Author Topic: Going from Tex to Leather  (Read 5116 times)

Mark in KS

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Going from Tex to Leather
« on: January 23, 2009, 19:04:58 »
I've long thought about researching salvage dealers and looking for some leather seats to replace the MB Tex that came with my car.  Has anyone tried to go the "gently used" route and install salvaged leather seats as opposed to recovering with new materials?  I guess I watched too much "Wheeler Dealers" last week and got the idea to float this idea.

Shvegel

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Re: Going from Tex to Leather
« Reply #1 on: January 25, 2009, 12:55:15 »
Might be tough to find but I can see the motivation. Leather, horsehair pads and install were $2,000 on mine...Yikes!

waqas

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Re: Going from Tex to Leather
« Reply #2 on: January 25, 2009, 13:55:17 »
Might be tough to find <...>

Huge understatement!

Look at the joint probability of: (1) your preferred colour, (2) Leather instead of Tex, (3) reasonable condition, (4) listed for sale when you need them, (5) 230sl versus 250/280sl seats (they are different), (6) accompanied headrest covers (or lack of headrest holes on top), etc etc ...

Believe me, I've also been looking; in my case, I wanted to replace very ripped and tired leather with non-ripped and less tired leather. I think I shall have to spring for a new set of bamboo 230sl covers when the time comes (anyone have a reasonable set out there??  :-\)
Waqas (Wa-kaas) in Austin, Texas

lurtch

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Re: Going from Tex to Leather
« Reply #3 on: January 25, 2009, 18:30:56 »
Hello Mark  - 

Last year I purchased this maroon leather recover kit for $1,894.89 USD from German Auto Tops in Los Angeles.

It also included an entire additional hide for the dashtop, dash underside,  kickboards, rear panels, and windshield surround pieces.

It was a gigantic job but I am almost complete. I highly recommend this vendor. As you can see my old interior was middelblau M-B Tex.       

Regards, Larry in CA       
Larry Hemstreet  in  N. Cal.

1966  230SL  (restored) Met. Anthracite w/ Maroon leather
1981  300TD-T (Concours condition, 86K, GETRAG 5sp.)
1982  300TD-T (parted out)
1986  560SEC (totaled)
1991  300TE (gifted)
1998  E320 (sold)
2004  E320 wagon (gifted)
2008  CLK550 Cabriolet

Hath

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Re: Going from Tex to Leather
« Reply #4 on: January 26, 2009, 04:31:48 »
Larry,

Did you also replace the door panels with leather?  Would love to see some pictures.