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Thread: E36 Cabriolet interior restoration

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
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    raleigh, nc
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    287
    My Cars
    98 328 cab, 97m3 sedan

    E36 Cabriolet interior restoration

    Ok, on I must go further into the realm of the neglected e36.
    Cooling system done
    Rear shocks and struts done
    Convertible top replacement done
    hood and fenders painted

    If you enjoy me rambling - http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...tible-top-saga

    Next up, the beat interior.
    Finding champagne interiors parts, not so easy. I am considering using a seat bottom from a mulberry interior that I have and attempt to go the leatherique route and change the color.
    Think its possible to go from this color -


    To this color -


    by using leatherique ?

    My second thought is to try to locate some dove cushions to attempt to dye.
    Sorry for the crappy camera phone pics, i cracked the lens recently

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    31,073
    My Cars
    2004 330 vert 2004 X5
    Yes it's possible to change colors. It takes a few extra coats of dye and you need to be meticulous about the prep. Shouldn't be a problem. I use Leather Magic for my leather restorations.

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    18,000
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    '03 Z4, '06 Forester
    Possibly, but it's gonna be a lot of work.

    I'd seriously consider Iggee covers ... best 180 bucks I spent on my coupe

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jun 2009
    Location
    South Carolina
    Posts
    31,073
    My Cars
    2004 330 vert 2004 X5
    . If I can do this.....http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...-them-like-me-) You can make a small color change

    Are any of those seats heated? I'm looking for the OEM heating elements for a passenger side sport seat

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    raleigh, nc
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    287
    My Cars
    98 328 cab, 97m3 sedan
    Thanks guys, i would like to attempt to whip the seats back into shape first and maintain the factory color scheme.
    That door panel turned out really good. I am sure that it will take quite a bit of work to remove the old mulberry dye and get down to a good ready to stain base. My plan is to refinish just the bottom cushion off of one of the mulberry seats and then restore/dye the existing back of the vert driver seat so hopefully they will match up. The champagne leather is really cool looking when its in good shape, unfortunately i don't believe i have ever seen one in good shape!
    The existing seats in the vert are heated but the mulberry interior that I have is unheated just like the existing interior in my m3 else i would part with the heating elements to you!

  6. #6
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Charleston SC
    Posts
    132
    My Cars
    1995 318is
    Quote Originally Posted by slocar View Post
    Possibly, but it's gonna be a lot of work.

    I'd seriously consider Iggee covers ... best 180 bucks I spent on my coupe
    Damn those look pretty good. Any pics of these in your car, more so the sides
    99' Dodge Ram (The Beast)
    95' 318is project (The Beater)
    95' 318is (Gone)

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    Kentucky
    Posts
    18,000
    My Cars
    '03 Z4, '06 Forester
    These are the only two I can find ... I sold the car a while back






    gif image hosting

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2010
    Location
    Charleston SC
    Posts
    132
    My Cars
    1995 318is
    Quote Originally Posted by slocar View Post
    These are the only two I can find ... I sold the car a while back
    Stumbling across this thread made my day lol.

    Sorry for thread jacking.
    99' Dodge Ram (The Beast)
    95' 318is project (The Beater)
    95' 318is (Gone)

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Apr 2014
    Location
    Espaņa
    Posts
    3
    My Cars
    Bmw m3 e36
    Nice

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Dec 2009
    Location
    raleigh, nc
    Posts
    287
    My Cars
    98 328 cab, 97m3 sedan
    Quote Originally Posted by Hideurdaughters View Post
    Stumbling across this thread made my day lol.

    Sorry for thread jacking.
    LOL not a problem. I am open to any path to make this interior liveable that wont break the bank !

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Dec 2017
    Location
    Washington, NJ
    Posts
    5
    My Cars
    98 BMW M3 vert
    Do you still have this e36 with the champagne interior?

  12. #12
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Mb, Canada
    Posts
    75
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 328ic
    I ended up redoing both front leather seats with the seat kit from lseat. They are not expensive and the quality was good for the price. See my full posts on this if you are interested- links are on the post of 01-28-2018. I also did numerous youtube videos on the review and installation process if you are interested. I used the hog rings and they are NOT difficult at all.

    If you have any questions let me know.

    ps, I also redid my door panels at the rear with new vinyl and resprayed all the panels so it all matched. Other interior work included some carbon fibre wrap and I redid a wood shift knob. All in all I am pleased with my e36 vert now.

    cheers,

    Don B

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    21
    My Cars
    1998 328iC, 2006 330Xi
    Quote Originally Posted by dnbmbimmer View Post
    I ended up redoing both front leather seats with the seat kit from lseat. They are not expensive and the quality was good for the price. See my full posts on this if you are interested- links are on the post of 01-28-2018. I also did numerous youtube videos on the review and installation process if you are interested. I used the hog rings and they are NOT difficult at all.

    If you have any questions let me know.

    ps, I also redid my door panels at the rear with new vinyl and resprayed all the panels so it all matched. Other interior work included some carbon fibre wrap and I redid a wood shift knob. All in all I am pleased with my e36 vert now.

    cheers,

    Don B
    What's the name of your Youtube channel? I'd like to look up your videos and see what's involved. I just picked up a '98 328i convertible that I am rehabbing. Starting with mechanical stuff, then the roached top, then the trashed interior. But I'm researching the heck out of all these projects. It's relatively easy to find vids about mechanical work on these e36's, but finding videos about top repairs or interior refurbishment has proved difficult.

  14. #14
    Join Date
    May 2017
    Location
    Mb, Canada
    Posts
    75
    My Cars
    1998 BMW 328ic

    seat recovering you tube links

    here they are. Not pro quality video but these are the first ones I ever did as I'm pretty old school as well.

    Quote Originally Posted by Stevaroo01 View Post
    What's the name of your Youtube channel? I'd like to look up your videos and see what's involved. I just picked up a '98 328i convertible that I am rehabbing. Starting with mechanical stuff, then the roached top, then the trashed interior. But I'm researching the heck out of all these projects. It's relatively easy to find vids about mechanical work on these e36's, but finding videos about top repairs or interior refurbishment has proved difficult.
    As per my post yesterday, I have completed the final video for the back, headrest and some final steaming shots. The video can be found here:
    https://youtu.be/fpxZJD7Zo5U

    The previous seat bottom video is here:
    https://youtu.be/fpxZJD7Zo5U

    The disassembly video is here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4bFSUbnrw&t=6s

    The first video showing the L Seat product Review is here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0V9RSGNq8c

    Hopefully these will ease any future attempts for reupholstery for these cars. Feel free to share these links with other forums or bimmer nuts!

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Oct 2003
    Location
    New Zealand
    Posts
    266
    My Cars
    1996 E36 M3 Evo
    ^ Thanks for the videos, I think they're useful.
    '96 M3, S50B32, 6MT
    + good stuff

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Indianapolis, IN
    Posts
    21
    My Cars
    1998 328iC, 2006 330Xi
    Quote Originally Posted by dnbmbimmer View Post
    here they are. Not pro quality video but these are the first ones I ever did as I'm pretty old school as well.



    As per my post yesterday, I have completed the final video for the back, headrest and some final steaming shots. The video can be found here:
    https://youtu.be/fpxZJD7Zo5U

    The previous seat bottom video is here:
    https://youtu.be/fpxZJD7Zo5U

    The disassembly video is here:
    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DK4bFSUbnrw&t=6s

    The first video showing the L Seat product Review is here:

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S0V9RSGNq8c

    Hopefully these will ease any future attempts for reupholstery for these cars. Feel free to share these links with other forums or bimmer nuts!
    Thank you! I’ll check out your videos. I’m going to need some inspiration as I get into the restoration of my E36 vert.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Feb 2002
    Location
    Orlando, FL
    Posts
    8,884
    My Cars
    Turbo 97 E36 M3, 99 M3
    Subscribed because I'm going to do this as well....did you do the rear seats too?
    1997 Arctic Silver/Black M3
    CES Stage IV (651rwhp/615rwtq @ 24 psi)

    1999 Techno Violet/Dove M3
    Auto/Convertible and staying stock!

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