Leather Interior - Saloon

[trabitom99]

Probably shouldn't be bumping this offers section thread, but I didn't really want to start a new one ...

Spent all the evenings of last week (well the few hours between putting the kids to bed and getting some shut eye meself) getting the leather interior ready. Having got a 3/5 door backrest from Belgium 2 weeks ago I removed the seat covers and the foam padding from both backrests (very easy job) and drilled out the rivets connecting the centre armrest to the back panel. That probably would have been easy if I'd used the right drill bits to start with - after breaking several "metal" bits I now know I should have used those for "steel"

Bolted the leather armrest to the folding backrest, swapped the foam padding and the leather seat covers over and job finished! Spent another few evenings cleaning the lot with Sonax leather feed and finally fitted them all into the car on Saturday morning.

The difference from the drivers' seat is amazing - the old one was sagging badly, I reckon the previous owner must have weight a ton and a half! The interior isn't as gloomy as I'd expected, but I've left the GLT door cards in for now. It's nice opening the door and getting a whiff of leather, too

On my todo list -

* sorting out the "fasten seat belts" mechanism
* sorting out the seat heating pads
* getting a welder to use the "foggy method" of fitting the rear head restraints to a folding backrest (see this post)
http://www.volvo300mania.com/forum-uk/v ... php?t=1046

All in all not that great a deal I suppose, but I'm glad to have at least seen one of my plans for this car through ...

Tom

[petefarrell360]

Good work Tom, sounds like you've been working hard to make progress! GLT door cards really are much better than the vinyl things that should go with the leather. I have a set, but I won't be fitting them to the GLT, the vario may get them instead, as the plush door cards don't match quite as well as GLT ones!

I really should give my leather a feed, how did you find the Sonax stuff? One brand I used once before seemed to be utter rubbish, where as they'd just been treated when I got the seats and they were pretty amazing.

Pete

[trabitom99]

It was fine, I suppose, but I haven't got any experience with other brands so I can't really compare. I used the basic, cheaper Sonax leather care, they also do "xtreme" and "nano" ranges which are a little more expensive.

It got 20 years' worth of grime off well enough, the cloth I used was filthy afterwards. As a rough "conclusion":

+ cheap
+ didn't make it too shiny or slippery
+ makes it smell nice again

- the leather "squeaks" a bit when you rub your hand over it, but that'll wear off I suppose.

I used about half of the 250ml, so a whole bottle should be enough for two interiors.

Tom

PS Haha, maybe I should have read this test before:
http://www.autoexpress.co.uk/products/p ... arent.html
but there's nothing wrong with the smell, nor did it leave any marks. They're right about it not soaking in too well though.

T.

[SteveP]

Glad you're getting on with this Tom

Don't bother feeding the leather too often... it makes it far to slippy for hard cornering

[trabitom99]

Hehe Maybe one day if I get hold of a good LHD passenger seat I'll treat that, but other than that I don't plan on "polishing" the seats too often ...

Tom