Old Leather

[Beej]

Hello All,

I have some questions about repairing and taking care of old leather.

The drivers seat has some cracks.
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 74f85e3940
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 499bcbab7a
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 2fee9c6128
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... 64c5fc5310

I contacted a local upholsterer for an estimate repair and the seat bottom and seat padding. They claim they cannot sow up the leather and that they can get the seat bottom and put a new one on, this not being able to sow it up sounds like BS. It is an old seat it should look like what it is, my concern is that it do its job, last for a long time, and be honest about what it is. The goal is not a show queen, the goal is to be a sound, solid, put together car with its character intact. The thing is I really do not know much about leather.

My oldest son cleaned the seats and I went over them with some leather conditioner which will be done frequently for a bit.

The leather wrinkles that became cracks, do they pose any real concern if the leather is treated properly?

What is the real story with sewing up the cracks? Is there some inherent weakness or did the person I spoke with at the shop just not used to the idea of repair rather then replace, and patina rather then idealized perfection.

Anything else I should pay attention too?

Thanks,
Beej

[bert poliakoff]

You can't sew up cracks.

[tn535i]

There is no fix. You could I suppose strip the seat and put something on the backside to reinforce the area to help keep it from getting worse but you can't stitch those up. Well you could stitch over the crack (like embroidery) but I bet it would tear on either side soon afterwards.

There are not that bad and I think just conditioning the leather will help keep it from getting significantly worse.

[Beej]

could I suppose strip the seat and put something on the backside to reinforce the area to help keep it from getting worse but you can't stitch those up.

If the material strength is not there to simply sew it together then it would seem that some kind of backing to spread the stress would I agree seem a realistic repair.

Well you could stitch over the crack (like embroidery) but I bet it would tear on either side soon afterwards."

There are such tool kits though the "thread" is on the thick side.

There are not that bad and I think just conditioning the leather will help keep it from getting significantly worse.

That is what the upholsterer said but he also thought it would eventually blow through.

[bert poliakoff]

There is always a way to "kluge" patch something, but that is what it will look like. A big, noticeable patch. To put a reinforcement under it, the panel will have to be raised or the cover slit. "There ain't no free lunch" Throw a sheepskin over it until it's in your budget to find another set of seats or have them done right

[tn535i]

One thing that is possible is that if you find another car with this color and it has a good passenger seat you can skin it to get the cover to rebuild yours. A decent upholsterer could probably even make it happen taking materials from a rear bench even mor elikely to be in good condition. I've done swaps with a couple of e30 seats and they used to be easy to find in salvage yards. I long hoped to do that with my M6 driver's seat (find a donor pass seat) but the thing must just be too rare I've never managed to see another one except in pristine cars nicer than mine. I finally sourced a new side bolster from zoomzooming for mine and I think they did a very nice job but the leather isn't the best of matches, good, but not great. The workmanship is very good though if you ever decide to go that route of replacement.

[Beej]

"There is always a way to "kluge" patch something, but that is what it will look like. A big, noticeable patch. To put a reinforcement under it, the panel will have to be raised or the cover slit. "There ain't no free lunch" Throw a sheepskin over it until it's in your budget to find another set of seats or have them done right.

The real point is to have it look right. It is an aesthetic choice.

New bottom covers are available ($400) probably for not much more then simply having a skilled repair done right, however the color will not match and the life lived look will not be there, unless all the seats filled, sanded, recolored and whatever else so they all look "fresh" and match. It has to be all matching or it will not be right. It would be much better look to have a couple minor scars on the seat that fit with car and be livable then to make it too perfect and fret at every insult.

Beej

[Beej]

One thing that is possible is that if you find another car with this color and it has a good passenger seat you can skin it to get the cover to rebuild yours. A decent upholsterer could probably even make it happen taking materials from a rear bench even mor elikely to be in good condition. I've done swaps with a couple of e30 seats and they used to be easy to find in salvage yards. I long hoped to do that with my M6 driver's seat (find a donor pass seat) but the thing must just be too rare I've never managed to see another one except in pristine cars nicer than mine. I finally sourced a new side bolster from zoomzooming for mine and I think they did a very nice job but the leather isn't the best of matches, good, but not great. The workmanship is very good though if you ever decide to go that route of replacement.

Haven't gotten to this one yet, but thought you might like.: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid ... bbaf086e91

The black will make it easy to match color wise if I ever need to but the side bolsters can use a bit of work, along with the rest of the car.

B^)

[Mike W.]

Best advice I've seen on it is,

the proper solution for returning leather to it's original soft and supple condition is to rub money on it. Take the seats to an upholstery shop and pay to have them recovered.

[Beej]

Best advice I've seen on it is,

the proper solution for returning leather to it's original soft and supple condition is to rub money on it. Take the seats to an upholstery shop and pay to have them recovered.

LOL, if you take it that far... Can just pay the upholsterer to discolor and distress the new seat bottom cover to match the rest, if they can be convinced to do that and have the know how.

[Beej]

Maybe just enough info to make the repair but it does appear that the kind of rips on this seat are repairable though it appears most are not.

https://dengarden.com/interior-design/L ... -Made-Easy

It doesn't even look that hard.

https://so-sew-easy.com/sewing-leather- ... -projects/

It looks:
Find proper backing material, cut to shape and glue on to the back side.
Stich using appropriate pattern.

Beej

[sly0612]

here in germany is a special company for leather themes
they have something called "liquid leather" where you can fill holes and cracks.

https://www.lederzentrum.de/tip/moebel/ ... leder.html

just google at google picture for "flüssigleder" an see whats possible

[Beej]

here in germany is a special company for leather themes
they have something called "liquid leather" where you can fill holes and cracks.

https://www.lederzentrum.de/tip/moebel/ ... leder.html

just google at google picture for "flüssigleder" an see whats possible

Thanks

Lots of such thing available here too. Just not interested in hiding the problems, just want a respectful repair.

Beej