SJS Carstyling interior for w114 coupe

[subforry]

Hi all,


Thought I would share my notes on the SJS Carstyling interior for a w114 coupe. I have a 1972 250C with vinyl. These interior kits can be bought from eBay (recommended) or their web site. First off their vinyl seats are sewn like a leather seat and not heat sealed like the originals. The vinyl is heavy, seems like good quality. The stitching is ok, not well locked at ends. The grain is not identical to MB Tex. Stitching is not even and there are some waves in the longer seams with piping.


The kit is quite complete but several of the items are useless.


Headrest covers are too small, clumsy zipper, wavy seams, unusable slots for the shafts. You will have to sew your own, buy better, or reuse/repair yours.


Front center arm rest is too narrow, does not fit my short and wide armrest, also same comments as the headrests.


Rear armrest is too large, really sloppy handle using vinyl that is too thick and was sewn on off center and crooked. You will have to sew your own, buy better, or reuse/repair yours.


Front seat back covers are plain sheets of vinyl. There are no heat sealed lines as there are on the originals. The vinyl is too thick to wrap cleanly around the back and slide into the slots on the seat back. Recommend you reuse/repair yours.


Door panels are sewn, not heat sealed. They have foam inside to the edge of the vinyl and this will be a problem when you wrap the edge and attach to the back of the panel. The foam can be cut back. I have not yet tried to installed the door panel covers. Recommend you reuse/repair yours.


On w114 and w115 cars, seat covers can be installed yourself, there is no sewing required (aside from the exceptions listed above). Some gluing is required. It's not an easy job and the first seat I did could be better.


I ordered my set on eBay, for $800, they shipped the wrong color and SJS were kind of asses about correcting their mistake. So I had to ask eBay to step in. I was refunded and the set (wrong color) were free. VHT vinyl dye is amazing, but still more work and money to correct.


Many times during the install, I felt that even free these covers were not worth it. It can be very frustrating to install these covers, especially when I just cut off an original cover to learn the new one is incorrect.


If you just want to replace some ripped seats and don't care about matching color or style then kit is ok.


Gahh and German Auto Tops seem to be the same company. A set of seat covers for a w114 coupe are about $1600. If these are heat sealed and/or made in the US then the extra price might be worth it. I would be cautious that they might be reselling SJS product. Give them a call. German Auto Tops seem like good people and do work to make the customer happy.


As for World Upholstery, you can't go wrong. Very good work and the best materials. No wavy seams with their stuff.


Good luck.

[cth350]

thanks. -CTH

[MARK1800]

Originally Posted by subforry

Hi all,


Thought I would share my notes on the SJS Carstyling interior for a w114 coupe. I have a 1972 250C with vinyl. These interior kits can be bought from eBay (recommended) or their web site. First off their vinyl seats are sewn like a leather seat and not heat sealed like the originals. The vinyl is heavy, seems like good quality. The stitching is ok, not well locked at ends. The grain is not identical to MB Tex. Stitching is not even and there are some waves in the longer seams with piping.


The kit is quite complete but several of the items are useless.


Headrest covers are too small, clumsy zipper, wavy seams, unusable slots for the shafts. You will have to sew your own, buy better, or reuse/repair yours.


Front center arm rest is too narrow, does not fit my short and wide armrest, also same comments as the headrests.


Rear armrest is too large, really sloppy handle using vinyl that is too thick and was sewn on off center and crooked. You will have to sew your own, buy better, or reuse/repair yours.


Front seat back covers are plain sheets of vinyl. There are no heat sealed lines as there are on the originals. The vinyl is too thick to wrap cleanly around the back and slide into the slots on the seat back. Recommend you reuse/repair yours.


Door panels are sewn, not heat sealed. They have foam inside to the edge of the vinyl and this will be a problem when you wrap the edge and attach to the back of the panel. The foam can be cut back. I have not yet tried to installed the door panel covers. Recommend you reuse/repair yours.


On w114 and w115 cars, seat covers can be installed yourself, there is no sewing required (aside from the exceptions listed above). Some gluing is required. It's not an easy job and the first seat I did could be better.


I ordered my set on eBay, for $800, they shipped the wrong color and SJS were kind of asses about correcting their mistake. So I had to ask eBay to step in. I was refunded and the set (wrong color) were free. VHT vinyl dye is amazing, but still more work and money to correct.


Many times during the install, I felt that even free these covers were not worth it. It can be very frustrating to install these covers, especially when I just cut off an original cover to learn the new one is incorrect.


If you just want to replace some ripped seats and don't care about matching color or style then kit is ok.


Gahh and German Auto Tops seem to be the same company. A set of seat covers for a w114 coupe are about $1600. If these are heat sealed and/or made in the US then the extra price might be worth it. I would be cautious that they might be reselling SJS product. Give them a call. German Auto Tops seem like good people and do work to make the customer happy.


As for World Upholstery, you can't go wrong. Very good work and the best materials. No wavy seams with their stuff.


Good luck.

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Pro

[subforry]

Today, I took a good look at the door panels. They would have to be pulled tight to smooth them out. Again the details are sewn not heat sealed, and the stitching has a wave to it. So I am going to use my originals.

[Clarion]

Parting out from my '73 280C...I have an Complete Interior, Black, very nice. Will send pics if interested. Problem...I'm in Hawaii.