EastCoastES

Of course the back leather seats in my car are perfect. On the other hand, my front ones are sorta in bad shape. Not the entire seat, just the part where your butt sits. I dont want to buy some corny seat cover, but if I have to I will. But, do they at least make a cover just for the butt part, or maybe a full car cover that is sporty or has maybe a Lexus symbol. Anybody with some suggestions ....

Thanks!

steviej

iTrader: (1)

Take it to an automotive upolstery shop and get an estimate. They will be able to match the leather exactly to the original (they will order the same stock from the Toyota/Lexus distributor). If you want it to look new, leave it to the professionals.

I had to do this on my old Bonneville. During the fix, they even repadded the seat. Was like a hole new seat.

Nabeel

I'll second that. My ES also has pretty crappy seats, front and back. I'm hoping to get the interior reupholstered whenever I get the money, which might as well be never, lol. New interior carpet and mats would also be very nice...

EastCoastES

Id rather not spend alot of money on reconditioning the seats. That would probably be around $200 wouldnt it ?? Arent there just some nice seat covers or something I could use? Id hate to hide the leather, but ya gotta do what ya gotta do!

steviej

iTrader: (1)

Depending on how much leather is replaced, yeah...I would say 3-5 bills. I only had the left bolster replaced on the Bonneville, with labor and a small swatch of leather it was $295.

I'm sure if you used a good search engine, ie: Google, you could probably find some adequate mail order service that has seat covers, maybe even logo-ed.

Another thought, go to a news stand, pick up a Road and Track or C&D, or Motor Trend. They usually have several full page adds for seat covers, mats, etc.

Whatever you do, don't use the famous geriatric see through plastic that my great-grandmother always had.


Later dude.

lexusation

doesnt the seat have an air bag inside?
how will they re-do the leather with the air bag in there under it?

squarehat

The 92-96 didn't even have side-impact airbags. I think 4-point SRS debuted in the 97 or 98 model. The IS300 has the airbag deploy from a hard plastic panel, rather than the upholstery. Thus, if you wanted to reupholster, you could safely do so around the SRS module. Not sure about the newer ES with side airbags, too tired to find one on eBay and check. Some cars, do have the bags behind the upholstery on the side of the seat, and use special breakaway stitching. Katzkin offers SRS-safe kits with guaranteed breakaway seams for airbags that aren't behind panels (they have a video of the breakaway seams on a late-model Accord).

I remember a thread where everyone shared their 92-96 upholstery gripes about a month back. I nearly jumped in the group buy on the SC board, but didn't want to install the kit myself, and I'm not sure of a local shop being willing to install a kit bought elsewhere without ripping me for labor.

steviej

iTrader: (1)

New model ES (2002) side air bags deploy from a similar plastic panel at the base of the seat.

I have seen some newer GM cars, too. The side bags come out of the bolster which is attached to the upright part of the seat.

sj