To refurb or not to refurb???

[Steve Williams]

Hi everyone. I am now considering getting my tired old front seats sorted out. They are crumbly on the inside and split in places on the outside. I'm not finding the bits of metal coming through that comfy either. I have been browsing the various companies for the standard trim parts and foams etc and i'm not sure if I want to attempt a re-trim myself. I may call a few trimmers to see how much they would charge to re-do them if I supplied the necessary parts. I have read with interest that some of you have put more modern seats in from Rover 200 Coupes and Fiat Coupes etc. I have spent some time looking on ebay today and have seen a few nice seats from various cars. I have taken a shine to some black leather MGF seats. How difficult is it to make the newer seats fit. Are we talking massive mods or just some new holes? I would then like to get the rear seat trimmed to match. I know its not going to look like it should but i'm not too bothered as long as I keep hold of the old seats if I ever sell the car. Cheers for reading.

[therat04]

Hi everyone. I am now considering getting my tired old front seats sorted out. They are crumbly on the inside and split in places on the outside. I'm not finding the bits of metal coming through that comfy either. I have been browsing the various companies for the standard trim parts and foams etc and i'm not sure if I want to attempt a re-trim myself. I may call a few trimmers to see how much they would charge to re-do them if I supplied the necessary parts. I have read with interest that some of you have put more modern seats in from Rover 200 Coupes and Fiat Coupes etc. I have spent some time looking on ebay today and have seen a few nice seats from various cars. I have taken a shine to some black leather MGF seats. How difficult is it to make the newer seats fit. Are we talking massive mods or just some new holes? I would then like to get the rear seat trimmed to match. I know its not going to look like it should but i'm not too bothered as long as I keep hold of the old seats if I ever sell the car. Cheers for reading.

Hello Steve i to looked into seat refurbs and i can tell you one thing its expensive whether you retrim your self, £530 just for front seat vinyl's and a few other bits that's not including foams, having them re-trimmed professionally would be considerably more, I decided to live with mine as they were not that bad really, but yours sound worse so perhaps some good second hand ones could tie you over, i picked up a pair for £50 as i intend to try and refurb them when i am richer, just means the stag stays on the road whilst i am refurbishing the spare seats at my leisure , i cannot comment on different seats from other makes of car its not something i looked into as i prefer my stag with stag parts...Steve

[Steve Williams]

Ideally I would like to keep it pretty standard looking. Mine aren't that bad really just a few bits that jab you in the ribs if you move about too much. Oh and after I've been out in it, it looks like i've eaten a packet of digestive biscuits what with the crumbling foam. I have tried to fill some of the holes which has stopped a fair amount to be honest. Its more the comfort thing for me as I do fill the seat well.

[stag-phil]

Hi Steve

Have you been in contact with Chris Spain (V MAD), he is now offering a seat refurb service and am sure will be able to give you some good advice.

His details can be found within the traders section at the front of this forum.

Phil

[jbuckl]

It seems as if there are quite a few seats that fit:-
Tomcat; XJS; Metro;Fiat; Mazda; Bmw to name a few.
Didnt hear about Mgf before, but they are probably similar to Metro / Tomcat.

Stag seats do seem quite comfy to me though.

Last time I bought some stag vinyl covers the basket weave was way different to the original.

Anybody else had the same?

[Kevin Garrod]

It seems as if there are quite a few seats that (can be made to) fit:-
Tomcat; XJS; Metro;Fiat; Mazda; Bmw to name a few.
Didnt hear about Mgf before, but they are probably similar to Metro / Tomcat.

Stag seats do seem quite comfy to me though.

Last time I bought some stag vinyl covers the basket weave was way different to the original.

Anybody else had the same?

Just added a bit in red!!!

MGF seats might not do as I don't think they can be tipped forward to get to the rear seats, just something to consider.

[Another Peter]

MGF seats might not do as I don't think they can be tipped forward to get to the rear seats, just something to consider.

I used to have an MGF many years ago and can confirm that they don't tip forward (they never had any need to, as there is only the engine behind you)

Regards

Peter

[Stagdad]

If you do go the different make of seat route you can recolour the leather with good lasting results for a £70 kit(enough for 2 seats) and £10 for a colour match if you don't see the colour you need from these guys .http://furnitureclinic.co.uk/Leather...estoration.php

I did it so its not hard


Cheers Steve

[StagnJag]

You could always have a go at a bit yourself, say a seat back and see how it goes. If it works carry on, if it all goes belly up, get someone else to do it!

I tackled the drivers seat back on mine, having no prior experience and I was pleased with the result. It does take a lot of time and patience, especially if, like me you re-use the the covers as you have to make sure all the holes line up with the levers and knobs. These of course won;t be in the new covers until you make them!

Rgds

Dave

[Steve Williams]

Ah yes I didn't think about the tilting seat. I think I may buy the bits and bobs I need over the next few months to spread the expense. I would like to keep the original look if I can. I may give it a go if i'm feeling brave.

[flying farmer]

I recovered and refoamed my seats just over a year ago, not cheap at about £600 from Aldridge, but I prefer the original look. I found the seat base more difficult than the back, but the most important thing is to only do one bit at a time so you have the other seat for reference. I also had a problem with the seatback webbing having stretched, but it was easy enough to open up the clips holding the hooks on, and poke some new holes in it to shorten them.
The worse bit is without doubt cutting holes in the new covers for the various knobs and levers, fortunately they all ended up in the right places!
Neil

[Westfaling]

I paid an upholstery shop to recover my seats and replace the foams, I provided new rubber diaphragms but they did the rest. It cost me about the equivalent of 1300 quid for front and rear seats with leather seat facings, perforated flutes (as the basket weave is hard to replicate in leather) but the rest in vinyl.
The seats are very comfortable but compared to modern cars I'd say the seat squabs are a bit short (less thigh support for the long legged).
Nick
Front seats.jpgrear seats.jpg

[Mk2]

Good luck with the seats Steve. Let me know how you go, as I'm thinking to have a go replacing covers on my passenger seat where the vinyl has a hole and split.

Mark

Ah yes I didn't think about the tilting seat. I think I may buy the bits and bobs I need over the next few months to spread the expense. I would like to keep the original look if I can. I may give it a go if i'm feeling brave.

[jleyton]

Hi Mark

Welcome to the forum.

I'm in the middle of an extended seat recovering programme at the moment. I don't live too far from Bradford on Avon and would be happy to give you some advice if you like. I'll PM you later.

Cheers

Julian