Well, it happened as it did to many members here: my driver seat leather started to rip pretty bad. I was searching for the seat replacement for more than a year and came up with nothing. I checked with upholstery shops and almost everyone suggested to replace the whole bottom seat (seat back needs no replacing, just the bottom part.

So, after searching and searching, seat has ripped slowly but surely and it is time.

My current options I researched were:
1) Brand new leather skin from Acura dealer ($700) plus whatever labor will be in upholstery shop to replace it... it may come close to $1300-1500 and I do not want to spend that much; not worth it...
2) Used leather seat - unable to find for more than 15 months now...

3) This is so far my closest option: purchase passenger seat in much better condition (found one for $300) and have upholstery shop replace only bottom seat part. Since there is a small rip in this seat I found, they would fix it first and then replace / install the piece... http://goo.gl/vcA7uO

So I guess my question is: Can the bottom seat part be separated from the passenger seat and installed instead of the ripped one on my driver one? So not looking to swap whole seats, but would if it's easier - just seeing if I have any options getting this seat :/

Thanks all!
PS I searched and could not find anything on leather seat replacement in this section - kept throwing all forum results at me.

 

What color is your interior? I have a parts car with black interior. I am pretty positive the drivers seat is cracked but I think the passenger is ok if you decide to go that route. I honestly wonder what an interior shop would charge to replace the seat bottom with new material? I think that might be the cheapest route. feel free to pm me if you want

 

tnx man - my interior is black; you have RL passenger seat? Can you post or PM me pictures of both to see the condition, and price what you want for the seat?

Thanks

 

I had a local upholstery shop redo both of my passenger and driver seat bottoms because it was getting really bad. Cost $600 in parts and labor and it looks nearly identical to the OEM ones. Now I'm starting to see the driver side seat back get slowly ripped

 

If I opted for the upholstery shop I would definitely go with non-perforated leather, and something of a good quality.

 

Ask some use car dealers for a leather upholstery shop referral. They should know a good and reasonable repair shop or person with plenty of experience with higher end cars that specializes in working with leather seats.

 

Thanks everyone! I will get in touch with the dealer and get some upholstery shops lined up to get quotes. Seems that may not be that expensive as I initially thought.

 

Thanks for the thread. I have been wondering what to do about my seats that are looking ragged with the cracking and some rips. I can't stand looking at them anymore. I have been preparing myself to dropping for two seats (driver and passenger) but this thread gave me the idea to look for shops locally that do automotive upholstery and found two! I am getting quotes sent within a couple of days.

 

Just a idea does the 3g seats fit in the 2g's?

 

Have you ever gotten the estimates from two shops? Thanks...

 

So I finally found local upholstery shop to get an estimate for replacing ripped leather and here is the breakdown:
- seat piece leather replacement (lower part of the seat) to install flat-leather and cushion ($450 per seat, real leather)
- armrest between seats replacing with leather like material ($120)
- both front doors armrests (bubbling-up) are $170 per door...
- repair/replacement of one piece on drivers seat back (re-using the passenger seat leather to match nicely) - $100.

So all ended up coming out to under $1500 ($1460) ... Cash only price...

I feel this pricing is bit high and expected this price I guess but for full front seats real leather replacement 100% and armrest...
Two lower seats pieces and armrests with leather-like material, I dunno - $1500 is really high...

Thoughts?

Thanks all!

 

How much to pull out each individual part from wrecked cars?

 

Yea that is steep i'd say keep looking around i just had a tear in my passenger seat, the driver armrest was wrinkling, plus a hole in the backseat fixed for $250 with real leather matches OEM leather perfectly but i noticed OEM leather feels thicker and of better quality so thats waaaay overpriced stealership prices..

 

If I remember correctly, you're also in the North Shore area. Check out Auto Interior and Design off Rockland rd. in Lake Bluff. He did my center console and I'm thinking of taking my door arm rests to him since I noticed a small bubble in the driver door.

 

Do those prices include labor for removal? If so, you could take the parts out yourself and take them to the shop individually.

 

Asked about that, but estimator wad like "it would not be much difference, maybe $100 off ... So, still have to go to another shop in Lake Bluff to get estimate... Also considering how long will I keep the car and how worth it is it to fix it ...
I was even thinking suede option on both seats but more I think wilder ideas I get lol ...

 

Quick update: Just got estimate done by the shop in Lake Bluff, and it is $1000 for all:

- driver seat seat and back, matching perforated leather replacement
- passenger seat, matching perforated leather replacement
- console arm-rest lids replacement
- both front door arm-rest replacements

250 material, 750 labor...

Honestly, I think pricing is medium, not too expensive not too cheap - but I am really tired looking for whole seats online, ebay, etc... this price is acceptable to me and I like the shop guy who will be doing the work.
Thanks everyone for all the responses and suggestions. Special thanks to projektvertx for suggesting the shop!
Once it is done, I will post pictures before and after...

 

Definitely gonna be worth it when your interior is 100% fresh again.


I need to bite the bullet soon

 

I have 2 associates who recently purchased in the same week, new Accords that did not have leather (which they wanted). The dealer offered to have it done, but both wisely contacted 2 different upholstery vendors. One paid $1450 and the other paid $1275 for virtually the same work and quality. The leather work is superior to the factory (although Honda leather is not as nice as the leather used in an Acura, particularly the RL). It was the seats (front and back), door panel inserts and armrests. Both opted for perforated leather (like the RL as both admired my previous RL leatherwork and now my RLX which was their 'inspiration'). The perforated leather and stiching was done to the door panels, elevating the look quite nicely. I was astonished how much nicer it was than Honda factory grade leather and even nicer than some Acura models. I think that is a very fair price. From what they told me the two different upholsterers stated that was industry average pricing for pedestrian vehicles without customized work. They do it for dealers all the time. And based on what I saw, this was ONE instance where the dealer's statement that they could get it done 'better than factory'. When I took one of them to pick up the car, the shop had a new CRV there getting a two tone leather install, including wrapping the dash top and door panels with nice contrasting stitching. That CRV interior would put and RDX to shame.

 

Closer to installation day, stay tuned

 

Waiting to see results

 

I am not surprised that a really good shop could do much better leather work than the standard Honda leather interior. Honda, like most every other car company, has really cut costs to the bone relative to interiors. Volume commodity cars like the Accord (a great value for the money) have incredibly cheap feel and look interiors. The leather upholstery appears to be more plastic and man made protective coatings than actual real leather, but they do hold up to hard use. Even Mercedes has gone back to vinyl seats in the C and E class to cut costs.

The rich, thick, and glove soft leather (and the seat itself) in my 2003 CL-S put the leather in my 2006 and 2012 RL to shame.

While the new Accord is a great car in many ways, the interior materials quality is a tremendous downgrade from the 1990-1993 Accord which probably set the high water mark for Honda interiors.

 

Really like how the work was done. Luis was pleasure to deal with - definitelly recommended!