The interior trim overhaul/update continues….

[britlude]

The 19 year old seats in my car were looking a little tired, so I took the plunge and ordered a set of leatherseats.com replacement leather seat (obvious really) covers. After reading the feedback on Prime, getting basic custom trimmer quotes and seeing the ridiculous Honda prices it was a no-brainer really! So an order was placed!

Now to be awkward I wanted something a little different, subtle but different, so a custom colour combination was ordered, in the ecstacy leather range, and the transatlantic wait began, well the dual transatlantic wait began as the leather was sourced in Italy, sent to America to be sewn together, and then shipped back across the Atlantic to me here in England! Pics of the colour combination were sent over before the process began, but was still a worry as to whether the colour reproduction on the screen was correct! Fortunately the colour was spot on so the fitting began!....

I ordered extra leather to do the door insert to match so it was off with the door trims, and replacement began…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat25042011171800x600.jpg

the old leather was carefully pulled off, the new leather cut out. The leatherseats.com leather was already marked for each section, with a generous overlap, so no worries about not having enough material
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011182800x600.jpg

so here’s the before
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011174800x600.jpg

and after
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011184800x600.jpg

looks a lot better, and updates the gathered look! Spoils the ‘what colour is it?’ surprise though! The car is charlotte green …..

[britlude]

next up was the seats….

As they are 19 years old, it was about time they had a treat, so it was out with the old…
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011185800x600.jpg

and strip it down… leatherseat.com have a handy guide on their site, so I read this, then just worked my way through the seat, basically paying attention as I went!

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011188800x600.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011189800x600.jpg

soon I had a naked seat, and the new leather could go on…. First the main body

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011190800x600.jpg

it’s the case of putting the cover on, hooking in the outside of the side bolsters and working back, working the leather so the seams are at the right place on the foam, AND that the seam is folded the right way inside the cover… if it changes from left to right on the inside the seam will get a bulge/bump and not sit right. Also I bought some ¼” upholstery foam just in case I needed to pad out any worn foam, and only used small pieces where the original foams had been compressed by years of being strapped up in tight leather!

[britlude]

A quick tip on the holes for the side switches… when you remove the side switch, and disconnect the wiring, replace the screws into the seat…. When you come to cut the holes in the new covers it’s far easier to find the screw heads, than find the screw holes that are buried beneath thick new leather and foam padding

Obviously this is what I did on the second seat, learning from the first!!!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011204800x600.jpg

easier to find the screws….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011205800x600.jpg

oh, while I think of it…. The headrests! Now I’ve read how these are a PITA to change, all manner of solutions from avoiding it, to using plastic bags and vacuum cleaners… well I was dreading this but when it came to the crunch it was a piece of cake. Basically what you have to do is quite simple… get the headrest with the 2 pins pointing down, place these two pins in a bench vice (or vise depending on which side of the Atlantic you are) and once securely and solidly held, the cover just hooks on one side (i.e. left), and simply pulls over to the right, a bit of shoving/massaging to get the seams right, and it’s done! No need to stress, it just slides on like a glove!

[britlude]

The inserts were a case of using a pair of circlip pliers to open the hog-rings, and removing the old leather, then once the leather was checked for fit, and the seams worked to sit right, the new covers were hog ringed back on, I even re-used the original rings. Again attention was concentrated on making sure the leather was tight and smooth, and nicely in the grooves.
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011194800x600.jpg

and the base….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat26042011195800x600.jpg

Now the eagle eyed among you would have noticed the ‘crease’ in the top panel… it looks like it was a fold in the original leather supplied, not leatherseats.com packing, but that will settle out as the leather shrinks in the sun (after all, the original animal didn’t have a nice straight crease like that!)……

Before and after….
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011202800x600.jpg

Using the experience gained from the first ( about 2 ½ hrs) the second was fitted up (about 1 ½ hrs!)
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011207800x600.jpg

[britlude]

all that was left to do was refit the seats and see how pretty it looks!!! What do you think…..


http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011214800x600.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011210800x600.jpg

http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011215800x600.jpg


The colour stands out more under flash photography!
http://i301.photobucket.com/albums/nn41/thisYup/nsx%20stuff/Nsx%20seat%20recover/nsxseat27042011217800x600.jpg

Just the effect I wanted, custom but subtle and updated, without being too much colour! Looking in, with the car in the shade with the windows up it’s a subtle tonal difference, classy!!!

Very pleased with the outcome, and the leatherseats quality, feel and fit are excellent

[Nick Graves]

Amazing results!

The sort of subtle upgrade the car needed in production. Normally, two-tones are far too garish these days.

Of course, I'm far too male-brained to know whether the greens work together or not. Can barely detect the colour itself. Best ask some of the site's ladies that.

[PeteM]

Wow, amazing work. Looks very good and like the subtle approach it compliments the exterior colour well.

[Geraint]

Looks stunning, beautiful job :cool:

Having just had my custom seat cushion done, it's shown up the rest of the interior as a bit plasticky and worn :(

I like the green, it's different in a subtle way. I might be tempted by something similar in purple... :bigsmile:

How much did it cost, if you don't mind me asking? PM if you prefer.

[britlude]

it worked out at just over £800 for the 2 seats (their full kit in premium plus leather, ecstacy option, plus the leather for the door panels) . I was getting quotes of that and more for 1 seat in one colour and less leather! as for honda prices, best not think about them!!!

And i've got it done in time for Japfest!!!

[Geraint]

That is extremely good value, I was expecting something around twice that amount :cool:

Thanks for the info, look forward to taking a closer look at Japfest :)

[Justin]

Great job! Shame they weren't there on Monday... But these look fantastic.

[britlude]

Great job! Shame they weren't there on Monday... But these look fantastic.

i know, I know!!!! now if you want to pop round for a couple of pics, i'll scout out a location :)

[SILVER BULLET]

That is a very tidy job, looks great.

I look forward to seeing it in the flesh in a couple of weeks,

Cheers,

Ian

[Senninha]

Hi Jon,

Last year the wheels, this year the interior, its looking really nice and tastefully updated.

Have you updated the mini-me version and will it be present this year??

regards, Paul

[britlude]

the mini-me does have the new wheels... i better tweak the interior....

[Senninha]

the mini-me does have the new wheels... i better tweak the interior....

Excellent news!!

[nobby]

fantastic job mate ... well done indeed. think it has come out really well like the 2 tone effect.

i think we all are aware of the shameful Honda prices for anything NSX ... shame on you HUK! :(

[AR]

Looks really good, Charlotte Green is a really classy colour!

[TheSebringOne]

Jonathan, it looks great and congrats on this upgrade.

Normally, I'm not into two tone leather like bright colours & black, but this is
very subtle and looks well.

[NSXGB]

Great job as usual Jon, looking forward to seeing them at JF.

[Papalazarou]

I did the same job on my old 96.' I thought the worst part was removing all the hog rings. I replaced them with cable ties in the end. Was the door insert leather already cut to size. Or did they send you a longer piece to cut down?
Great job by the way. I think Leatherseat has developed a really good product.

Cheers,

James.

[Chris B N]

Brilliant Jonothan,looking forward to seeing it in the flesh in a couple of weeks time.My car is Charlotte Green with tan interior ( black door card)you've got me thinking Well done

[britlude]

Was the door insert leather already cut to size. Or did they send you a longer piece to cut down?



the door inserts were a large matching leather offcut, the 10 pieces individually marked out and numbered accordingly (left and right hand sides) with plenty of overlap. these were stuck onto the inserts (only on the back) with decent spray glue.

the best i've found is from martinsupholstery.co.uk. Their HD multi-purpose spray adhesive doesn't seem to melt and go gooey in heat like alot out there! I know, I've tried quite a few!!!

[unclebob]

im a difficult person to please but wow man youve done an amazing job! looks great.

[Senninha]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfPa1oeu3DU (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pfPa1oeu3DU)

A part of your NSX is on the virtual 'telly' ....

[mutley]

Excellent job. For a while I have been hunting for alternative seats, but having seen that job, I think I might have to go down the same route.

Jim