Learn Me: Auto Interior Reupholstering

I've been getting quotes to redo the backrest of my rear seats in my w116. The prices I'm getting quoted are typically $1,000+.

So we've been thinking about buying a sew machine and learning how to do it.

Any recommended machines and books or how-to video's?

Im going to calling around to local community colleges to see if they have any courses we can take.

I'm not generally cheap but I also don't like paying so much for something I might possibly be able to do. I know it wont turn out like a pro shops work and that's fine. I also plan on redoing some Evolution IV Recaro seats.

I used my grandmother's 1923 hand crank Singer. Bought the leather for $230/hide. It's not hard, just time consuming. Take the old stuff off, take it apart, lay it out on the new, mark, cut, sew it back together, put it back on.

My 86 RN Truck:

Oh, and you can get a hand crank Singer on ebay (GRM advertiser) for about $100. I use a denim needle and upholstery nylon thread.

See if you can find a cover already made. Should just be held on with hog rings. Easy job.

In reply to Gearheadotaku:

LoL yeah google rearseat covers for a w116 in Palomino.

This type of seat with pocket armrest and whatnot?

That is much more complicated than it looks. Do you want it to look at all OEM? Correct mercedes pattern vinyl and all?

Option 1: junkyard seat. I have seen a lot of good Mercedes seats at the junkyard. I'm sitting on one (converted to an office chair) now. There should be even a better selection in CA.

Option 2: buy pre-made upholstery and install. I did this with the leather seats in my wife's 560SL and they turned out great. I believe they make replacement MB Tex upholstery too. I think I got mine from German Star or World Upholstery.

The picture above looks like it came from the World Upholstery website: http://www.worlduph.com/mercedes_benz/w116/#Seat They don't list prices but you could call and ask.

In my opinion, replacing seat covers isn't all that difficult. Just pay attention to how the original covers were put on as you remove them.

I can get the MB Tex. It's having the work done on the seat that's expensive. The horsehair is all dried out and gone now. Same goes for junkyard examples.

That horsehair stuff has to go. I had my 220D seat fixed. The horsehair was all falling out. Piles of it would accumulate underneath. The upholsterer I used was very used to doing the work (central Texas: The sun destroyed MB 'vert interiors in a year.) He pulled the seat covers, replaced all the horsehair with foam and put it all back together for me very reasonably.

That's what i want to do for myself. I have two 35 yr old Mercedes. (Though the seats in bgkast old car are still in good shape). I also want to get the evolution 4 recaros redone aswell.

I figure if I invest in an old Juki machine and some classes or howto's and I'd probably save myself some cash in the end.

I have this book:

http://www.amazon.com/Automotive-Upholstery-Handbook-Don-Taylor/dp/1931128006/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1421806316&sr=8-1&keywords=automotive+upholstery+handbook

...and it seems to explain things in an easy to understand and encouraging manner. However, I'm sure it's like most things - this is a skill to be learned. The book enforces this as well. The first project described is a simple stadium cushion.

I have some experience with covering seats using pre-made kits. If the existing covers are in decent shape, then replacing the horse-hair with foam is probably doable, although I'd plan on doing at least one seat twice.

Do a search for area sewing machine stores. I found one in central NJ that sells a lot of used and refurbished machines. The ex- and I went there, told the guy what we were doing (she makes spare tire bags) and he showed us a few machines in our price range. We ended up with a pair of Janome machines that will do heavy weight fabric and leather for $150 ea. Not quite commercial grade, but they've done what we've asked of them.

Take a class at the local community college. I paid $200 for a semester of auto upholstery class at the comm college.

It's a skilled trade. You could probably do an okay job, but there are years of tricks you won't know to do a pro job.

One of my coworkers worked at a high end upholstery shop for a while - they worked on SEMA-level stuff. You can see the experience when you watch him work. Technique.

Ya I'm looking at community college. Our 1st sgt does motorcycle seats but he's stingy on time. I know my work will start off crappy.

Juki DDL-5550 Up for the task?

The MB tex covers are pre-sewed, just hog ring on and go. For the pad buy some nice foam and an electric carving knife and shape it to match the old horsehair pad.

My old horse hair looks like burnt French fries right now lol. I didn't know they were pre-sewn.

Seats in question. http://grassrootsmotorsports.com/forum/grm/should-i-save-this-w116-v8/83397/page2/