Lseats - What's the Deal?? Very Disappointing.
- Thread starter Chris Lynch
- Start date
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ranma21
Supporting Vendor
Nice. Did you replace the seat foam too?
Yes they replaced it
ranma21
Supporting Vendor
Factory seat foam?
Nope def not as soft. I think they just replaced the seat bottom foam.
Color looks better in person. My iphone makes it look like it doesn’t match. I will take a picture in different lighting.
If I did mine over, I would not spend the $$$ on factory foam. I'd just buy bulk automotive foam off of Amazon, and carve pieces to build up where the original foam was smashed down. That said, factory foam is VERY nice.
ranma21
Supporting Vendor
Reason I ask is because the leather is not snug enough and looks a bit "loose". Factory seat foam will give you "perfect full" fitment for the leather. I replaced with factory foam on my 80 seats when I did mine and no "loose leather appearance" at all, very snug like brand new seat. Highly recommend factory foam if anyone going to replace the leather. And you know it is right and no guessing game it is priceless!! =)
Exiled
SILVER Star
When you order the sample swatch, do you get multiple colors with it? It rings up as $0.10, that's got to be an error on the website, right? I'm looking to re-upholster one of my '99s but I want it to match (or get close to matching) the leather color on the door inserts & handles (Oak?) vs. the original tan. I need something that covers dirt/grime better than the original beige, I actually use my Cruisers for more than Toyota USA intended! 
When you order the sample swatch, do you get multiple colors with it? It rings up as $0.10, that's got to be an error on the website, right? I'm looking to re-upholster one of my '99s but I want it to match (or get close to matching) the leather color on the door inserts & handles (Oak?) vs. the original tan. I need something that covers dirt/grime better than the original beige, I actually use my Cruisers for more than Toyota USA intended!
Are you all buying the Lseats on amazon?
Thought I would, finally, follow up.
I think I mentioned earlier - ours arrived in under 6 weeks. We planned to do the install ourselves but projects stacked up like crazy.
Paid an upholstery shop $300 to install, glad we did. Gave me time to carpet clean the carpets.
The shop stated it was real leather, for sure. However- it isn't a leather normally used in automotive applications. Based on the backing he believes it to be recycled leather. A concept I still dont understand but whatever.
He said he was initially worried about the fit, given where they came from. Was surprised at how well they did fit - with the exception of the armrests being a tad big/baggy.
Color isn't as off as it seems in photos - but, at least in ours, what is different is the texture. Much more texture than stock - which i think is what makes the color seem different.
The headrests look off because... they are. They are aftermarket screen units.
I think I mentioned earlier - ours arrived in under 6 weeks. We planned to do the install ourselves but projects stacked up like crazy.
Paid an upholstery shop $300 to install, glad we did. Gave me time to carpet clean the carpets.
The shop stated it was real leather, for sure. However- it isn't a leather normally used in automotive applications. Based on the backing he believes it to be recycled leather. A concept I still dont understand but whatever.
He said he was initially worried about the fit, given where they came from. Was surprised at how well they did fit - with the exception of the armrests being a tad big/baggy.
Color isn't as off as it seems in photos - but, at least in ours, what is different is the texture. Much more texture than stock - which i think is what makes the color seem different.
The headrests look off because... they are. They are aftermarket screen units.
To those doing this, I highly suggest adding 1/2" foam on all seating surfaces. It is obviously more comfortable and also helps stretch the leather just a little bit more.
Pics for proof. My headrests turned out like trash (just too big) but I'm very pleased with everything else.
Pics for proof. My headrests turned out like trash (just too big) but I'm very pleased with everything else.
Second set of LSeat covers.
About a year ago I put LSeat covers on my wife's LX470 (pics earlier in this thread) and they are holding up well and we have been pleased! Finally decided to do the Land Cruiser and though I would share the experience:
I ordered in early/mid December, and covers arrived around Jan 7. I had a local shop install them for $ 450 (his estimate was $350, but he had to re-work the console cover and he added a lot of foam the seats, arm rests, and headrests), and one day turnaround.
Below are some notes/observations:
1. I am happy with the color match (it looks lighter than it is in the pictures). You could argue that it is slightly different from original, but the original has been fading in the sun for almost 20 years... The texture is different than original as other have stated (original was smooth and LSeat has a rough grain texture to it). I am happy with the LSeat texture.
1. The installer did add foam to the seat bottom, and I can tell a big difference (I'm glad I paid the professional installer).
2. The LSeat console cover sent for the Land Cruiser was WAY too big as some of the others have mentioned in this thread. The LSeat console cover for the 2004 LX470 was fine, but the console cover for my 2000 Land Cruiser was NOT. The installer had to cut it down and re-stitch a seam, and it looks great now (again, glad I had a pro installer do it). I can only assume that LSeat's pattern is off or the pattern was made for some other version/option as suggested by others?
3. The leather around the armrests is a little loose (on both LX470 and the Land Cruiser). This seems to be common with LSeat if you look at the other pictures in this thread. I really don't like how it looks or feels, but it is certainly better than my old armrest leather!
4. The headrest covers on the Land Cruiser were slightly too big and not very tight (you can see in the picture below). The installer was not happy with this, so he had added 1/4 inch of foam around the entire headrest, and the leather is still a little loose but looks ok with the added foam. The headrest covers we received for the LX470 seemed to fit much better but were probably harder to get on. Some others in this thread have commented that their headrest covers were too big. Also, there is some weird piping trim on the bottom of the headrest around the hole where the headrests posts go into the seat. The head rest covers on our LX470 were NOT like this. Looks weird to me, but ok...
5. I had contemplated replacing the seat heating pads as a preventative measure while the covers were off, but ultimately kept the old ones. Hope this wasn't a mistake, but for now they are working!
Overall I am very happy with the LSeat covers on both our LX470 and Land Cruiser. I do believe there are certain nuances with the LSeat covers, and they vary from LX to Land Cruiser. Also, while this might have been a good project to do myself, I was glad I had someone with more experience tackle it (both times), as I think the foam they added to the seat and headrest was an improvement, and dealing with the wrong size console cover (Land Cruiser only) turned out better than if I had done it myself.
For the money, I am very happy!
Lee
04 LX470
00 LC (with nice seat covers!)
About a year ago I put LSeat covers on my wife's LX470 (pics earlier in this thread) and they are holding up well and we have been pleased! Finally decided to do the Land Cruiser and though I would share the experience:
I ordered in early/mid December, and covers arrived around Jan 7. I had a local shop install them for $ 450 (his estimate was $350, but he had to re-work the console cover and he added a lot of foam the seats, arm rests, and headrests), and one day turnaround.
Below are some notes/observations:
1. I am happy with the color match (it looks lighter than it is in the pictures). You could argue that it is slightly different from original, but the original has been fading in the sun for almost 20 years... The texture is different than original as other have stated (original was smooth and LSeat has a rough grain texture to it). I am happy with the LSeat texture.
1. The installer did add foam to the seat bottom, and I can tell a big difference (I'm glad I paid the professional installer).
2. The LSeat console cover sent for the Land Cruiser was WAY too big as some of the others have mentioned in this thread. The LSeat console cover for the 2004 LX470 was fine, but the console cover for my 2000 Land Cruiser was NOT. The installer had to cut it down and re-stitch a seam, and it looks great now (again, glad I had a pro installer do it). I can only assume that LSeat's pattern is off or the pattern was made for some other version/option as suggested by others?
3. The leather around the armrests is a little loose (on both LX470 and the Land Cruiser). This seems to be common with LSeat if you look at the other pictures in this thread. I really don't like how it looks or feels, but it is certainly better than my old armrest leather!
4. The headrest covers on the Land Cruiser were slightly too big and not very tight (you can see in the picture below). The installer was not happy with this, so he had added 1/4 inch of foam around the entire headrest, and the leather is still a little loose but looks ok with the added foam. The headrest covers we received for the LX470 seemed to fit much better but were probably harder to get on. Some others in this thread have commented that their headrest covers were too big. Also, there is some weird piping trim on the bottom of the headrest around the hole where the headrests posts go into the seat. The head rest covers on our LX470 were NOT like this. Looks weird to me, but ok...
5. I had contemplated replacing the seat heating pads as a preventative measure while the covers were off, but ultimately kept the old ones. Hope this wasn't a mistake, but for now they are working!
Overall I am very happy with the LSeat covers on both our LX470 and Land Cruiser. I do believe there are certain nuances with the LSeat covers, and they vary from LX to Land Cruiser. Also, while this might have been a good project to do myself, I was glad I had someone with more experience tackle it (both times), as I think the foam they added to the seat and headrest was an improvement, and dealing with the wrong size console cover (Land Cruiser only) turned out better than if I had done it myself.
For the money, I am very happy!
Lee
04 LX470
00 LC (with nice seat covers!)
My covers and @fooldall1's covers both were very loose fitting when installed. We just did Jason's a couple weeks ago.
After a nice, hot Florida summer, mine tightened up nicely. Don't worry about any bagginess after you install them. If you are in a hurry, the installer should be able to steam them some, but it's not a big deal.
I recently finished my install this past Saturday. The one thing I found different from others was that on the first side I noticed that the arm rest was loose so I removed it and installed the LSeat cover over the top of the original. The fitment worked out perfectly and looks like the fit of the original leather. It took some coaxing but I got it eventually.
decisions decisions
i want to redo my 2 rows and looking at lseat its about 600 for two rows and if i get someone to install for 400-500 that puts me at $1100 for questionable leather.
I think i may just go for costco roadwire which they say is as close to OEM you can get with auto quality leather and install included at $1299.
Costco Wholesale
i want to redo my 2 rows and looking at lseat its about 600 for two rows and if i get someone to install for 400-500 that puts me at $1100 for questionable leather.
I think i may just go for costco roadwire which they say is as close to OEM you can get with auto quality leather and install included at $1299.
Costco Wholesale
Or you could install it yourself and and save a bunch of money. Learning curve is easier after you get the first one done, just don't wait 8months between seats like I did!
