If you look at the sides of the holes, you can see the aluminum. Below the tach hole is also the aluminum designed to cover the seam of the leather, and to give it some character. I wanted everything to be leather but the depth of the holes does not allow me to wrap the leather without cutting into it. Therefore the aluminum was design to match the chrome trim around the meters.

 

Yes, you have to use an adhesive, but a kind that does not dry up hard. Think about it, leather is soft and if you use, for example, super glue, you're going to turn the leather into something hard and it will break or crack in time. Besides, it will not feel like leather to the touch. I hate to say this to you "ladies", but FDNewbie is right, with all the instructions in the world, you'll only make a mess of things and ruin the leather. I have years of experience in working with leather and this is what I came up with. There are tricks to every trade, and without the experience, you will no get very far.

 

nice job on the 7 you still having emission problems?

 

OK, guys. Hold on to your skirts. If you are interested in getting your interior leather-ed up, I am willing to offer my service. I have not figure out the price yet, but it'll be pricey. I will only do the two door panels (where the handles/controls are), the center piece ( where the shift **** is), the e-brake boot and the 4 small pieces at the corners of the windows. I'll also make the seat covers with any color letters embroidered on them. Basically, everything but the piece above the steering wheel (odometer) or the piece for the radio and temp controls. They are a pain in the butt. See pics at http://www.cardomain.com/ride/2169275/1

PM me and, hopefully, I will have some numbers for you.

 

Is this who I think it is? Still in hiding and afraid? Yes and no to emission problem. I just don't want to get it fix. Power loss is the problem. Department of Transportion is the problem.

 

Thanks for the heads up. I'll have to get his contact information.

 

Or they'll finish, and wonder what the hell happened to their nice previously supple leather

Experience is worth it's weight in gold, IMO. My hat's off to you sir

Oh and Kayin, hit me up when you want that info. This guy's contracted by Ferrari

 

^^ Which consequently means you weren't kidding about pricing!

I'll shoot you a pm.

 

MmMm thats pretty cool. but you shouldve put a rotor somewhere. like on the seats?

 

Here are some info on your interiors ladies and gentlemen. When I started this project, my major concern was the thickness of the leather, and worried that the fitting would be too tight to go back into position. After finishing the driver side panel, I discovered that the fitting was just right, not too tight but "snug as a bug". Then came the center panel, the same result. I came to a conclusion that these interior pieces were not made very well, a little small. That is the reason why your car squeeks or rattles. The plastic is thin and "flimzy (?)", weak. The leather will strengthen these plastic 3+ times over. This also solves any "squeeks or rattles". Just between us, I had a crack on the cover of the compartment on the driver side, I reinforced it with a thin piece of plastic underneath and wrapped it with the leather. It is now perfect. In other word, leather will cover up imperfection and strengthen it at the same time. Although the interior was not made very well, I think that this car has one of the best interior design. I feel really good sitting inside my car, like it was made for me. Well there it is everybody, my opinion.

 

does anyone know how much it would cost to change cloth seats to red on black leather, like an estimate

 

It does not have to be a year. I can do it in a week or two, and that's with a full time+ job.

 

Sup Ramy!

I've seen "Yellow Man"'s interior in person, and it definitely is quality . My girlfriend/fionce? who is pretty perceptive about add-on's believes that the leather interior looks as though it could have came from the Mazda factory stock.

On another note: I recall "gmonson" had refinished his interior as well, does anyone have those pix saved? The old threads found while searching leave out the pix .

LMAO = Laughing my a*$ off

Laters!
Edgardo

 

Yo E,
Nice to read your compliment.
See you soon, Q

[QUOTE=grinn253]Sup Ramy!

I've seen "Yellow Man"'s interior in person, and it definitely is quality . My girlfriend/fionce? who is pretty perceptive about add-on's believes that the leather interior looks as though it could have came from the Mazda factory stock.

 

yellow...that was an inside joke and stab at me from Damon.....I tend to drag simple projects out for a long time.....

 

He's not very expensive...but the process itself isn't cheap. As a rule of thumb, no quality work is cheap I'm a firm believer that in 99% of all cases, you get what you pay for.

Hey Edgardo! How goes it?

I don't doubt Yellow Man's interior is quality work. It looks like it in the pics, and I'm sure the pics don't do it justice. Real nice And MUCH better than CF overlay IMO (I really don't like how CF overlays look in the interior)

 

BTW vrooom305,
Why are using a picture of your sister for your avatar? I took that picture in private, how did you get it? Got to keep an eye on you the next time you come over.

 

******* clean

 

Looks real clean man, I've never seen those pieces done in leather, very original. And that stereo console piece HAD to be a bitch to do. I'm thinking of doing my interior in suede, not the plastic dash pieces though, just the parts that are the soft vinyl or whatever the hell it is and the plastic in the rear (the bins behind the seat, that whole area), the headliner, center piece over the transmission tunnel and maybe some other pieces. Do you think you could do all that? I'm not sure how easy suede is to keep clean or dry though, that's my only concern.

 

Suede is not the way to go for car interior. Very hard to maintain. Personally, I am not into suede.

 

I think I may be the only one, but to be honest, I'm not really feeling it. Probably because I like the stock seats and dislike the toilet bowl logo. If the top were Efini or Flying-M my opinion might be different.

But you seem happy with the results regardless, and that's really all that matters with customization

 

 

Yeah I figured it was hard to maintain but I just love the way it looks, and I would definitely go with black for a number of reasons. I had thought about faux suede too, not sure what that would be like. I want something different, that's for sure.

 

The seats are stock, and those "toilet bowl logo" pieces are removable, attached together with velcro. Concerning the logo, I really like that logo over the Efini and the Flying M. Last week, I started a thread asking people which of the 3 logos they like best, and I believe most of you guys/gals pick the Efini and M over "toilet bowl", and that is cool. The first time somene said that my logo looks like a "toiet bowl", I liked it even more. You can't get any more masculine than that.

 

Make sure to buy a good supply of lint rollers because suede picks up everything, and with black, you'll see everything. For some reason when I think of suede interior, I imagine the 60's and 70's disco era. Don't tell me you're an old hippie . Honestly, I think suede can look pretty good. When I decide to do mine, I wanted to give the panel a factory look, and leather can give that look. For suede, that would definitely be a major custome look.