seat refurbishment perforated leather

[Bobe]

Hi There,

as already said here, I'm in the process of completely refurbishing my '67 250 SL. I have been looking for seats covers and other parts to replace the MBtex with leather, and came on KHM website in Germany. The prices are fine, until you receive a quote which surprisingly adds a minimum of 25% to the bottom line for... colouring of the leather ! In some case, and depending on the colour, this can go to 40% or even 60% increase in prices. These commercial practices are not very pleasant, and in my case, bound to fail!

Instead, I'm turning to a leather dealer of high quality leather (no surcharge whatever the colour you choose...) and found someone, a retired professional reupholster, who is happy to do the job.

I have one question concerning the perforated part of the seats: i don't have the car with me as it is in a workshop a few hundreds kilometers away so I can't measure myself. Would anyone be able to tell me what is the approx. length and width for each seat that needs to be perforated so that i can order from the shop ?
 
Great thanks in advance.

[zoegrlh]

Have you contacted other suppliers?  GAHH in LA, Calf. Has the seat covers in leather already stitched, and has all the colors of original materials. These are to specs. So are you asking the widths of perforated sections?

[Jack the Knife]

For what it's worth, I looked at six or so different suppliers for cognac leather. KHM had the best/most authentic product, to me.

[Bobe]

Thanks zoegrlh, yes I'm looking for the size of the perforated area on seats and backs, so as to send the details to the leather supplier.

I have not been looking at US/non EU suppliers because with the trade war going on and customs duties jumping overnight based on changing moods.

To Jack's comment, KHM just has a crappy commercial policy: my advice to them would be that they increase their prices and forget about any visible "surcharge" for colouring on their quotes. The leather supplier i'm dealing with  let me have any coulour I wish at no extra cost. Their quote for the full leather supply (around 10sqm of top quality) is just around the amount of KHM "surcharge" and you have a wide choice of  leathers, when KHM does not provide any choice (and you don't know what they are selling to you).

[zoegrlh]

6 cm band width, 28 cm across 4 bands, length 61cm from back of seat to front of seat.

[Bobe]

great! very helful, many thanks.

[Hamid Turbo]

Autosattlerei F&E Design
Rene Engelbrecht
phone nr. 05223991095
you won't be disappointed.

[zak]

What I have found is that the cost to perform the reupholstery in a first class manner costs at least double the cost of the materials, so buy the best quality materials.
You only do this once.

jz

[Bobe]

Thanks all for the suggestions: I have contacted F&E design in Germany suggested by Hamid, although I feel like heading towards buying a leather of excellent quality and get the job done by a retired professional saddler close to my place. I'll be visiting tomorrow the shop of a leather supplier that also works with big German names, and provide notably their famous (and expensive) NAPPA leather.

[Sead]

Thanks zoegrlh, yes I'm looking for the size of the perforated area on seats and backs, so as to send the details to the leather supplier.

I have not been looking at US/non EU suppliers because with the trade war going on and customs duties jumping overnight based on changing moods.

To Jack's comment, KHM just has a crappy commercial policy: my advice to them would be that they increase their prices and forget about any visible "surcharge" for colouring on their quotes. The leather supplier i'm dealing with  let me have any coulour I wish at no extra cost. Their quote for the full leather supply (around 10sqm of top quality) is just around the amount of KHM "surcharge" and you have a wide choice of  leathers, when KHM does not provide any choice (and you don't know what they are selling to you).

Could you provide contact pls per PM as for my next project car I will need a colour that is not available from KHM and other suppliers..
Thy

[brettgregor]

Please contact Heritage Upholstery in Palm Springs:  they just did my whole interior (kit):  it's gorgeous.

[Pawel66]

Bobe, Sead, have you tried Hans Reinke?

[stickandrudderman]

KHM's surcharges are not only for colour (and indeed how the colour is applied) they are for heavier material with correct grain.
You pays your money you takes your choice, as they say.

[rwmastel]

If the leather maker is unfamiliar with Pagodas and needs measurements, make sure they're shaping and contouring everything correctly.  The 230SL had 3 different seat bottom pad shapes through the series.  I don't know if 250SL is shaped the same as 280SL??  I not sure if the seat back pads were the same shape for the whole w113 run?  This leather maker certainly would not know, if they're asking for measurements.  Can you ship them your seats?

[lreppond]

Bobe, Sead, have you tried Hans Reinke?

I purchased my leather from Hans Reinke.  They produced the correct color and it was vegetable dyed.  I also had them emboss/perforate it because I felt they did the best job/closest to original that I could find.  I’ve been very pleased.