Bolster repair

[rolex]

I contacted Furniture Clinic for a cost estimate for a leather repair on my seat bolster. I sent them the pic below. Had a reply back yesterday saying they cannot repair it. They say the bolster is vinyl and not leather so a smart repair is not possible. Does this sound right to you? Are the seat bolsters actually vinyl?

[Kernow67]

Not exactly sure, but I'm guessing they've said that by looking at the way it is damaged.

Plenty of places around that will repair leather or vinyl though.

[shep1001]

Get a trimmer to replace the panels that are damaged. Both mine went in the same position as yours due to it being the vinyl leather stuff that TVR did not proper leather. Think I paid about £200. Its a ball ache of a job to do the side bolster.

[Getsis]

That's the "Fake" leather standard option, Full leather was an optional extra.

[Zippee]

Getsis said:

That's the "Fake" leather standard option, Full leather was an optional extra.

TBH, too many people, selling dealers especially, get confused between the 2. Full hide was a 2k factory option IIRC.

[Targarama]

Zippee said:

TBH, too many people, selling dealers especially, get confused between the 2. Full hide was a 2k factory option IIRC.

We all know you have full leather

TBH, if nobody apart from experts can tell then its pretty damn good IMO Mine has leather, and the finish looks pretty similar (without the damage).

T/.

[Buzz Billsberry]

I had a similar issue when one of the pins that hold your jeans pocket on came away and proceed to cut into the seat whilst I was driving. The nuts and bolts of it I had the vinyl bolster repair by a local guy but the side a support is a single piece of material and goes all the way round the top of seat & down the other side.

I opted to leave that rather than stitch a patch in which would look even worse that the seat is now. The thought been next year the whole interior is been replaced with leather/alcantera

So it can be done but it will have a patch in that section.

Buzz

[black11s]

Targarama said:

We all know you have full leather

TBH, if nobody apart from experts can tell then its pretty damn good IMO Mine has leather, and the finish looks pretty similar (without the damage).

T/.

Mine has the vinyl. It looks cheap, tacky and nasty. The gaiters for the handbrake and gearstick were completely gone, (flakey, cracked and horrible) and there are all sorts of bits that are showing the material under the vinyl. (I changed those myself though - there is an ebay seller who makes them).
It may have looked OK when brand new, but 8/9 years of light use later and its terrible.
On top of that, my carpets have discoloured.
I'm in the process of getting quotes to have the whole car re-trimmed in proper leather / alcantara and new carpets. Prices so far are coming in at around £2,500 - 3,000.

I reckon that once its all done it should look (and smell) beautiful, and at the end of the day, I spend a fair bit of time in the car, rather than just looking at it, so its probably worth it.

Just my tuppence worth.