Been a couple of posts recently about this but just want to ask a couple of questions. I have a cloth interior and would change it to leather if possible. ...
Been a couple of posts recently about this but just want to ask a couple of questions. I have a cloth interior and would change it to leather if possible. I have seen some for sale but is it possible to change? If so how difficult is it really? Any help would be appreciated.
Yes very possable to do and if your handy not to difficult..
A popular upgrade for most of us on the forum that bought a car without leather...
When your looking for a leather interior the simplest one to get for you car is one taken form a facelift car as the doorcars (as in colour) and airbags will match up easier...
Definitely buy an assembled set of seats and not just the covers. It takes special clips known as 'hog rings' and special hand pliers to fit covers yourself.
If you buy seats from a similar model car then you'll ensure that all the airbag connectors & the wiring harness etc are the same so the change should be easy enough.
I know this isn't much good as I am in Lichfield but the Alfa specialist by me will make and fit a leather interior over your original for about £450 - they'll even do the alfa badge in the stitching. Might be worth having a look to see if anyone buy you can do it as you get a nice new interior ??
By trade I'm a trim developer. I develop interior seating for the likes of Ford, Jaguar etc. etc. I'd be surprised if the £450 would include full leather seats as if they use the correct automotive grade of leather this would cost anywhere between £300-£500 + VAT(this cost is purely for the leather and is on the lower end of the leather quality scale). The cheaper option for them would be to use upholstery leather but unfortunately the wear characteristics of this leather are not very good and within a few months you will start noticing unacceptable wear to the bolsters on the drivers seat in particular. Upholstery leather also gives off amines. This chemical will through time start to stain any lighter fabrics that are in your car(possibly parcel shelves for example). These chemicals have been known to turn ivory nylon on roof linings yellow within a few months. On top of the cost of the leather they still have to cut, sew and assemble the seats. This from experience takes hours of skill if it is to be done correctly. If you require new covers for your vehicle(including doorboards/armrest/headrests) you are looking at a minimum of £1000 - £1400 to get it done properly. Some place will charge anything upto £3000.
Trust me, you are better paying out good money for a personalized set of covers or buying a second-hand set of seats and living with the slight wear that they come with.
Go onto ebay and look up item number 130225740757. If you're not careful you could end up with covers that look as bad as these. I'm currently developing new leather covers for the same car that this ebay link will send you to(Mitsubishi FTO). When they are finished they will look better than anything Mitsubishi has ever produced.
I'm not suggesting that the stated Alfa Specialist will supply you rubbish but what I am saying is that for under £500 they will not be of the same standard as an original set of Alfa seats.
Good luck.
Thanks for the insider info on the seats, IB oth my alfas have leather and I wouldn't have it any other way ! As a matter of interest can you swap 156 (1998) seats for 147'S (2003) The leather in the 147 is more worn than the 156 and as I use the 147 more wondered if I could swap the front seats ? (Definately not buying new covers now !)
I'm currently developing new leather covers for the same car that this ebay link will send you to(Mitsubishi FTO). When they are finished they will look better than anything Mitsubishi has ever produced.
Nothing to do with this outfit are you? They do LOADS of FTO interiors.
I have had no dealings with precision trimming. They tend to do more one off 'pimp my ride' style interiors by the looks of things. If you look at the pictures closely the interiors aren't trimmed that great but overall the general appearance is more than acceptable.
I've done some 'over the top' interiors before (to customers specifications) but generally people are more after standard blacks and grey leather seats with Alcantara or perforated leather inserts. Quite bland but a safe option for the standard guy.
oth my alfas have leather and I wouldn't have it any other way ! As a matter of interest can you swap 156 (1998) seats for 147'S (2003) The leather in the 147 is more worn than the 156 and as I use the 147 more wondered if I could swap the front seats ? (Definately not buying new covers now !)
