seat refurbishing - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

C.Doner · #1 08-29-2013, 02:50 PM

Hi I am interested in replacing my seat covers/skins. I wish to keep the original cloth as the insert portion of the seat cover. I have one of the Los Angeles upholstery shops that will use their R107 seat cover template and use cloth instead of leather or vinyl for the center insert. I have to supply the cloth. I have the source but need to calculate how much meterage to purchase. I suppose I should get all the meterage needed to refurbish the entire interior. That way I can get a picture on how mush it will all cost. I can call the upholster and see what he says. What do you think.

C.Doner · #2 09-04-2013, 03:46 PM

Oops. Cloth on the way.

Ordered articles:

MERC18471
Merk:
MERCEDES
Kleur:
BEIGE
Fabrieksnaam:
KARO3 CODE 075 CREMEBEIGE
Metrage:
4 meters
Opmerking:

C.Doner · #3 09-04-2013, 04:43 PM

I hope that is not a factor. It looks like like I may have to pay a tax. The shipment is coming from the netherlands. I don't think It will add much to the total.
Costs for making the covers are all over the place. I will have to stay within my budget. It may take a while for it to be completed. The seats are out and the car is not drivable until they are back in. So there is some incentive.

C.Doner · #4 09-06-2013, 07:01 PM

Ugg but I did not realize it was up for delivery. I was not home. I am teeming with anticipation here so I may just drive over to get it at the fed ex facility in town. Its just Friday and traffic will be rough. Its like 95 out and Ive got the toddler today so we will see. Hopefully this eve, at the latest monday. A/C is functioning in the truck so its possible.
I did not expect such fast delivery all the way from the Netherlands. I just paid monday and the it took a day to process. very nice

C.Doner · #5 09-07-2013, 10:57 PM

The old cloth is very faded. It is definitely the same. The under areas where its not faded do match. I probably got more than I needed. I hope to do the doors as well but right now it will be just the seats.
The upholster says he will use his computer template and just use the cloth instead of the normal tex for the center. The original seats are tex on the sides. He wont guarantee the exact fit since it may not stretch the same as tex. I am going to chance it. Its going to be nice i am sure. The local upholster will help me stretch the seat skins and add material if needed to compensate for shrunken foam.
I actually found this website after a lot of google searching and it actually came from Pelican's BMW blog site. It is half the price of KHM at cabrio.de Nice. That makes things end up costing around the level of leather. That is fine as I don't really like leather compared to cloth. Yes leather is better than tex of course.
WEST TRADING

C.Doner · #6 09-18-2013, 07:43 PM

This is a preliminary stretching. All the holes still need to be made around the vinyl and for the headrests. It should not be too hard. The cloth seems forgiving as far as perfectness goes. I am still deciding if I want to do it all myself or hire some help. I am quite satisfied and am confident I can make it look good. I will be adding a bit of padding to tighten things up.

C.Doner · #7 09-24-2013, 12:14 PM

It looks good so far. This is the seat work I've done to the bottom cushion. It is kind of lumpy in front from the pleats. If I pulled the skirt tighter it may help this. I will put padding it to even it out as best as possible. Not perf. but I'm happy. Plus I am saving like $1200 doing it myself. It is for me to enjoy so perfectness is not necessary.

Edit. I just looked and it seems I should have bulked it a little more around the sides of the coco fiber. I will add something over the skirt to compensate for this. The next seat will have bulk added all around the seat instead of just over the top.

C.Doner · #8 09-29-2013, 01:18 PM

It is not perfect but I like it. Pretty good for my first attempt.

C.Doner · #9 10-20-2013, 01:44 PM

here are some photos of the process. more to come. here I am measuring and cutting the holes for the headrests. I thought it would have been done but no.

C.Doner · #10 10-20-2013, 02:05 PM

I am adding more comfort here for sure. I used about 3 cans of rubber-izer on this seat as it was beginning to decay. It is firm now. The passenger seat from before seemed fine so I did not do that one. here I am reusing the old padding to replace sunken areas in the coconut fiber or whatever it is. The rear seats are $250 per pad from MB. Not an option. Fronts are available online for 150 or so. I opted for renewal. A cost of $65 for the pads all together. I used supplies like an old yoga mat and padding from the old covers to save.

C.Doner · #11 10-20-2013, 02:36 PM

They did not cut it the exact way so I had to improvise a bit. marking your place for the little pads ans such is vital. I suggest to staple the upholstery a little bit more away from the edge to avoid staples being visible. You can mark before you staple by holding the upholstery with a few staples only then mark the area while holding the carpet backing on. That way you get an outline for the staples. After that use very small u shaped tacks around the carpet backing bezel. You sort of go under the carpet bezel so the small vinyl flap slightly covers the tack. It is a challenge to conceal the tacks. If you don't it will be tacky. My job is adequate.

nobby · #12 10-21-2013, 03:00 PM

Live Crickets 60min "Natural Sound" - YouTube

I am following with interest.

Keep up the good work.

Graham · #13 10-21-2013, 09:57 PM

Interesting thread. Seats look great.

C.Doner · #14 10-22-2013, 05:09 PM

I used foam on top that was about 1/2 inch thick low density. you could choose another type . It was available locally so I did not want to deal with mail order. I just wanted to get it done. Either way when you glue the foam to the top of the pad you want to cut a taper so the corner is taken away. It takes a bunch of razor blades to do. About one per few inches. If you dont do the taper and round it off where it meets the edge of the pad, the corner the seat will show unevenness through the vinyl.
Also seat backs and the center console in the rear can be the vinyl renewed by removing the old and tracing an outline on the backside of the new. Then cut with razor or scissors. Be sure to have the orientation correct or you will have opposites like I did. It doesn't really matter though as the pieces are symmetrical. It just is easier that way. I tried painting the vinyl with matched vinyl paint. It was horrible looking I had to rip it off and put new vinyl on. The paint worked on the faded carpet, but not the stained areas.
For the headrest cut press down with a finger and find the opening in the foam then mark it and measure each side. remove the seat cover then cut the hole. Keep it small as possible then fit the bezel in. The bezel snaps down on the cloth to hold it from being frayed.
The first pic is after one can of rubber. I used at least one more. Two I'm folding the cover in to install the top part. The third is my wonderful helper using her skills cutting the center console piece.

C.Doner · #15 10-22-2013, 08:42 PM

I have to give credit here:
New upholstery - Benzworld.org - Mercedes-Benz Discussion Forum
Here they are installed. I am searching for a way to fix those plastic chrome bits that break off the trim. Also there are quite a few things to put back still. It screams at me to replace the carpet as well. That will be in the spring as Im done with expensive interior projects until another time. I'm wanting all new chrome trim too but it is too much for now. I'll see if ebay or the parts section here will come through.