Jump to content
  • When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.

e21 Recaro reupholster price check


kmoy2002

Recommended Posts

5 minutes ago, Beantown said:

Wow.  these look beautiful.  I NEED a set like these.  Where is NC?  I am up in Asheville and hope to get this done within a year or so.  Are those e21?

They are e21 Recaros. Shop is in Burlington, NC. Happy to introduce you to owner if you are in the area.  Again, BMW/Recaros are not a specialty for them but I thought they turned out well.  No loose material, no puckered corners, etc. 

1960 Austin Healey Sprite | 1974 Ford Bronco | 1988 Porsche 911 | 1994 Toyota Land Cruiser | 2022 Ford Bronco Badlands on Order | In Search of a BMW 2002 

 

Link to comment
Share on other sites

A friend got some E46 leather covers from lseat.com ("L" seat) and was very happy with them.  He does upholstery and liked their quality.  They show covers for 320i sport seats and I'll probably use them for mine when I get around to it.

Link to comment
Share on other sites

                        Rant Alert!

Yeah,, I'm totally fed up with the seat game and reality has finally set in for me.

 I want cool, comfortable, appropriate, not black, excellent condition seats now.

No more searching, no more estimating refurbish costs, timelines and shipping.

No more waiting.

Time for drastic measures starting with a major upwards revision of estimated cost.

Reality check? Completed.

Edited by tech71

76 2002 Survivor

71 2002 Franzi

85 318i  Doris

Link to comment
Share on other sites

As somebody who has done a decent amount of upholstery, including a couple pairs of E21 Recaros (one set for me, and one for a friend) I just want to help put in perspective the job. Those seats are fairly complex, my recollection is that each seat is either 19 or 21 individual pieces. If you are patterning that from scratch, it's a time consuming affair. Even if you have an original set to take apart, it still takes a while to lay out and get fitted just right. Also, as many well know, the side bolsters on these seats are often shot, and no exact pre-formed foam replacements are available, so you are doing something custom here. The seat backs are often also bent and lean to one side, so fixing that takes a bit of time and perhaps some welding up of cracks in the frame. If you want French seams, each of those seams will need three passes unless you have a twin-needle machine, and you can't go at a super high speed if you are trying to get the seams dead straight and looking good. If you've done these before then perhaps you have patterns which can save some time (hence places like Aardvarc can hammer them out more quickly and cost-effectively.) However, I'd say you are looking at a solid day for each seat, at least. Oh, and you have to factor in time for taking off the old covers, as well as installing the new ones, which are a bit of a bear. And again, doing it right and getting all the wrinkles out takes time and expertise.

 

So, maybe best case is 20 hours of work (I'm kinda slow and am sure it takes me more than that.) What is a "fair" price to pay a skilled craftsperson? You pay a mechanic $100+ in pretty much any big city these days. And then there are the materials. Vinyl is pretty cheap, but a couple of leather hides will be $600+ just for raw materials.

 

Long story short. I understand that the dollars can seem high, but when you break it down, and you have a desire for quality work and materials, that's just the reality of it. My two cents.

 

 

seat.JPG

  • Like 8
Link to comment
Share on other sites

I have those GTS sport S seats in my car.  They are very comfortable, and they fit me great, but be aware, they are quite narrow.  I believe he will make them a little wider if that's what you need.

1971 2002ti

Link to comment
Share on other sites

18 hours ago, Jam3422 said:

 but be aware, they are quite narrow.  I believe he will make them a little wider if that's what you need.

 

Good to know that, thank you

76 2002 Survivor

71 2002 Franzi

85 318i  Doris

Link to comment
Share on other sites

I was pleased with the work that Dave Varco performed on a very "shabby" pair of E21 Racaro's. I'm in Spokane Washington so shipping added $180 to the total. But he charged $850 for both in German Vinyl, I supplied the the Racaro buttons.

finished seats.jpg

driver twisted seat back II.jpg

driver L lower bolster.jpg

Link to comment
Share on other sites

For those curious, I ended up going with the eBay set and doing the work myself about 3 years ago. They are still holding up and look just as great as when they were first installed if not better looking more worn in. 

 

Njbhhja.jpg

seEUySm.jpg

KHA5UC7.jpg

eEQGWOS.jpg

 

  • Like 5

'73 2002tii Fjord Metallic Blue

'14 i3 Laurel Gray Metallic

Link to comment
Share on other sites

  • 2 weeks later...

Create an account or sign in to comment

You need to be a member in order to leave a comment

Create an account

Sign up for a new account in our community. It's easy!

Register a new account

Sign in

Already have an account? Sign in here.

Sign In Now
  • BMW Neue Klasse - a birth of a Sports Sedan

    BMW Neue Klasse - a birth of a Sports Sedan

    Unveiling of the Neue Klasse Unveiled in 1961, BMW 1500 sedan was a revolutionary concept at the outset of the '60s. No tail fins or chrome fountains. Instead, what you got was understated and elegant, in a modern sense, exciting to drive as nearly any sports car, and yet still comfortable for four.   The elegant little sedan was an instant sensation. In the 1500, BMW not only found the long-term solution to its dire business straits but, more importantly, created an entirely new
    History of the BMW 2002 and the 02 Series

    History of the BMW 2002 and the 02 Series

    In 1966, BMW was practically unknown in the US unless you were a touring motorcycle enthusiast or had seen an Isetta given away on a quiz show.  BMW’s sales in the US that year were just 1253 cars.  Then BMW 1600-2 came to America’s shores, tripling US sales to 4564 the following year, boosted by favorable articles in the Buff Books. Car and Driver called it “the best $2500 sedan anywhere.”  Road & Track’s road test was equally enthusiastic.  Then, BMW took a cue from American manufacturers,
    The BMW 2002 Production Run

    The BMW 2002 Production Run

    BMW 02 series are like the original Volkswagen Beetles in one way (besides both being German classic cars)—throughout their long production, they all essentially look alike—at least to the uninitiated:  small, boxy, rear-wheel drive, two-door sedan.  Aficionados know better.   Not only were there three other body styles—none, unfortunately, exported to the US—but there were some significant visual and mechanical changes over their eleven-year production run.   I’ve extracted t
  • Upcoming Events

  • Supporting Vendors

×
×
  • Create New...