Rennlist - Porsche Discussion Forums

7 Things to Consider Before Reupholstering Your Porsche's Seats

Here's what you need to know before reupholstering your Porsche's seats.

By Gabriella Massari - September 9, 2016
Condition
Material
Design
Color
Do the Right Research
DIY or Professional Install
Cost and Time

1. Condition

What condition are your seats in? Answering this question is really the first step in deciding whether or not it’s worth the time, effort and money to reupholster. Do you groan at the mere sight of the driver’s seat? Perhaps they can simply be covered or conditioned instead of reupholstered altogether.

If your seats are ridden with unsightly tears and fading, or causing you daily grievances that interfere with your comfort, then it’s a good time to begin this project. If the wear goes deeper than that, meaning the foam itself is torn or very worn, then you’ll need to assess that damage first before thinking about reupholstering.

Do yourself a favor and evaluate the condition of the seats from the inside first, then out. There’s no point in reupholstering a fundamentally damaged seat that will compromise comfort and performance for looks.

2. Material

There are many options to consider when reupholstering your Porsche’s seats. Do you want genuine leather? Perhaps Porsche script fabric? What about Alcantara? Do your research on Rennlist.com to learn about the differences in looks, durability and comfort when it comes to common fabrics used to reupholster Porsche seats.

3. Design

Instead of covering your seats in one material, also consider your design options. Do you want full or partial leather, for example? Now's the opportunity to customize this element of your interior to your exact preferences. Consider fabric with Porsche lettering stitched in the headrest to add a unique touch. Covering the sides with leather and the middle portions with Alcantara or contrasting/patterned fabric is another possibility. 

4. Color

The color of your seats should complement the scheme of tones already present for the interior and exterior of your Porsche. Maybe you’ve found a great deal on red leather upholstery to cover your seats, but the rest of your Porsche interior is tan. No matter how good the deal, don’t settle for seats that will end up being a jarring eyesore. Think about the tones already at play and go from there when considering which color material to buy. It’s also recommended to find a supplier with materials offered in Porsche factory colors to make it easier to marry the non-OEM fabric to your interior.

5. Do the Right Research

Would you rather spend hours on Google trying to sift out scams and ad listings or directly find actual websites of suppliers and installers you can trust? Don’t start from scratch; save your sanity and head to the Rennlist forum to talk to other Porsche enthusiasts who have also sought out seat reupholstering services and goods. You’ll find abundant discussions regarding where to buy online and who to contact, as well as similar advice explored in this list. Add to the discussion or ask for what you are looking for directly. You may get lucky and find someone selling the perfect pair of reupholstered seats. Here are some forum threads to explore:

6. DIY or Professional Install?

Answering this question is another matter of preference and about how confident you feel in your ability to entirely remove and reinstall your seats, and, of course, reupholster them well. A professional will work with the fabric you provide and know exactly what to do, which is why choosing this route is recommended. But if you’re determined to complete this project on your own, there are resources available on the Rennlist forum:

How to Disassemble 6-Way Seats for Reupholstery - Rennlist.com

7. Cost and Time

A proper reupholster job is going to cost you—both money and time. You can expect to pay from $75 dollars and up per seat for the material alone. There will be shipping fees for the material and, if you choose to get them professionally upholstered, labor cost (another few hundred dollars). The repair timeline depends on what kind of seats you have (sport or regular) as well as any customization you choose (e.g., full or partial leather, custom stitching, inserts). This job will likely take a minimum of two weeks.

You may have heard of simply dying leather seats that look old, and while this method may cost a fraction of the price of reupholstering, it doesn’t work for cracked or torn leather and is only a temporary solution that will likely leave you unsatisfied. If you’re going to reupholster, do it the right way. Buy quality materials from a reputable supplier. If you’re working with a tight budget, opt for vinyl instead of leather and pursue local sources only.

Spending more money now will help guarantee that you don’t have to replace your seats again that much sooner. Cheap material or poor workmanship will add nothing to the already high quality and standards of your Porsche’s interior.

NEXT
BACK
NEXT
BACK