$1400 to redo the leather seats in car ?

[chillcat]

Someone quoted me about 1400 to redo both seats in my 91 sl500 (not including the headrests). This was material and labor. Does this sound right ? Or is there a company out there who does Custom color combinations for ready made covers to put on yourself. thanks

[Roncallo]

It sound about right. My 107 leather kit was about $700. I did it myself and it was a significant amount of work.

John Roncallo

[peter serbanica]

Gahh has the covers. I install them

[chillcat]

Did this self install require special tools ? and what all pieces of leather are included in the kit, I see the 2 seat covers for the seat, but then theres the leather around the back of seat and around the seat belt area too--those are not included in the kit are they? Please do share, the tips involved in changing them out yourself..and where did you purchase your covers?

[Jim B.]

Originally Posted by chillcat

Did this self install require special tools ? and what all pieces of leather are included in the kit, I see the 2 seat covers for the seat, but then theres the leather around the back of seat and around the seat belt area too--those are not included in the kit are they? Please do share, the tips involved in changing them out yourself..and where did you purchase your covers?

Another alternative: www.ramsheadusa.com

I've had these for over 10 years, ^^^^ still have them, still pleased with them

[nobby]

I have had two quotes for my 107. $1800 and $4000. As they are not ripped I am going to dye them.

[Richard Wooldridge]

I had the leather seats done in my 1979 450SL last January. German Auto Tops, Inc, in North Hollywood, CA made the seat covers and they arranged for Burbank Auto Tops to install them. I also had new carpeting installed at the same time. The cost for both was $1700.00 installed. They used authentic German leather and the original style German carpeting in the correct color and patterns for both, everything matched perfectly. It took the guys at Burbank Auto Tops from 8AM until 7:30PM to do the work, and they also had to do some reconstruction on the driver's seat - two broken springs. I watched most of the work, and it wasn't easy. The interior looks GREAT now, and the seats are comfortable again. German Auto Tops makes tops for other people to resell - they have a nifty computerized cutter that cuts the tops one at a time, it is sort of a CNC machine in that the computer controls the cutter head, and the cuts are performed very accurately. When I need a top, that is where I will go.
They also gave me an extra console carpet piece and I had them cut and bind a spare rear shelf piece as well, in case I decide to remove the speakers that are there now.

[chillcat]

update: I ordered a set of factory sheepskin covers for $330 shipped, any ebay item for both seats

[chillcat]

UPDATE: I just installed black factory sheepskin covers, got off ebay for $300, here are 2 pics, they worked out great!

[SunGuy]

Originally Posted by Richard Wooldridge

I had the leather seats done in my 1979 450SL last January. German Auto Tops, Inc, in North Hollywood, CA made the seat covers and they arranged for Burbank Auto Tops to install them. I also had new carpeting installed at the same time. The cost for both was $1700.00 installed. They used authentic German leather and the original style German carpeting in the correct color and patterns for both, everything matched perfectly. It took the guys at Burbank Auto Tops from 8AM until 7:30PM to do the work, and they also had to do some reconstruction on the driver's seat - two broken springs. I watched most of the work, and it wasn't easy. The interior looks GREAT now, and the seats are comfortable again. German Auto Tops makes tops for other people to resell - they have a nifty computerized cutter that cuts the tops one at a time, it is sort of a CNC machine in that the computer controls the cutter head, and the cuts are performed very accurately. When I need a top, that is where I will go.
They also gave me an extra console carpet piece and I had them cut and bind a spare rear shelf piece as well, in case I decide to remove the speakers that are there now.

Richard, can you post contact info for German Auto Tops, phone, website, contact name...Thanks

Bob

[Richard Wooldridge]

Hi Bob,

Contact info for German Auto Tops, Inc.

John Oganesyan, President
(818) 766-9511
Fax (818) 766-1185

5547 Satsuma Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

I talked with John and his wife for an hour or so, and he said they've been in the business over 25 years. They have 7 or 8 employees, and do high quality work. They don't have a web site as far as I know.

[JFawcett]

Sounds expensive to me...are you replacing the seat covers or getting some of the panels replaced? I had several panels in the drivers seat replaced and seats and head rests re-dyed for about $600 - perfect job. This was done by a local guy recommended to me by Mercedes-Benz of Greenway here in Houston.

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by Richard Wooldridge

Hi Bob,

Contact info for German Auto Tops, Inc.

John Oganesyan, President
(818) 766-9511
Fax (818) 766-1185

5547 Satsuma Ave.
North Hollywood, CA 91601

I talked with John and his wife for an hour or so, and he said they've been in the business over 25 years. They have 7 or 8 employees, and do high quality work. They don't have a web site as far as I know.

Yes thats the guy I got my interior from. See my new interior at:

http://www.peachparts.com/shopforum/vbpicgallery.php?do=view&g=414

As far as the same German material ect, Im not too shure about that. The leather I got seems softer than the original, which I like better. The carpeting may be the same carpet material but it lacks some of the features of the original MB carpeting. For example most of the carpeting from MB has a thin layer of padding sewn into it this is not available with German Auto Tops stuff. The original front MB carpets include a 1" thick pice of foam glued to the carpet. These do not come with the German Auto Tops carpet. However the original MB drivers side front carpet cost as much as the whole carpet kit from German Auto Tops. So you take the 1" thick pad off your old front carpets and put it onto the German Auto Tops carpet. The rest of the thin carpet padding you wont notice.

But in general quality for the $ this guy is the best.

John Roncallo

[Roncallo]

Originally Posted by chillcat

Did this self install require special tools ? and what all pieces of leather are included in the kit, I see the 2 seat covers for the seat, but then theres the leather around the back of seat and around the seat belt area too--those are not included in the kit are they? Please do share, the tips involved in changing them out yourself..and where did you purchase your covers?

I had to purchase a leather punch set for making large holes in the leather. I also had to purchse hog ring pliers and hog rings and dry silicone lubricant. There was also one special spanner I needed to get that I was able to get on line for under $20.00. I my memory serves me correctly it is called a DIN spanner. You may be able to find my post on that spanner by doing a search. All of the tools and supplies were ~ $100.00

[KSLucas]

ChillCat,

I invested $2000 in seats for my 450SL: $400 for seat cores including arm rest from 1989 560SL; $400 for new seat and back rests; $795 for leather upholstery kit from German Auto Tops; and $300 for the labor to recover. The comfort and ride difference was worth the money.

KSL