When you click on links to various merchants on this site and make a purchase, this can result in this site earning a commission. Affiliate programs and affiliations include, but are not limited to, the eBay Partner Network.
I received the replacement set of custom seat skins from Interior Innovations today. You can check out my post in Ridies thread about ‘12 -‘13 seat skins. The short version is I ordered these in March & sent them my OEM skins to use as a template. I also sent a sample of the color thread I wanted for the stitching. I was told 3-4 weeks & I received the first set at 9 weeks with the wrong color thread & they didn’t fit.
Some back & forth with II & they agreed to make it right by making a new set with the correct color stitching & adjustment to the fitment as well as providing me a full refund ( this was on May 30th).
The skins arrived today with the correct stitching color & they fit well. This set also had cutouts for the recline lever on the headrest as well as the power adjustment modules on the sides which the first set did not have.
A couple notes - the seat bottoms are missing the flap with the plastic piece that folds under the front & clips to the rail to hold the front snug. The seat bottoms are very secure so I don’t think this will be a problem. The other thing is the seams are very thick so they have a hard time holding to the Velcro strips on the seat foam in certain areas like under the headrest for example. Other than that the quality of the leather & stitching is excellent. Last note as of today I have not received the refund promised on May 30th.
Total time to remove seats, old skins, install new skins & put the seats back in the car was 5 hours taking my time in the 96 degree heat. I drilled a few additional holes in the seat back & plastic strip on the upper/outter section to use more attachment points to get them nice & snug - which you can see in the pictures.
Yes I realize there are wrinkles in case anyone wants to point them out. They came folded up in a small box from Pakistan. I will let them sit out in the sun tomorrow to smooth out. The orange stitching matched my pieces from j-f customs that will hopefully be going on this week (center console, console lid & radio bezel). My awesome iPhone 7 camera doesn’t pic up the color very well & the spots you might see on the seats is sweat as it was 96 degrees & hotter in my garage
I can appreciate what you were trying to accomplish with changing the seat covers as I've thought about doing it as well. I cringed at the overall appearance of the covers, sorry just being blunt. They seem a little off, something's just not right about them. I feel like a total *** posting this but I'm giving you my honest opinion.
I can appreciate what you were trying to accomplish with changing the seat covers as I've thought about doing it as well. I cringed at the overall appearance of the covers, sorry just being blunt. They seem a little off, something's just not right about them. I feel like a total *** posting this but I'm giving you my honest opinion.
Curious as to what you feel is off about them? They look & fit exactly like the OEM covers minus the wrinkles that need to be worked out. The only difference is these are real leather vs OEM vinyl.
Get a heat gun and work the leather. It should tighten up a bit and look better.
“Yes I realize there are wrinkles in case anyone wants to point them out. They came folded up in a small box from Pakistan. I will let them sit out in the sun tomorrow to smooth out”
My goal yesterday was to get them on to make sure they fit as I’ve already received one set that didn’t fit and was going on almost exactly 3 months from placing my order. I’ll work out the wrinkles & get them nice & smooth though they will have more texture because they’re genuine full leather vs the OEM vinyl with cloth back.
Curious as to what you feel is off about them? They look & fit exactly like the OEM covers minus the wrinkles that need to be worked out. The only difference is these are real leather vs OEM vinyl.
I have installed covers from Year One on my old school Mopars and the fit was perfect and tight right out of the box. The wrinkles on yours will hopefully smooth out for you but the seats look slightly under padded. My first statement was perhaps a little harsh, just not wowed by what I assume they cost and the overall time you waited for them. Please understand I was not trying to offend you or your effort.
I have installed covers from Year One on my old school Mopars and the fit was perfect and tight right out of the box. The wrinkles on yours will hopefully smooth out for you but the seats look slightly under padded. My first statement was perhaps a little harsh, just not wowed by what I assume they cost and the overall time you waited for them. Please understand I was not trying to offend you or your effort.
not offended at all. Was seeing if there was maybe something you saw that I didn’t. The driver’s seat has brand new foam both seat back & seat bottom plus the seat rebuild kit with extra foam blocks under the bolsters. Unfortunately, the seats are just made under padded - I wish they were more like my old SRT8 seats, those were awesome. They were folded up multiple times in a smallerish box & being leather had a lot of creases & wrinkles out of the box. By contrast I purchased a set of OEM skins from a forum member a couple weeks ago & the OEM vinyl hardly creases or wrinkles.
The other thing that looks odd when they’re out of the car is the outside of each respective seat is wider than the inside due to the side airbags. That threw me off at first because I thought I had the skins on a little crooked.
They will improve with use, heat, and sun. I got the same comments after posting my pics straight after an install. Here is the main thing my wife and I both immediately noticed...the seats were dramatically more comfortable (new bottom foam), but more importantly, they were noticeably cooler. I don’t know if it is a characteristic of real leather vs pleather or what, but the “back sweat” is not nearly as terrible as it was with the stock seat. Good job...I know you will enjoy.
I agree with others in that they will smooth out with some heat and sitting in the sun. I have priced the OEM covers and they are on the top side of $1K with the new foam. I would be interested in knowing how much the OP's skins cost by the time it was all said and done.
Park the car in the sun to heat up the interior. Those wrinkles will come out. If they are real leather then a little water on them wont hurt. Like wet leather gloves that dry up during the winter
I'm glad you finally got what you'd asked for in the first place. Those wrinkles will just take a few days of sitting in the sun to straighten out. When the seats are good and hot try sitting in them a few times to stretch and seat (no pun intended) the leather around the foam and frame. This will help it settle in its eventual long-term position. The big question is, are you happy with the skins? I've been following this project since you first sent your skins out as a template. If you're not 100% completely satisfied after everything you've gone through it would just be wrong.
I'm glad you finally got what you'd asked for in the first place. Those wrinkles will just take a few days of sitting in the sun to straighten out. When the seats are good and hot try sitting in them a few times to stretch and seat (no pun intended) the leather around the foam and frame. This will help it settle in its eventual long-term position. The big question is, are you happy with the skins? I've been following this project since you first sent your skins out as a template. If you're not 100% completely satisfied after everything you've gone through it would just be wrong.
Thanks Ed. I am happy with the product. The struggle to get it was a bit much, and we'll see if they follow through with the refund they promised. I test fit the leather console lid cover I purchased from j-f customs & the stitching matches now, so once I get the center console, lid & radio bezel leather pieces on, it will look really good. I'm planning to eventually cover all the interior plastics with leather w/orange stitching, so the seats had to match or it would've looked like crap. Now that they're right, I can start putting together the rest of the interior.
My last set from them had some wrinkles, not as bad but they were there. Any time I've done my own upholstery there's always some finish shrinking needed(because I have a simple home sewing machine). Mink oil and a heat gun does it quickly and keeps the leather soft. Brush it on the spots you need, heat it up and use your finger to guide everything the way it's needed. Also works to recondition aging leather.
My last set from them had some wrinkles, not as bad but they were there. Any time I've done my own upholstery there's always some finish shrinking needed(because I have a simple home sewing machine). Mink oil and a heat gun does it quickly and keeps the leather soft. Brush it on the spots you need, heat it up and use your finger to guide everything the way it's needed. Also works to recondition aging leather.
Left the car out in the sun yesterday and most wrinkles are out.
06-13-2018, 01:37 AM
New seat skins have arrived
They look good!
