325i Cabby interior retrim

Mon Jul 20, 2015 8:43 pm

So my leather finally arrived today...got stuck in straight away and so far so good...mammoth task as I have no idea what I am doing but it seems to be working out ok...

The quality and workmanship is brilliant so my risk paid off...

Anyone interested in a retrim let me know... I will be supplying full interiors for +- £1200

Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:44 am

What exactly are you offering? Are you retrimming them or just having seats retrimmed and then selling them?

Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:00 pm

I am offering to supply all the leather covers for;

Front seats
Front seat back panels
Rear seats
Front door cards
Rear door cards / panels

Fitting is excluded...

Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:03 pm

Rear panels done...hopefully get the rear seats done by the close of play today...

One slight hiccup is the speaker covers and door handles and pockets have not been done...they are on the way

Tue Jul 21, 2015 12:29 pm

Oh, ok. You seem to be doing a great job but I think I would rather pay someone to do the whole thing.

If they were half the price then I would have a go but i'm pretty sure I can get all my seats retrimmed for less than that.

Tue Jul 21, 2015 2:17 pm

Some more progress...

Tue Jul 21, 2015 2:25 pm

daboy3000 wrote:If they were half the price then I would have a go but i'm pretty sure I can get all my seats retrimmed for less than that.

A full leather re-trim and fitted for less than £1200...you must let me know where as the cheapest I was quoted was double that...

If you are wanting just seats then it is about half that...+-£650 and easy enough to do yourself...

Tue Jul 21, 2015 2:48 pm

Yes, I'm just talking seats as my door cards are good. That is a good price. Are you doing a step by step guide?

Tue Jul 21, 2015 3:52 pm

Looking good so far

Tue Jul 21, 2015 7:16 pm

daboy3000 wrote:Yes, I'm just talking seats as my door cards are good. That is a good price. Are you doing a step by step guide?

No time to do a step by step guide...fairly easy and straight forward especially if you are taking the old covers off...

Everything is held on with "metal hooks" and copper hog rings...the covers slip over and then you stretch, manipulate and secure...

Takes patience though...

Tue Jul 21, 2015 7:41 pm

Gavla wrote:Some more progress...

Stretch the middle out if you can; makes it much nicer.

Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:13 pm

singlezero wrote:Stretch the middle out if you can; makes it much nicer.

Not sure how mate...it is a bit better now as in the photo I had not secured the bottom...but the problem is that around the seat belt part there is nothing to attach to...stumped

Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:16 pm

So I have done the back of the car and although not perfect I think it looks pretty good...

I will fit the rears tomorrow and take a photo....

Tue Jul 21, 2015 9:24 pm

Gavla wrote:
singlezero wrote:Stretch the middle out if you can; makes it much nicer.
Not sure how mate...it is a bit better now as in the photo I had not secured the bottom...but the problem is that around the seat belt part there is nothing to attach to...stumped

I tried to make sure there was good tension on all of the cables by fitting extra hog rings wherever I thought they'd be effective before securing the leather.
I remember the aches in my hands from removing and fitting all those new hog rings!

Tue Jul 21, 2015 11:15 pm

singlezero wrote: I tried to make sure there was good tension on all of the cables by fitting extra hog rings wherever I thought they'd be effective before securing the leather.
I remember the aches in my hands from removing and fitting all those new hog rings!

Yeah that may have been my mistake...I did not use enough hog rings...Unfortunately I am not known for my patience...

As Diable says the leather may give a little so I might leave it as is for a while during summer and then give it another go in the winter...

Wed Jul 22, 2015 9:53 am

That looks great, Gavla! Post up the pics of everything once it's refitted.

Regarding the door cards (your rear ones) are you using glue to secure those?

Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:12 pm

Ok, so the rear is fitted...except for the speaker covers

but they are on the way.

Although not perfectly fitted, I will redo everything in the winter...what a great learning experience and extremely satisfying knowing that I did it myself!

My fingers are wrecked and I am waiting for a delivery of hog rings and glue so will continue with the front seats and door cards in the coming days...

Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:13 pm

Gert_8 wrote:That looks great, Gavla! Post up the pics of everything once it's refitted.

Regarding the door cards (your rear ones) are you using glue to secure those?

Thanks!

Yes, spray glue...why?

Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:22 pm

No reason, other than that was the only way I could think of getting the perfect fit on them.

Wed Jul 22, 2015 1:22 pm

Awesome job there and what a transformation.

It's good fun learning new skills and improving.

You'll be an expert soon !

Wed Jul 22, 2015 3:56 pm

Gavla wrote:Ok, so the rear is fitted...except for the speaker covers but they are on the way.

Although not perfectly fitted, I will redo everything in the winter...what a great learning experience and extremely satisfying knowing that I did it myself!

My fingers are wrecked and I am waiting for a delivery of hog rings and glue so will continue with the front seats and door cards in the coming days...

Nice effort! I know that hog ring induced pain very well.

Thu Jul 23, 2015 1:46 am

i love the red seats i was thinking of a different route and was thinking of getting the kit where you spray on the leather and restore like that.

Did you sow on all the seams yourself?

Thu Jul 23, 2015 8:04 am

The problem with colouring the seats is that it does not last...

I have arranged with a company in Germany to make up all the covers for a really good price...you can then cover your old seats yourself or get an upholsterer to do it...the price depends on the leather... black is cheapest option as it is a common colour...all other colours are more expensive as they may be made to order unless in stock.

Thu Jul 23, 2015 6:03 pm

So started with the front door cards...unfortunately working quite slowly today so only got 1 done...

1. strip door card

2. Align leather on the stripped door card

3. Spray glue and staple leather / foam in place

I will be moving back to the front seats tomorrow and the week end...

Fri Jul 24, 2015 6:01 pm

Ok so I finally managed to finish off the passenger seat and put it back together...the drivers side should take half the time now that I know what I am doing...

Sat Jul 25, 2015 10:15 am

How are you manipulating the hog rings,please?

Sat Jul 25, 2015 10:32 am

Hog ring pliers?

Sat Jul 25, 2015 11:34 am

I've done endless re-trims and managed the hog rings with just 2 pairs of long nose pliers. When the hog rings get too annoying copper wire does the job just as well and is much easier to work with.

Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:29 pm

I don't know what all the fuss is about with regards to the hog rings.

Just use hog ring specific pliers.

Sat Jul 25, 2015 7:48 pm

Cloggy Saint wrote:I've done endless re-trims and managed the hog rings with just 2 pairs of long nose pliers. When the hog rings get too annoying copper wire does the job just as well and is much easier to work with.

Some years back,when I was trying to sort the trim on my cabbie,I went hunting for hog ring pliers,all of my local tool shops looked at me as if I was from Mars....I used cable ties in the final!

Hence my question to the OP!

Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:04 pm

daimlerman wrote:How are you manipulating the hog rings,please?

Got myself a pair of these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HRP002-SEALEY ... 25aa515495

Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:10 pm

So I fitted the completed passenger seat...but decided to dye my carpet black first...I think it looks the dogs...

Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:18 pm

Gavla wrote:
daimlerman wrote:How are you manipulating the hog rings,please?
Got myself a pair of these...

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/HRP002-SEALEY ... 25aa515495

Thanks,as you have seen,I was unable to track down that tool some years back when I needed one!
I now discover that they are also used to hold chain link fencing to tension wires...so even at my great age I am still learning....

I digress,sorry!

Sat Jul 25, 2015 8:39 pm

daimlerman wrote:I now discover that they are also used to hold chain link fencing to tension wires...

You get a different type for fencing...almost like a stapler that you put hog ring cartridges in...and the hog rings are round when crimped not triangular...