My 2 seats refurbed - advice please.

[RobinLegin]

I had my seats refurbished ( new foam filling and leatherette) about 5 years ago. I noticed today the piping is now coming through and this is start of it all coming apart.
it seems I have 2 choices. Either redo with new leatherette or, 2 replace the seats from another make of car.
which makes fit best with the least alteration, and which are more comfortable? I am getting twinges in my back from the Stag seats!

[jbuckl]

Have heard of people fitting seats from other cars… jaguar xjs , Alfa Romeo, mx5, Audi TT , rover tomcat rover 25.
If any of those are available in good condition it’s possibly cheaper than restoring original seats.

[Wheelz]

It is worth contacting the supplier of the covers to see if they will entertain some sort of replacement or repair deal? I know this can be possible from at least one supplier.

[Phil S]

Mercedes seats fit , mx5, audi TT and many others with a bit of work

[RobinLegin]

Hi Phil, which model Mercedes-Benz and year? Not keen on getting the hack saw out

[ramjam2005]

Not that I'm anywhere near the point of interior re-furb, I have been deliberating on the same topic in preparation. I am not too concerned with retaining originality and did research the many seat swap threads here for ideas.

Over the years, I've read a number of these threads for replacement seats sourced from other vehicles and whilst it initially appears a cheaper option and gaining more modern seating, most retro-fits come with their own issues or compromises. The original Stag front seat base appears to have different shaped walls on the left and right bolsters to accommodate the gearbox tunnel when sliding forward with the seat base not actually sitting central to the runners, again I assume, designed so to clear the B post when sliding back.

Based on a few other members using Rover Tomcat seats, I liked the look of them and managed to pick up a nice cheap pair from Flea Bay a few years back. But I read these too have their issues as are quite wide at the shoulder and when offered up to sufficiently clear the tunnel they can hit the B post if you are long in the leg. They also need some bracketry fabrication to adapt the runners to locate on the Stag mounting points, again likely to raise the seat squab height AND add to the B post issue.

I owned a 1 Series BMW convertible (E88 model) for a while and these seats also look as if could offer a solution. Similarly with the newer 2 series convertible that my wife currently drives (F23 model ). The Coupe/ Convertible seats are identical and both offer A) the required tilt forward mechanism, B) use conventional flat fitting of runners like the Stag seats (unlike the Tomcats which use pressed steel ) and C) bolt hole alignment are not too dissimilar from the Stag BUT again they sit more central over the runners so could still create issues to correctly position for tunnel clearance only to push then over too far to hit the B post.

I am beginning to think that whilst a full refurb of the original Stag seats would be more costly, it won't present as many headaches or compromises that other seat swaps would. Plus having seen a few pictures here from other members, the Stag seats look amazing when recovered in leather with colour contrasting piping.

It's all a matter of horses for courses..... and your cost appetite !

Ray