reupholstering seats

[OldManHenry]

My 91 325 is a great little car... the driver's seat is in great shape and the passenger is pretty good too... no tears. My problem is the back seat. I know most verts have the same weather/sun rotted seats in the back so I'm curious for solutions.

I could reupholster just the back seat but then the patina/wear wouldn't match the fronts... I have black leather

I could reupholster to whole thing at a shop at a cost of around 2k or more

I could buy a set from ninestitch for 750 for vinyl/cloth combo. I like the look but I've never seen it in person so I don't know the quality.

It's the only part of my vert that embarrasses me, I'd love to fix it ASAP.

[fresh_TD]

Sell the vert and get a coupe;-)

Sent from my Samsung Note 4

[TimeMachinE30]

Sell the vert and get a coupe;-)

Sent from my Samsung Note 4

Blasphme! In the new 'vert section, nonetheless! Stone him!:)

[Das Delfin]

this is my experience with ninestitch

http://www.r3vlimited.com/board/showthread.php?t=361422

[OldManHenry]

Das - I checked out your thread a few days ago, looks great! If I go ninestitch, your thread would be why. My car is brillantrot, I would need to decide on a good color combo for it.

[///M42 sport]

i'm currently in the same position. Considering ninstitch or gahh.com and have a shop recover.

[Das Delfin]

Das - I checked out your thread a few days ago, looks great! If I go ninestitch, your thread would be why. My car is brillantrot, I would need to decide on a good color combo for it.

You could go with a lightish gray color and make your car the opposite of mine

Lots of people do tan with red cars. I like tan with my car, but I figured if I'm spending lots of money on it I'd really want something unique

[Das Delfin]

i'm currently in the same position. Considering ninstitch or gahh.com and have a shop recover.

It's really not hard to do yourself, but depending on your patience, will take a few days. I went to a shop for a quote and the guy said he'd have to charge me a least a day's labor, which means before materials I'd be in for $1000. After everything he was saying it would have been 1600 ish. And that was for a normal plain jane job in vinyl.

[jeffnhiscars]

I had a local guy quote me $1000 just to re cover the upper back seat....in vinyl. It's all I could do to get outnofnthere without losing my lunch lol

[fuzzysux]

i've seen really interesting takes on this problem. some cars that have rolled through my garage have had a new black vinyl cover on the rear seat that looked pretty decent.. i would assume around $150.. but i have never seen where to purchase.

others have taken the seat apart and bring the material to a local upholsterer and have them just add a section to the top of the seat. it doesn't look 100% original but depending on the budget and purpose of your vert, this may be a viable option.

you may have to go to 2-3 upholsterers. note - i have had much better luck with boat upholsterers than car ones for this type of request. they seem to be much more flexible and way more reasonably priced.

lastly, and what i have done more than a few times.. i will buy another car or two and swap the entire interior, sell some parts etc.. if your neighbors don't mind seeing 5-6 e30's in your driveway, you can make $$ with this approach

[wcipolli]

Bavauto sells "custom fit" covers that really don't look terrible - they'll be about the same cost for material but you should be able to install it yourself.

Das Delfin, that interior is spectacular. How much was the kit and did you find a DIY to follow - this might be added to my list of things to do; I really have to stop procrastinating on the forum... my wallet can't handle it.

[Das Delfin]

Search the forum and the web - there are a few DIY's you can use. My kit was somewhat custom - I had extra headrests made, and the back seat was in a different style than normal cabrios. But John's prices are on his website - just google ninestich. It's the website with the e30s on it

This one was good:

http://www.e30tech.com/forum/showthread.php?t=82306

This seems okay:

http://www.bimmerforums.com/forum/showthread.php?1331911-DIY-e30-seat-reupholstering

There are a couple others. One of the guy with the bronzit cabrio and there was another of a guy with squarish glasses which was super informative. I can't find it now. Definitely search google 10x over. And it's really important to remember how the seat comes apart and how the old fabric came off the seat. Once you get in on it you'll get the idea. The back seat was easiest for me and probably a good place to start.

The bavauto seat covers are okay but when you figure it's over $400, you're already halfway towards a real kit, one which would actually improve the value of your car and return some of your investment. My gf and I went to NH last year and I got a couple pics of their covers. As you can see these were a used set, and they did not cover the headrests, which, if yours are like how mine were (sunbaked), would be a problem. Plus they're gross sticky vinyl.

[N2MYE30]

Ive done the ebay kit and had a custom cut. I would go with Ninestitch. He is a good guy and supports E30s. Very well priced too.

You also could put ask here if anybody is selling a back seat.

[OldManHenry]

The problem with buying here is that I'll be buying another 25 year old seat which, after shipping, will cost a significant portion of ninestitch. I've been stalking my local Craigslist though.

[MC Hammered]

I bought a old vert rear seat and have the pieces done the same time as the fronts so everything would match.