answers that they comeback with "that's too much, I can get the whole seat at the junkyard cheaper, plus my family member knows of someone a lot cheaper" or I'm gonna get bucket racing seats instead. I'll sure pay up the ass for those cause I'm a street racer and those are definitely more comfortable than a reupholstered sport seat......



Sorry guys (rant!!!) Carry on please.

[a2coupe2a]

So if I don't really care about being able to say i have leather interior would it then be a wise decision to go with a high end synthetic because it wears better and is cheaper?

I can say for certain i could find you a synthetic that you like as well as a swatch of leather and without looking at the backing you couldnt tell which was which.

I use a ton of leather too, but honestly 99% of the people who compare the two materials choose synthetic. This isnt just some old vinyl like you would find in your grandpas 70 buick, its incredibly nice stuff.

We only push the synthetic because thats what 99% of the people we deal with want. If it was the other way around we would push leather.

[Tricked 323i]

So if I don't really care about being able to say i have leather interior would it then be a wise decision to go with a high end synthetic because it wears better and is cheaper?

It is all a matter of preference, only you can decide what you like.
Kevin

[gmyers395]

So if I don't really care about being able to say i have leather interior would it then be a wise decision to go with a high end synthetic because it wears better and is cheaper?

[Tricked 323i]

I think you should also tell this to Kevin and see what he thinks..perhaps he'll agree with you.

Hey bro how did I get dragged into this? LOL Seriously a2coupe I see you push a lot of vinyl and although it wears better then leather a number of people prefer leather instead. When customers are trying to take their cars back to Original they will opt for leather if their car came with it. Don't get me wrong I do a number of vinyl or micro kits but I also do a great deal of leather work as well.
Kevin

[Ceeker]

If bondo had the same rating, finish, and could actually last longer then metal sure. Hey guess what i do this for a living, how about you go argue something you might actually know more about.

You have no fucking clue what you are even speaking of. How about you tell me the average ratings of a standard leather? How about you tell me how long your average leather will last before it starts cracking. How about a good rub/uv rating of synthetic? Maybe a few factual reasons why leather is better other then a "because i said so" argument.

Sounds more like the argument of an elitist dbag trying to justify the money he spent because it makes him feel special.

ooooooo,,,sounds like someone is getting a weee bit hot under the collar...sheesh..you gotta relax man..LOL!!
How about I tell you someone has got your goat because someone is getting all bent outta shape...u gotta chill...

I think you should also tell this to Kevin and see what he thinks..perhaps he'll agree with you.

[a2coupe2a]

If bondo had the same rating, finish, and could actually last longer then metal sure. Hey guess what i do this for a living, how about you go argue something you might actually know more about.

You have no fucking clue what you are even speaking of. How about you tell me the average ratings of a standard leather? How about you tell me how long your average leather will last before it starts cracking. How about a good rub/uv rating of synthetic? Maybe a few factual reasons why leather is better other then a "because i said so" argument.

Sounds more like the argument of an elitist dbag trying to justify the money he spent because it makes him feel special.

[Ceeker]

Yes they do, all mfg i have ever seen do it including bmw. Also you are right, it is a matter of preference. I call the preference wasting money. I would bet my last dollar that i could use a high end synthetic leather to cover a set and if you asked somebody which they thought was the nicer material would pick the synthetic over the leather. It would also last longer then the leather and be only about 1/4 the cost.

I work with leather and synthetics every single day.

just from your opinion you would also use bondo instead of metal to fix rust on a car. I mean, what's the difference the avg person wouldn't know or notice. and it all looks the same right? All preference of course and also a waste of money. Thanks for letting me know because with all due respect and no offense to be taken, this is what people do with used cars that are worthy of restoration. They cheap out because they are thinking of saving. that is why so many bmw's get butchered. We live in a world of mediocrity. But few are willing to make the exception.

[a2coupe2a]

vw is the worst, its bad enough to mix and match but the material they use is about the cheapest bargain bin stuff you can find.

[IRON-E]

Because I have personally seen it, the mix and matching seems to happen a lot more in the Japanese and US vehicles. Way to keep costs even lower.

[Tricked 323i]

Take it from someone that has worked on hundreds of BMW's along with a number of Mercedes and Porsches. They are either all leather or all leatherette. None of them mix or matched their materials. VW is horrible about mixing their materials, in my wife's 2010 EOS they used leatherette and some sort of spandex weave on the sides, horrible. We opted on no leather as it will get reupholstered.
Kevin