How hard to re-dye seats?

[WhipE350]

Wayne, any advice on re-dying leather seats?

I have a 2000 'S' with black "partial" leather seats (whatever that means). With their age everything gets slick and hardens up so I honestly can't tell the vinyl from the leather.

I like doing my own work but this is one I don't want to screw up, I've read some stuff about how to do them and it seems like I can handle it, darn if I can use your tech articles to put in front struts without loosening the control arm I should be able to re-finish seats.

How do I tell what is leather and vinyl? I assume I'll have to treat each different from the other.

If this is nuts tell me

Thanks!

[nosnow4pc]

you can occationally find new leather covers on ebay for ~$600.00 or get a set of full leather used seats. In CA you can occationally find them for $500.00.

I know it sounds like a lot in comparison to dye but a good dye and prep agent will run ~$100 plus your time. Worse if your seats bug you now they will be 10 times more annoying when the dye starts pealing/cracking and then your only real choice is to replace the covers.

[WhipE350]

Hey thanks for the help, I found some covers on ebay, I wonder if they fit as nice as the originals. Anyway, anyone here ever put any on and are they pleased. I really like that new seat and steering wheel look...rest of the car looks new why not take it a little further

[Wayne 962]

I've used leather shoe dye before on seats, and it works pretty well. Doesn't tend to come off. I'm not sure about partial leather or "pleather" - I'm also not sure what exactly that is.

I would imagine that putting new seat covers on might be a bit of a challenge, although I haven't done it myself with the Boxster / 996 seats.

-Wayne

[Dale_K]

If you go ahead and re-dye the seats, please post some before and after pics because I'm considering this project too. On my recently acquired 2000 S it appears that the headrest area is vinyl and the rest of the seat is leather.

[WRGREENER]

I just did a set of seats in my 68 ghia...original carmel color now black. They look like a million and are wearing great. Will take pics later today. Since you are willing to recover why not take the time and dye existing.

Nu-life color spray 4.5 oz/can--for vinyl, plastic & leather buy it at most shoe repair shops ~$6.50

note: Temp is the important factor. If cold then it will cloud (retouch when warm)

[txhokie4life]

I bought a high end leather dye system.

It probably took me 20 hours of labor
and they turned out pretty good,
but not brand new looking.

think of it as a shiny, darker, but still aged look.

It wasn't hard -- just time consuming.

Not sure I'd do it again.

Mike

[JMatta]

I'd suggest searching the air cooled 911 board...there are a number of posts showing how successful the re-dying process worked and the owner's experiences.

Surflex seems to be the choice of many (Google it; takes you to a number of good links).

[smshirk]

A pair of good used seats can be dad for ~500 bucks without looking too long.

[mikefocke]

And there is a list of sellers who sell reupholstery sets on this page

Several advertise in Excellence

[WhipE350]

Thanks Mike, always appreciate your help and input. I live in Charlotte and darn it looks like stuttgarthaus is out of business.