Car Interior Upholstery

[matt_knowles]

Hello all,

For those that don't know, I have an E36 M3 which I've had for around 10 months. Whilst I am trying to part company with car for someone more sensible (Mrs is expecting), I still work on the car trying to improve areas.

One area to note is the interior, specifically the door cards. I want to do something with it to replace the old drab black units. They are fine in general but could be better.

As my car has the alcantara/cloth seats and thinking of going down a similar route with the door cards (including rears).

Can anyone recommend a decent upholstery in Dubai to help. Thinking of just whipping them all off tomorrow and taking them somewhere to be done.

Thoughts and advice welcome.

Cheers

[Harris_I]

Max Garage in Al Quoz retrimmed my Lancia, though I had to source the alcantara myself.

Wasn't expensive as I recall and they did a very good job. They even managed to find an ingenious solution to straightening out my warped door cards.

[Onetrackmind]

I found a thread linking to a place in Um Ramool which may be worth investigating.

http://www.expatwoman.com/abudhabi/forum/topic1519...

[matt_knowles]

Thanks guys will give them both a try.

[Paracetamol]

I know a good and reasonable place in Abu Dhabi if you are struggling..

[matt_knowles]

I've recently removed the door cards and rear panels out of the M3 ready for re-trimming.

I went to both Auto Art and Polimar in Al Quoz and found both to be expensive.

To be honest though, I wasn't sure how much it would cost but I had my headlining done for 1200dh so thought it would be a tad more than this.

I was quoted 3000dh at Polimar and 2500dh at Auto Art.

Do you think this is normal, or should I aim for a lower price?

[dxbtiger]

The leather inserts in my door came loose a few years back, Sara sent me to the place they outsourced to, I think it was the guys below although their facebook page hasn't been update since 2010.

http://www.localsearch.ae/en/profile/Enco-Exclusiv...

[matt_knowles]

dxbtiger said:

The leather inserts in my door came loose a few years back, Sara sent me to the place they outsourced to, I think it was the guys below although their facebook page hasn't been update since 2010.

http://www.localsearch.ae/en/profile/Enco-Exclusiv...

Cool, thanks for that. I'll give them a bash

[matt_knowles]

I briefly checked them yesterday, but couldn't get hold of them.

Sara wanted 3000dh for the job (including alcantara center inserts). Still think I can get it cheaper to be honest, but maybe I am wrong!

[dxbtiger]

matt_knowles said:

I briefly checked them yesterday, but couldn't get hold of them.

Sara wanted 3000dh for the job (including alcantara center inserts). Still think I can get it cheaper to be honest, but maybe I am wrong!

If they still outsource it then if you can find out who does it now you can cut them out and therefore get it cheaper I assume.

[matt_knowles]

dxbtiger said:

If they still outsource it then if you can find out who does it now you can cut them out and therefore get it cheaper I assume.

Yeah my thoughts too. Going to try and find the other guys you suggested.

Maybe I'm just being a tight Yorkshire lad and should cough up the dirhams! haha

[yorky500]

If I remember correctly, the place Sara outsource to (may have changed) is on the other side of Al Ghandi service centre i.e. if Sara is on the left, they are on the right - in a small industrial unit.

[Harris_I]

Honestly Matt, do give Max Garage a go. They have a chap who does nothing but interior trim in the room on your left hand side as you enter through the gate, though you may have to source the alcantara yourself. I got mine from a furniture store on Al Dhiyafah Rd (Casa Fina, I think?). The labour was cheap as chips and the job was perfect.

And yes, I did check out the usual Polimar etc but it was a bit like that sketch from Harry Enfield ("I saw you coming") so I know where you're coming from.

[Randompunter74]

Mate,
Go to DK Schnitzer in Al Quoz. They are then r nuts. Pricey, but worth it if you want a decent job. (check spelling) will be better than Max or Polimar.. All they do is trim

[matt_knowles]

Cheers guys, great help.

I'll give them all a bash this weekend. Am I being reasonable thinking circa 3000dh is a tad pricey?

I've removed all the cards myself and the trim is literally peeling off now, so it cant need too much prep work. Just the skills to re-trim and the cost of their time and parts......can't be that much. Didn't envisage spending more than 1800 really.

[Randompunter74]

Sorry, name is dk-schweizer.com

To give you an idea, I took 2 x Rear Porsche 911 Seats in there (The small ones you sit on in the back, just the bottoms, not the backs) and they quotes me 2,500. Thats for Alcantara from Italy in Grey and Red stitching.

So in short, it depends on how much of a good job you want and if you are keeping the car in the long term. Most should come with some sort of guarantee I would say.

It is pricey? Yes, however that Dubai for you.

If you send it to the UK or Europe its much cheaper but then you have the ballache of shipping and getting it back into here with the customs randomly stopping items.

www.royalsteeringwheels.com are recommended in the UK. They do things like that, as do others. However door cards are somewhat larger than small 911 sears or steering wheels.