I'd be interested to know if the 98-02 LX470's seats match any other Toyota vehicle. I didn't think so.
Replacement leather?
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I'd be interested to know if the 98-02 LX470's seats match any other Toyota vehicle. I didn't think so.
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Spoke with Shane today. New leather is on the way!!! Grey with smooth inserts. Ordered new OEM grey carpet and Weather tech floor mats. Sorry kids, no more Shamrock shakes and M&M's allowed in the truck. Currently looks like this inside my truck. I've removed, patched and reinstalled the present leather. That made my fingers hurt. I bet new will be even more fun.
Any way you can do a detailed write up? The 100 Section could really use one seeing how more and more people are considering this option.
I did his grey leather with the Alcantara inserts in my 80. That new leather smell is awesome
Read my 100 series build on how to clean seat belts, as you are looking kinda sticky!
lrowe_csp
Too many cruisers, not enough time
Pfran:
Just lucked out and found one still in a box on Craigslist. It was missing one bag of hardware, but Cam Beasley and Vince at IPOR tracked down all of the missing pieces.
Hijack over!
Shane's leather kits are top quality. My installer for my LX said It was the nicest set he has ever installed. Charged me around $450.
Anyone got any pics of the gray interior installed? Going to order the kit and whats the cost of having it installed?
Does anyone offer an mb tex (fake leather in benzes) material option? This is one area I would like to take off the maintenance list for good. Mb tex you wipe clean with water and the stuff lasts for basically ever. I would do all 3 rows.
Ok, I've looked around for this but I couldn't find a thread about it. Does anybody do replacement leather for steering wheels? I just ordered a wheel skin cover because I was unsuccessful in finding anything for replacement leather that doesn't include replacing the entire wheel.
I was B*tch Slapped when I asked the same question.
One h*ll of a good idea though. You put that stuff in and it's good for ohhh, maybe 100 years or so!
I have an '88 Benz that looks perfect. I thought I had leather for a long time. my car has endured the Florida sun since 1988 and has 300K miles on it. Looks like the day I got it.
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Yes, maintaining leather is a PITA. I want durability like the truck. And little to NO MAINTENANCE on seat covering material. ;<)
I have seen mb's sitting in junk yards for years and the only thing left is mb tex. Can't kill it.
I have seen mb's sitting in junk yards for years and the only thing left is mb tex. Can't kill it.
If you guys want original MB Tex, please send me a PM. We just got a container or original MB Tex from Germany last week and I could help you.
I will be doing my 80 in original MB Tex within the next month or so.
I will be doing my 80 in original MB Tex within the next month or so.
Unfortunately I can't make my own covers.
Do you know anyone who could make covers out of the MB Tex?
Are you getting Flat MB tex, textures, certain colors?
You have two options. You can either have a local upholstery shop make you seat covers with the MB Tex, our you can contact Shane and tell him you will be providing the materials so that he only does the labor.
We have about 10-15 different colors and textures of the original MB Tex from Germany made by the mills that make it for Mercedes, BMW, etc...Plus we are always getting overruns with new colors all the time. This is the stuff that has a good reputation for durability, easy maintenance. There are a lot of knock offs and reproductions on the market, which we also carry, but the quality is nothing near the original stuff.
I can mail you samples of specific colors once you are ready.
I got a pretty abrupt face-door-slam when I asked him about it.
I like the smell and feel of leather like everyone else, but am contemplating keeping my LC forever. The idea of re-doing the seats over and over is not exciting. I am heartbroken with the current cracks.
I'm sending a PM, thanx!
Shane has 2 orders, yours and mine. LC forever means a more durable interior.
Having a shop tear your interior apart and practicing on your truck to make a quality replacement is a great risk. I have sold many covers to folks that went this route as it ended horrible. There's so many variables it's crazy to get right the first time. I can't tell you have mistakes I have on shelves as I keep telling myself I will own an 80 some day and I will graft these into a truck. My flawed front seats go to dealers for their showroom displays.
To be clear, again. I went round and round with the idea of Chilewich and MB vinyl with JW of TLC4x4.com years ago and the cost was no place on par and I made a decision NOT to make one off customs.
It's been 6 months putting this last LX470 patterning group buy together and I needed 10 to make the numbers work, I got 5 and will not turn a profit for months. Do you care? not at all..... You (the customer) want the best product at the best prices today.
One Off's take a lot more material than running production as you can nest all the patterns tightly into place and keep margins and turn a profit. Then if it has a pattern, as it does then the material needs to be matched up to each panel so the pattern flows through out the seat and this creates A LOT of waste. It would be like wearing a striped suit and each leg, pocket, loop, cuff all going another direction as it wasn't nested correctly. It takes 3x longer (labor) and a significant amount more material.
Every time I do a two-tone is costs me more and less profit margin as I end up with a lot of scraps. I give all my scraps for various people for crafts and making infant shoes. It's just my thing and I have always done it.
Do I want to want to do this? Not at all..... Is that a door slam or being rude? You're kidding right? I bust my ass to bring the best products to this forum and I get the same grief for the a select few that I cant make what they want....
I have spent the last 8 years perfecting each model. Having the vinyl reproduced matching the 40 and 55 series (4 versions) and patterning each model. I borrowed friends Land Cruisers and tore them apart for months at a time, bought a 100 series (my personal truck) to pattern and then a LX470 from Canada for the last two months. sourcing the bits and working with manufactures all within my Zip code and County.
I get such a great deal on hides that it will cost you MORE to have them done in Chilewich or MB textiles. For you vegans, it's the same cost to have 100% vinyl seats.
I supply TLC and others with leather covers and they have their own materials assembled in house.
Would I? Maybe in the late spring as we are buried, no guarantee whatsoever and the same pricing applies.
Yes we are also working on a cloth, the textile manufacture back East is huge and willing to help, it's just a long process being so small as I am.
Hope this answers some questions ans sheds some light on doors.
Best,
Shane
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Merely a statement of fact, and you just confirmed that fact. The reason you don't do it doesn't really matter.
You gave a NO the first time I asked.
Now you give a longer winded NO, ok, but it's sttill a NO, ehhh?
And it's your business, I respect that.
I was merely answering a post saying send the material to Shane, he'll do it.
My answer, NO he won't, been there, done that, got the dirty T-shirt to show for it.
Don't get your hackles up here, there's no point in it really.
YOU'RE STILL SAYING NO AFTER ALL, WHICH IS WHAT I SAID YOU SAID...
I'm just answering a like minded individual who said MB Tex is the answer to his problems.
I'm commiserating. Leather IMO, SUX next to MB Tex. I Love everything about Leather, except the living with it part, and the paying for it's periodic replacement part.
I understand you might have a sales/perception issue with MB Tex, that is mainly due to ignorance. I think if it was properly presented, off roaders should Love it, and others as well.
You just mentioned the issue with matching Leather, I don't think you would have that issue with MB Tex.
You're probably right about not getting the quality of fit with a one off.
So I would be weighing a properly fitting degradable material with high maintenance needs, versus a not so quite nice fitting presentation that would last forever.
I like your stuff BTW. I may end up with your Leather kit, I'm sure it's the best out there. I just haven't quite given up on German Vinyl yet!
