1976 Navy OEM Vinyl or Close?

[Nov 32T]

Looking for the material not seat covers already made.  Any ideas on where I can find it or close?  Most threads on this topic are ancient.  

[backeis]

When I had my interior re-upholstered, the company doing it for me found a supplier who inherited the OEM material from BMW and still produces it. I don't know the name of the supplier, but if you give the upholsterer a call, maybe they'll let you in on the secret: https://rochesternyupholstery.com/

[DealinDave]

I'm pretty sure we can still get the marineblau vinyl straight from BMW. I just sent a message to my parts guy to check availability and should hear back in the morning. If it is, you're looking at around $45 a meter. I'll let you know for sure as soon as I hear back. 

Edited August 15, 2018 by DealinDave

[Conserv]

1 hour ago, DealinDave said:

I'm pretty sure we can still get the marineblau vinyl straight from BMW. I just sent a message to my parts guy to check availability and should hear back in the morning. If it is, you're looking at around $45 a meter. I'll let you know for sure as soon as I hear back. 

 

The issue for many is that you can still buy the smooth vinyl from BMW — and it’s an excellent match — but BMW no longer sells a navy blue perforated vinyl that matches the pattern of any of their original perforated vinyls (which changed at least three times).

 

For my ‘76’s spare front seats, I, therefore, re-used perforated vinyl from old seats. But finding sufficient perforated vinyl of the ‘75-‘76 pattern was an enormous challenge, as most 40-year old vinyl — and particularly the crap they used in the final years of ‘02 production — lacks the elasticity and flexibility a high-quality seat restoration demands.

 

Below, the restoration of my spare front seats. The work was done by The Mad Stitcher of Atlanta, Georgia.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Edited August 15, 2018 by Conserv

[Hodgepodge]

Very nice.  Earlier this year, I got covers for my '75 from World Upholstery and they were able to match the original perforated covers very nicely.  They might not sell you the stuff outright but the good news is that it is apparently still available.  

 

Wait, are those OEM horsehair pads?  Those tings cost a fortune now if you can find them.  

 

Edited August 16, 2018 by Hodgepodge

[Conserv]

44 minutes ago, Hodgepodge said:

....Earlier this year, I got covers for my '75 from World Upholstery and they were able to match the original perforated covers very nicely.  They might not sell you the stuff outright but the good news is that it is apparently still available...

 

 

I do believe both World Upholstery and GAHH will sell their vinyl by the yard! If one or both of their perforated vinyls is a good match for the original, your good to go.

 

If you’re particularly obsessed with originality, then you’d just need to deal with the heat-seamed pleat issue, or, rather, the lack of heat-seamed pleats on replacement perforated vinyl.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

Edited August 16, 2018 by Conserv

[bluehills2002]

Dealing Dave, can you likewise check on the availability of this style of black vinyl from a ‘74?

[DealinDave]

15 hours ago, Conserv said:

 

The issue for many is that you can still buy the smooth vinyl from BMW — and it’s an excellent match — but BMW no longer sells a navy blue perforated vinyl that matches the pattern of any of their original perforated vinyls (which changed at least three times).

 

Those came out super nice.

 

It looks like there are actually two different perforated blue vinyls still available from BMW. The biggest issues are that they are both special order from Germany (so not returnable) and as Steve mentioned, there were multiple versions of the stuff so no idea which is which without ordering them. One is listed as vinyl lining grained, and one is listed as upholstery imitation leather in perforated blue. It looks to be the same story with black as well. You would end up with something close, but not an exact match to original. 

[Conserv]

24 minutes ago, DealinDave said:

 

Those came out super nice.

 

It looks like there are actually two different perforated blue vinyls still available from BMW. The biggest issues are that they are both special order from Germany (so not returnable) and as Steve mentioned, there were multiple versions of the stuff so no idea which is which without ordering them. One is listed as vinyl lining grained, and one is listed as upholstery imitation leather in perforated blue. It looks to be the same story with black as well. You would end up with something close, but not an exact match to original. 

 

Thanks, Dave,

 

And to further confuse matters, when I tried to order the black perforated vinyl from BMW (through Blunttech, Steve P.) in 2015, BMW responded that they could not sell it to me unless I could show I had a European title to my ‘73, something I don’t have for this always-been-U.S. car.

 

Huh? WTF?

 

Neither Steve nor I had any idea where this came from: European Union issues regarding certain exports...of certain textile products? I’ve heard similar stories regarding parts such as “2002ti” emblems, primarily for cars not officially imported into the U.S.  But black perforated vinyl?

 

I’d love to hear whether mine was an isolated incident, or was some sort of policy.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[DealinDave]

Actually they did say a title was required to order the vinyl, which seems totally nonsensical since it's vinyl meant for US cars as well. I've see that happen a couple of times where they'll have a part labelled as "blocked" but when you submit a US title it will get approved by BMW. The only reason that I could see them requiring a title is to verify that a car was originally equipped with blue vinyl interior, which seems like it'd be more legwork than BMW would actually want to do. It's all speculation though as I don't think even BMW knows why they do things they way they do when it comes to these cars. 

 

Worst case we can get it from one of our dealers in Europe, it just ends up costing more in shipping. 

[jgerock]

Try contacting Veteran Company in LA. They may be able to source the material. I do know they can emboss vinyl.