Getting my front seats reupholstered and need advice

Tom Droze · 11-13-2014, 05:04 PM

I've decided to have my two fronts seats reupholstered in my 2012 328i e92. I'm going to go with black leather with perforated inserts, as I currently have the black leatherette. I've not done this before so I'm rather ignorant when it comes to what to look for in leather. As such, I'm seeking advice from anyone who has seat reupholstering experience.

kdbryce · 11-13-2014, 05:44 PM

I don't know much about it, but it definitely doesn't sound worth it. I'm sure it's going to be really expensive and not that much better.

Taran.J · 11-13-2014, 05:49 PM

Look in local classifieds online and see if you can just swap someone locally for some M3 seats or something?

Tom Droze · 11-13-2014, 05:57 PM

I have been looking online but to no avail. Through a recommendation of a friend, I found an independent upholstery guy who works from home and will do both seats for $600.

Tom Droze · 11-13-2014, 05:58 PM

Also my seats are manual and I don't want to try and convert them to electric seats.

Taran.J · 11-13-2014, 06:21 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Droze

I have been looking online but to no avail. Through a recommendation of a friend, I found an independent upholstery guy who works from home and will do both seats for $600.

In that case that's fantastic then.

thomas88162 · 11-13-2014, 07:07 PM

Obviously make sure that you get real leather! But honestly I would just wait to wear out the leatherette before reupholstering. Of course, that may be where you are now.

Route 16 · 11-13-2014, 07:49 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tom Droze

I have been looking online but to no avail. Through a recommendation of a friend, I found an independent upholstery guy who works from home and will do both seats for $600.

$300 a seat, I say that's reasonable but depends on the quality of work and materials used. I have manual lethearette seats too so my parents bought me a used manual recaro and sparco seats that are somewhat okay but I plan to reupholster them and with much more padding maybe with nappa black leather and diamond stitching. Do what you feel is fun.

Efthreeoh · 11-13-2014, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas88162

Obviously make sure that you get real leather! But honestly I would just wait to wear out the leatherette before reupholstering. Of course, that may be where you are now.

The shit doesn't wear out. I'm at 268,000 on my original seat bottom cover...

thomas88162 · 11-13-2014, 10:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Efthreeoh

The shit doesn't wear out. I'm at 268,000 on my original seat bottom cover...

I guess that's a plus, the same cannot be said for that of BMW's leather.

BenTrovato · 11-13-2014, 10:20 PM

$300/seat is not a decent price, it's a flipping fantastic price. I would do it. I know a guy who does really great work and charges more but the quality is very high end, better than the stock leather seats by a country mile. If the guy you're using uses top end material and someone you trust says their work is spot on then go for it. The only way to know is to be able to see examples of work he has done and touch the material yourself. A lot of these guys (nearly all) use the computer generated cut out designs that the factories use.

Efthreeoh · 11-14-2014, 04:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by thomas88162

I guess that's a plus, the same cannot be said for that of BMW's leather.

Which is why it's not in my car...

11-13-2014, 05:04 PM	#1
Tom Droze Major 413 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i (e92) Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona iTrader: (0)	Getting my front seats reupholstered and need advice I've decided to have my two fronts seats reupholstered in my 2012 328i e92. I'm going to go with black leather with perforated inserts, as I currently have the black leatherette. I've not done this before so I'm rather ignorant when it comes to what to look for in leather. As such, I'm seeking advice from anyone who has seat reupholstering experience. __________________ 2012 Jet Black 328i Coupe / ESS Tuning Gen. 2 Supercharger / Evolution Racewerks Oil Cooler / BMS Oil Catch Can / BMW Performance Exhaust with Dinan Y Pipe / Eibach Pro Kit Springs / Koni FSD Shocks / MFactory LSD & Differential Bushings / Performance Rear Trailing Arms / BMW Performance Strut Brace / Stop Tech Slotted Rotors / Hawk HPS 5.0 / SS Brake Lines / Brass Guide Pins / M3 Front Control Arms, 28 MM FSB, Engine Cowl, and DCT Paddle Shifters / Michelin PSS / APEX ARC-8
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

11-13-2014, 05:44 PM	#2
kdbryce I have to return some video tapes 362 Rep 4,712 Posts Drives: e70 X5M Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Albany, NY iTrader: (0)	I don't know much about it, but it definitely doesn't sound worth it. I'm sure it's going to be really expensive and not that much better. __________________ 13 Carbon Black e70 X5M - 13 Black Sapphire e92 335i - 10 Le Mans Blue e92 335i - 09 Monaco Blue e92 328i xdrive - 07 Sparkling Graphite e92 328xi
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-13-2014, 05:49 PM	#3
Taran.J Major General 1103 Rep 7,063 Posts Drives: BMW, LEX, MBZ, RAM, TESLA Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Graham, WA iTrader: (7)	Look in local classifieds online and see if you can just swap someone locally for some M3 seats or something? __________________ E90 Build Thread (SOLD) http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=809436 F15 Build Thread (SOLD) http://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1064084
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-13-2014, 05:57 PM	#4
Tom Droze Major 413 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i (e92) Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona iTrader: (0)	I have been looking online but to no avail. Through a recommendation of a friend, I found an independent upholstery guy who works from home and will do both seats for $600.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-13-2014, 05:58 PM	#5
Tom Droze Major 413 Rep 1,286 Posts Drives: 2012 BMW 328i (e92) Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: Scottsdale, Arizona iTrader: (0)	Also my seats are manual and I don't want to try and convert them to electric seats.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-13-2014, 07:07 PM	#7
thomas88162 Lieutenant 19 Rep 595 Posts Drives: E92 328i Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Clinton, IN iTrader: (0)	Obviously make sure that you get real leather! But honestly I would just wait to wear out the leatherette before reupholstering. Of course, that may be where you are now.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-13-2014, 10:20 PM	#11
BenTrovato Driver 37 Rep 1,577 Posts Drives: e92 335i Join Date: Aug 2010 Location: Toronto iTrader: (4)	$300/seat is not a decent price, it's a flipping fantastic price. I would do it. I know a guy who does really great work and charges more but the quality is very high end, better than the stock leather seats by a country mile. If the guy you're using uses top end material and someone you trust says their work is spot on then go for it. The only way to know is to be able to see examples of work he has done and touch the material yourself. A lot of these guys (nearly all) use the computer generated cut out designs that the factories use.
	Appreciate 0 Quote