Fabric to leather

Damiencm

Hi Guys,

I have a bmw 3 series (2008) with fabric upholstery. I am considering getting 2nd hand leather seats, door panels, center console etc. Has anyone ever tried this before? And if so what did you pay for everything and did u fit them yourself.

We have a pet dog and his hairs stick to the fabric..he sheds a lot. The more I hoover the more worn the fabric looks. He is very quiet in the car so I'm not worried about him scraping the leather with his nails

mickdw

Damiencm wrote: »

Hi Guys,

I have a bmw 3 series (2008) with fabric upholstery. I am considering getting 2nd hand leather seats, door panels, center console etc. Has anyone ever tried this before? And if so what did you pay for everything and did u fit them yourself.

We have a pet dog and his hairs stick to the fabric..he sheds a lot. The more I hoover the more worn the fabric looks. He is very quiet in the car so I'm not worried about him scraping the leather with his nails

Get a good used set from a breaker but try to get one with same options re electric seats, heated seats etc to ensure easiest fit without additional hassles.

Damiencm

Thanks Mickdw, my car is bog standard with no nice extras at all!

PeteK*

What does it cost to get that done professionally?

Truckermal

It costs about 2k for the conversion.

Damiencm

€2k... think I would be doing it myself so!

Eric Cartman

rather than a leather retrim which would cost 2k, go to a breakers, an e90 3 series with leather shouldn't be too hard to find, get the door cards and the seats from it and its easy enough to swap over, may set you back 500 notes or so but worth it.

JimmyCrackCorn

Eric Cartman wrote: »

rather than a leather retrim which would cost 2k, go to a breakers, an e90 3 series with leather shouldn't be too hard to find, get the door cards and the seats from it and its easy enough to swap over, may set you back 500 notes or so but worth it.

1 X Set trim removal tools
1 X Socket set and screwdrivers
2 X trip to breakers yard (get the trim and get rid of your old trim)
1 X Afternoon fitting the trim
1 X load of leather cleaning products


2k vs breakers yard prices

bmstuff

Not a problem to fit electric seats so if you find a nice set at a good price just go for it.
Buy a set from the same year as your car too, it will be easier as some wiring is different depending on some transition years.

DHFrame

bmstuff wrote: »

Not a problem to fit electric seats so if you find a nice set at a good price just go for it.
Buy a set from the same year as your car too, it will be easier as some wiring is different depending on some transition years.

Sorry to butt in here, bmwstuff, do you mind looking at the pm I sent ye. Thanks dude!

Atlantic Dawn

Would it be a pain with heated leather seats going in to a car that originally didn't have them? Also any issue with the seat air bags when you replace the whole seat with another one, are the originals coded to the car?

bmstuff

DHFrame wrote: »

Sorry to butt in here, bmwstuff, do you mind looking at the pm I sent ye. Thanks dude!

Hello, I already answered you over the phone few days ago
Cheers

bmstuff

Atlantic Dawn wrote: »

Would it be a pain with heated leather seats going in to a car that originally didn't have them? Also any issue with the seat air bags when you replace the whole seat with another one, are the originals coded to the car?

Seat heating is possible too, need to run CAN bus wires and a new climate control panel with heating seat function
The whole needs coding of course too