Okay, so let's try that again...........................
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The somewhat scruffy MX5 seats were always a temporary measure to get me through the IVA. My original plan was to have these seats recovered so I was on the look out for another pair. The plan was to get another pair to use while mine were being professionally recovered. Recovering costs in leather by my trimmer who did my hood, was estimated to be about GBP2k in leather and about GBP1k in vinyl.
Whilst looking for another set, a pair of cream leather MX5 seats came up on ebay for GBP300. They looked to be in good condition in the pictures so I snapped them up. When they arrived I found they were in nearly perfect condition, just a bit dirty.
This picture is one of the leather MX5 seats. In remarkably good condition but slightly the wrong shade of cream/beige. I tried one in the car but it didn't match the cream vinyl and looked awful.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Due to the 'new' leather seats being the wrong shade of cream I decided to have a go at re-colouring them. There are companies that do this professionally but I thought I would have a go myself.
I found a company called Carbusonic that offered to provide a leather coating colour matched to my vinyl dashboard surround. You first have to thoroughly degrease the leather with their specialised prep fluid and then sand with 600 grade abrasive paper. Then three coats of the leather coating. You can use a hair drier the dry the coats to speed up the process. This picture shows the head rest half done. Top part is coated and lower part is the original leather.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
This is the passenger seat after two coats.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Close up after three coats.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
The leather coating covers the small cracks in the leather but follows the natural gran and makes them look like new. It surpassed my expectations.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
The company that makes the leather coating recommends you use sponge brushes. I was sceptical as I had never used these before but they worked really well. Easy to use and left no streaks or brush marks. Each seat took about 1 day including preparation. The prep solution cost GBP22 and the colour matched coating cost GBP34. So with the brushes and sandpaper about GBP65 for two seats.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
And here is the first seat fitted.
New leather seats by
Sabrebuilder, on Flickr
Came out much better than expected so I'm delighted!
