Hey guys, just wondering if I can get some input on leather trims. I currently have leather already but I want something new, as it's slowly getting wear n' tear and can't maintain (I'm taking care of it the best I can) but they're all highly used seats.

Just interested if anyone knows any auto places in the Melbourne district whom might do trims etc

Was looking on ebay and spotted this, and some feedback was hit n' miss and I don't know if I wanna trust them; http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/LEATHER-SEAT-MITSUBISHI-MAGNA-TS-TE-TF-TH-TJ-TL-TW-380-/330765841582?pt=AU_Car_Parts_Accessories&hash=item4d032e34ae&_uhb=1

Thanks, and input is greatly appreciated!

Leather ?? Nope, "Leather look" and "semi leather" if you scroll down. Want 1950s vinyl seats? lol

Also, they are "slip overs", not seat skins. Two things wrong with that:
(1) Your original seat material will still be subjected to wear and accumulating dirt through the new covers.
(2) Even though the pictures show good fit, this would have been done with trial and error, ie they would have fitted them to a seat, worked out where the material didn't fit correctly, and removed the cover to do adjustments. Pretty much impossible to achieve a good fit otherwise. Mail order process, and the fact Magna seat foam tends to change shape with age, means . . . well, a bad fit. Unless you are local to the supplier, and can negotiate fit and adjustments, give it a miss.

I've reupholstered a car interior before, using automotive fabric onto the bare seat, ie seat material removed and used as a template for the new material. The labour time involved is horrendous as is the poor fit and need for strip/adjust. Cost me $100 in materials about 10 years ago, but about 40 - 60 hours of work. End result was ok, but never again. lol

The best and most expensive option is to find a automotive retrimmer and ask for a quote. Be prepared for a shock. lol Check the phone books, online, etc.
Cheapest option is some good quality seat covers. Won't fit perfectly, but for $80 or so you won't complain too much. lol

Those seat covers are actually made of 'pleather' which means they're a combination of leather and PVC (more PVC, less leather). Also the quality of leather I'd expect to be quite poor as well. To fit them you actually need to remove your current trim, they're not covers, these are actually replacements that are custom made to your seat. Probably will not be a perfect fit but they are usually very tight.

Member "Wiggles" here in Vic, has in the past, had these exact seat covers fitted to his white TJ. He has no complaints but he didn't have them for a very long time.

Very few manufacturers actually use real leather in their seats anymore - probably a combination of durability and cost. Professional retrimers will likely use real leather, and therefore don't be surprised to hear a quote above $2k to have your interior retrimmed.

A better option might be to find a good quality cloth seat of seats - with the magna's ageing, they're getting harder to find, but not impossible. Keep an eye out.

From the ad:

"(Just Plug&Play Slip Over On Top Of Your Existing Covers Which Is Very Easy To Be Installed And Our Cover Will Protect Your Original Existing Cover as a Result you can keep the originallity of your upholstery all the time and Your Original Cover Will Look 100% Brand New Forever)
(When you get bored with the colour in the future, and you wanna change the colour, the covers can be removed easily and your original covers will still look perfect)"

Definitely slip overs, ok? NOT skins! ok?
As for "custom fit", that's only possible if they have the car while they make the covers. They would be made from a template.

I wonder if Wiggles would like to share his experience with them?

My final word: Seeing the ad is deceptive, ie not saying what the material actually is, saying it will be a perfect fit, and protect your original seat covers as new, etc. I wouldn't risk it. As above, look at the wreckers for a good set of fabric seats, or get some seat covers.

And here i am!!!!

The quality isn't too bad, very comfy. During summer though, they get stupidly hot. It doesnt last well against sharp objects though, i got a few scratches in my time. I did have them in for around 12 months

Thanks for the quick replies gentlemen, I did have a quote for real leather and yes I did get quite a shock. The local one here, quoted me for just over $2,000 all seats plus door cards, so you were pretty spot on Magna P.I. :C

Yeah, people's feedback have been transit losses, people doing the dodgy I'm assuming.
And yeah still no guarantee it will be a "Perfect fit"

Ah alrighty, did you get rid of them because they got to hot and easily damaged or?
Perhaps I might stick with my old crappy leather and suck it up haha.

And here i am!!!!

The quality isn't too bad, very comfy. During summer though, they get stupidly hot. It doesnt last well against sharp objects though, i got a few scratches in my time. I did have them in for around 12 months

Thanks for that info!
As you can tell, I'm very against these - vinyl seats in general, that is, having owned a Holden years ago with vinyl seats in the days when fabric on seats were only in upper spec models. lol

How were they for fit?
Being pleather (= "plastic that looks like leather") things like burn marks, cuts etc as well as the Summer "burns ya bum" problems would be expected.
Did you notice any drying out of the plasticisers? Cheap vinyls will evaporate the chemical practicisers, leading to an internal fog on your windows as well as letting the material harden.

Is it just the driver's seat that's worn?
If so, has anyone had one seat re-trimmed?
Anyone know how much it would cost?

I remember seeing in the wreckers, a drivers seat in factory grey leather, that had the side padding and the base retrimmed. I knew because the leather colour and quality was a bit different. Wasn't very noticable and the rest of the seats looked fine.

Unfortunately by the next time I visited someone decided to make a checkprint design in the seat with a stanley knife.

Hey whisk I'm not sure if your near the northern 'burbs, but there is a place at 232 Edwardes St, Reservior, 3073. - http://www.uniqueautointeriors.com/

He did my door cards, gear knob, and gear boot, for $230 all up, although I supplied the material for the cards, and gear boot.
That's one option of getting it done, buying your own material, and getting the auto trimmer to use that.

Is it just the driver's seat that's worn?
If so, has anyone had one seat re-trimmed?
Anyone know how much it would cost?

I was quoted $300+ for the one of the front seats, I've got the vrx leather ones that has in-side leather outside material.

Hey whisk I'm not sure if your near the northern 'burbs, but there is a place at 232 Edwardes St, Reservior, 3073. - http://www.uniqueautointeriors.com/

He did my door cards, gear knob, and gear boot, for $230 all up, although I supplied the material for the cards, and gear boot.
That's one option of getting it done, buying your own material, and getting the auto trimmer to use that.

Thanks Davo, that's much appreciated I might look into this.

Whisk, you have Verada seat bases in that case.

The Ltd Ed VRX interiors all use Verada seat foams. In that case, you can use the same trims I have used (on ebay actual genuine hide from MMAL) but they will be a light beige colour.
I was quoted $600 to have my drivers grey leather seat redone since it had a slight tear.

In your case, the HOWE hide used for the inner bit is a soft leather and they tend to wear rapidly. Shouldn't be too hard to fix though.

Mike

Haven't read everything in detail cos I'm lazy. But i have a set of ltd edt VRX red leather seats that new retrimming that I want to get rid of. PM if interested. Pretty good nic too.