Interior Cloth Options?

[StuBeeDoo]

You watch, when I order the cloth, it'll be NLA

The decision's been made.
Diagonal striped Silber cloth (normal E30 6-cylinder pattern) for the centre panels with plain Silber iS cloth for the bolsters, headrests, etc.

It's been weeks since I ordered the cloth, but today they finally got back to me.
The iS plain cloth is NLA and the diagonal striped cloth is back-ordered with no supply date - not looking good for that either, then.
Back to the drawing board, and I'll have to get the rear seats re-trimmed to match.

[StuBeeDoo]

The striped cloth has arrived!
Mr Trimmer-man has suggested that he does the seats with vinyl backs and the sections that should be plain grey cloth (which is now NLA) he'll attempt to source a very close matching cloth. Failing that, he'll use silver grey Alcantara.
If it all works out right, I'll end-up with seats looking "factory" - which is what I was after.

[toby]

Investing a lot in this aren't you? Get some pictures up when it's done mate.

[StuBeeDoo]

Investing a lot in this aren't you?

Yes, I am, but if a job's worth doing it's worth doing properly. By the time it's all finished, I won't get much change out of a bag.
Being a fussy old git, I really want it to look "proper BMW". That only gave me 2 options - the correct cloth fabric (or as near a match as possible), or silver grey leather. I don't really fancy leather, so the cloth it is.
The only real difference in look between my seats and factory-fitted Recaro's will be that - as far as I've managed to find out - the factory ones were only ever produced in Anthrazit. Oh, and I'm having map pockets in the backs.

Pic's will follow and they will include how I'm getting 'round fitting the seats onto the E30 runners so that the seatbelt mounts are correct.

[toby]

I'm having map pockets in the backs.

Now that's a really good idea. There's no where convenient to put a really big map in the E30.

[StuBeeDoo]

I'm having map pockets in the backs.

Now that's a really good idea. There's no where convenient to put a really big map in the E30.

I would never have thought of it, but the Sapphire Cosworth-spec. seat's I'm using had them in.

[StuBeeDoo]

he'll attempt to source a very close matching cloth. Failing that, he'll use silver grey Alcantara.

No luck with the matching cloth, so Alcantara it is then.
He says he should have the necessary by the middle of next week and he'll get the work done ASAP after that
I've also copped a pair of Silber RHR's (to go on the seats I bought off Chris-W) off eBay.
The brackets to fit the seats on the E30 runners are ready for painting, so it's nearly "all-systems-go".

[StuBeeDoo]

he'll try to source a very close matching cloth. Failing that, he'll use silver grey Alcantara.

No luck with the matching cloth, so Alcantara it is then.

I got a 'phone call off Ray today asking me to call down and have a word.......
The silver grey colour Alcantara is way off being a match.
The seats are now going to be half-leatherette.
He's done the centre panels, and they look well - as do the rear panels with the map pockets in. Rather than have the headrest facings in leatherette, they're going to be done in the diagonal striped cloth, the same as the centre panels.
Ray says he'll be finished Tuesday or Wednesday. That'll be the end of next week at the earliest, then.

[StuBeeDoo]

The silver grey colour Alcantara is way off being a match.
The seats are now going to be half-leatherette.

Having had the weekend to think about this, I'm not happy with the leatherette idea. I'm going to 'phone him 1st thing in the morning and tell him to put it on hold while I try to think of some more alternatives.

[toby]

Your taste buds have kicked into action then! Leatherette is fookin' hideous stuff in most forms.

You would be better off going for a bold complimentary mismatch than trying to match colours. You wouldn't wear clothes trying to match everything - if you excuse the analogy.

Here's my mismatched interior. It looks so wrong - it sort of looks right - it's probably not to your liking but it's all the inspiration I can offer.

[StuBeeDoo]

The silver grey colour Alcantara is way off being a match.
The seats are now going to be half-leatherette.

Having had the weekend to think about this, I'm not happy with the leatherette idea. I'm going to 'phone him 1st thing in the morning and tell him to put it on hold while I try to think of some more alternatives.

I've f****d-up big time! I left it too late 'phoning (should have done it Saturday morning!). The seats are almost finished - so he tells me. So half-leatherette it is. I should have them back here either tomorrow or Wednesday.
Looks like plan B will be kicking into action soon. .........Once I've sourced some better material - possibly proper leather, or maybe Alcantara in a contrasting colour.

[toby]

Don't worry - if the trimmer is any good it should look ok anyway! If you want some help sourcing leather let me know! Next time I am getting some for making the gear lever/handbrake gaiters I could get you some. Send me a sample colour if you want.

[StuBeeDoo]

Don't worry - if the trimmer is any good it should look ok anyway!

This is what I'm hoping.

If you want some help sourcing leather let me know!

Thanks for the offer, but given the choice, I'd prefer cloth or Alcantara. I'll have plenty of time to sort something if I decide I'm unhappy with what I'm getting this time. At least I know the re-trimmed seats will look better in the car than the Ford fabric ones I have at the moment.

[StuBeeDoo]

I got the seats back today. Pic's will follow in the next week or so.
There's plenty of the striped Silber cloth left too.

[toby]

I take it they didn't look as bad as you feared?

[StuBeeDoo]

I take it they didn't look as bad as you feared?

I'll reserve judgement on that until I get them in the car.

[StuBeeDoo]

OK, here's one of the finished articles.










Can you spot the re-trimming cock-up revealed in this final picture?? Actually, it's not a good picture for spotting the mistake, but if you look really close, you can see it.

[Jhonno]

Bit of a thread resurrection.. But I am looking to recover my Recaro's so it came up in my search.. He trimmed the material with the diagonal pattern going the wrong way!

[StuBeeDoo]

Bit of a thread resurrection.. But I am looking to recover my Recaro's so it came up in my search.. He trimmed the material with the diagonal pattern going the wrong way!

Only just noticed your post here Dude.
Did you not see my post above??

Can you spot the re-trimming c**k-up

[cool_ram_in]

That seats is looking real good.

the c**k-up is minor. Is it really noticeable alive or just in photos?