Bassoctopus

Following the advice on here, I removed my seats yesterday, swapped the base cushions round, and repaired/strengthened the bolsters with gaffa tape.

Thanks to whoever worked this out. It's a nice easy job and well worth doing. It's like having brand new seats.

Even for a novice like me, it should be done in a relaxing 90 minutes. Including full leather clean and conditioning of the seats, and full clean of the under seat carpets and other hidden trim.

Just to reinterate the method...

1. Remove seats (4 bolts each)
2. Remove bases from seats (4 bolts each)
3. Unclip drivers side seat cover - 13 brass tangs that bend remove. Repair broken bolster with sponge (tesco washing up sponges for me!) and gaffa tape.
4. Put repaired seat cushion on passenger side seat.
5. Unclip passenger side seat cover. Strengthen outside bolster by putting on gaffa tape on the area that wears.
6. Put passneger seat cushion on drivers seat
7. Put seats back in the car.

NB: whatever you do, don't slip with the pliers when replacing the very last tang and give yourself a blood blister on the tip of your left index finger and another on the right hand thumb/index joint. Owwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwwww.

unclefester

Easy job isn't it and like sitting in a new car seat by comparison Gaffa / Duct tape whichever it is works a treat

Bassoctopus

I can't believe how much difference it makes, and how worn my old one was.

veehexx

fairly straight forward job this; i did this a year or 2 ago, and the repair is still holing strong.

i used some firm sponges from B&Q (the type you use for washing a car) and gaffa tap. the sponge was compressed in to increase the denisity and increase support.
still holding up strong!

loftust

Did you fit heated elements at the same time?

Bassoctopus

Heating elements? Why would I need a hot arse in the summer?

My S2000 is now a summer toy only. I have the Beemer and ATR for bad weather driving

chrispayze

Ah, but you'll miss those crisp sunny winter mornings, where the heated seats come into their own!

Bassoctopus

Been there, done that.

Car now has 107k miles and is 11 years old. I've had a lot of the rust treated, ground back, painted etc. This car won't be seeing the salt again in it's lifetime.

And even if it did, I've never liked heated seats and never use them if I'm driving a car with them fitted.

tomkbucks

good tip - use zip ties not hog rings - much easier and quicker and no risk of injury !

Bassoctopus

Did that for one, as I was doing this job on the lawn and lost one of the brass rings!