Seat Upholstery Advice

[Blue 02]

Hi

 

I've read a lot of posts on this topic, but looking for some recent experience.

 

Looking for feedback from others who have recently reupholstered their front seats.  Who did you buy your new vinyl from - World, GAHH, Maximillian, others?  Were you happy with what you got?  How close to original were the pieces you received?

 

I need to order a set as my seat covers won't survive putting them back on with new padding.  I'm looking into having cloth put on the backside to keep original vinyl, but that might not work.

 

Thanks in advance for your assistance.

 

Rich

[1936spyder]

I think the consensus is that GAHH is closest to OEM, but it’s unfortunately super pricey.
 

There is a vendor on eBay that sells what looks like very accurate seat covers, but I haven’t seen them in person. Perhaps someone on the FAQ board has though and will chime in?

[Conserv]

As @1936spyder said, GAHH makes perhaps the most accurate off-the-shelf front seat covers, with World Upholstery no more than a step behind. Between new seat covers and the underlying pads — which give the seat its shape — you can spend a small fortune restoring original seats to near-original condition, even if you’re not powdercoating frames, replacing control cables, re-chroming headrest components, and rebuilding recliners. It’s enough to send many owners running to Recaros or other new or vintage sport seats — which are, surprisingly, cheaper to accurately restore than original ‘02 seats.

 

Starting with one excellent-to-mint seat and one very-good-to-excellent seat, I had The Mad Stitcher in Atlanta carefully restore a pair of front seats for my ‘73 in 2016. Although we were able to re-use all of the molded-vinyl (with factory heat seams), we replaced just a few panels of the smooth vinyl.

 

Decide how accurately and how restored you’d like your seats to be. Dealing with every last detail is expensive!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

[Blue 02]

Thanks for the quick replies - appreciate it.  I already have the replacement seat pads from W&N, so sunk that amount into the seats already!  Most likely will order the GAHH seat covers and try to stop there

[Charles in PA]

You might want to check out Steven Sperling's work in his eBay store here:  

zoomzoomzoom-ing | eBay Stores

WWW.EBAY.COM

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We sell Currie Electric Scooters, a variety of car parts, primarily for the more valuable "older" cars and clothing! We also sell tickets to sporting events. It is a strange combination but it is a mixture of both our businesses!

The seat covers are period correct and as far as I can tell his prices are pretty competitive with what else is out there.  I have not pulled the trigger yet but have been eyeing his leather covers for my 74tii.  Best of luck whatever direction you go. 

[Stevenc22]

My first car got World Upholstry. Very nice, quite original.

 

My second car got ZoomZoom. Very nice, but not original, more modern. Very happy as well. You can pick your finish and design.

 

 

[Conserv]

2 hours ago, Blue 02 said:

Thanks for the quick replies - appreciate it.  I already have the replacement seat pads from W&N, so sunk that amount into the seats already!  Most likely will order the GAHH seat covers and try to stop there

This would yield a very good result. I was looking for a photo of @tomphot’s black GAHH seats in his ‘72 tii. Very, very nice!
 

One caveat. For whatever reason, the GAHH seat covers do not, or did not, come with a new back-of-the-seat pocket. You can either re-use your original back-of-the-seat pocket (on its backrest cover panel) or order some matching smooth vinyl from GAHH, and have your upholster, or enlist yourself to, make a new pocket.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

[ErnieThe02]

Just completed a world upholstery job on mine.   high quality stuff, did have seat pockets, had to reuse all hardware including back pocket screws.   Upholsterer said they had to tweak their padding here and there to get the true factory fit (taught not stuffed.   Very happy overall.

 

[Mikesmalaga72]

I had to think outside the box to go stock.... but quite rewarding in the end, Had to hand select colors/dye lot material embossing and thread nappa leather material over new horse hair pads. Figured all door panel cards as well.

 

 

Edited February 28, 2023 by Mikesmalaga72
add

[Dudeland]

I am not going for originality, but these guys sell good covers.  Just did my E21 sport seats.  They turned out ok for a 1st time amateur job. 

 

Genuine Leather - BMW - Page 1 - Lseat.com

WWW.LSEAT.COM

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Buy BMW leather seat covers, BMW custom leather interior from Lseat.com. Great price great quality. Keep your BMW leather interior brand new.

 

This is an early shot.  I got the wrinkles worked out.  The covers were folded for quite some time.   Just got the metal and I am looking forward to building the mounts for them.

 

 

 

I am getting better, It stopped hurting and I am able to type pretty well. 

 

 

[Blue 02]

13 minutes ago, Mikesmalaga72 said:

I had to think outside the box to go stock.... but quite rewarding in the end, Had to hand select colors/dye lot material embossing and thread nappa leather material over new horse hair pads. Figured all door panel cards as well.

 

 

 

Those look great!

[Dudeland]

1 hour ago, Mikesmalaga72 said:

I had to think outside the box to go stock.... but quite rewarding in the end, Had to hand select colors/dye lot material embossing and thread nappa leather material over new horse hair pads. Figured all door panel cards as well.

 

 

 

I never get tired of looking at this wonderful work.  Wow. 

 

 

[Road trip]

23 hours ago, Conserv said:

As @1936spyder said, GAHH makes perhaps the most accurate off-the-shelf front seat covers, with World Upholstery no more than a step behind. Between new seat covers and the underlying pads — which give the seat its shape — you can spend a small fortune restoring original seats to near-original condition, even if you’re not powdercoating frames, replacing control cables, re-chroming headrest components, and rebuilding recliners. It’s enough to send many owners running to Recaros or other new or vintage sport seats — which are, surprisingly, cheaper to accurately restore than original ‘02 seats.

 

Starting with one excellent-to-mint seat and one very-good-to-excellent seat, I had The Mad Stitcher in Atlanta carefully restore a pair of front seats for my ‘73 in 2016. Although we were able to re-use all of the molded-vinyl (with factory heat seams), we replaced just a few panels of the smooth vinyl.

 

Decide how accurately and how restored you’d like your seats to be. Dealing with every last detail is expensive!

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

"Spend a small fortune " is worth every penny. When these seats were new, they were fantastic and can be again 

[Blue 02]

15 minutes ago, Road trip said:

"Spend a small fortune " is worth every penny. When these seats were new, they were fantastic and can be again 

Buying seat pads from W&N and new vinyl from GAHH is getting close 😃

[tomphot]

On 2/28/2023 at 10:52 AM, Conserv said:

This would yield a very good result. I was looking for a photo of @tomphot’s black GAHH seats in his ‘72 tii. Very, very nice!
 

One caveat. For whatever reason, the GAHH seat covers do not, or did not, come with a new back-of-the-seat pocket. You can either re-use your original back-of-the-seat pocket (on its backrest cover panel) or order some matching smooth vinyl from GAHH, and have your upholster, or enlist yourself to, make a new pocket.

 

Regards,

 

Steve

 

Thanks