Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast
Results 1 to 25 of 53

Thread: Restoring E36 Vader Seats

  1. #1
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    La Mirada, CA
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    1997 BMW M3 Sedan

    Restoring E36 Vader Seats

    Hi all!

    Finally got a deal on some vader seats for my ride. My plan is to redo the skins with either the Lseat or autoberry skins. But 1st I'd like to get some feedback from anyone who has bought skins from any of these companies. Who was fitment, quality of the leather etc..


    Chris

  2. #2
    Join Date
    Apr 2018
    Location
    Delaware
    Posts
    71
    My Cars
    99 E36 M3, 02 E39 M5
    Quote Originally Posted by ZIRZBMW View Post
    Hi all!

    Finally got a deal on some vader seats for my ride. My plan is to redo the skins with either the Lseat or autoberry skins. But 1st I'd like to get some feedback from anyone who has bought skins from any of these companies. Who was fitment, quality of the leather etc..


    Chris
    I used the autoberry skins in my daughter’s car; the leather was great but they fit poorly (requiring a ton of added foam, resulting in a “puffy” look) and their service was terrible. The kit was so bad that I ended up throwing out the upper rear folding seats and buying a used set on eBay. Worth noting it was a shop that installs seat covers all the time, not a DIY attempt... I just didn’t have the time.

    I’ve got a couple sets of Lseat upholstery (changed my mind on interior color for my build). A lot more grain but much closer to stock upholstery in terms of attachment points and construction.

    Hope this helps!

    Ryan


    Autoberry front and rear, after a week of fighting, reworking and padding:





    Pics of differences in OEM vs Autoberry, note the rear quarter pieces:








    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

  3. #3
    Join Date
    Oct 2005
    Location
    Tracy, CA
    Posts
    932
    My Cars
    e46 325XI, e36 M3

    Restoring E36 Vader Seats

    On instagram searcch vaderfactory. They sre based in Turkey though

    These guys ship reproduction seat foams with new upholstery on it already for around $1000 usd. Fit and finish is really oem.

  4. #4
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oakhurst, CA
    Posts
    6,667
    My Cars
    96 M3 97 M3 98 M3 99 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by bmwstephen View Post
    On instagram searcch vaderfactory. They sre based in Turkey though

    These guys ship reproduction seat foams with new upholstery on it already for around $1000 usd. Fit and finish is really oem.
    As far as I have seen, ozworks (that’s who it is) only makes early vader foam. Anything ~6/95 and up is the newer style.

  5. #5
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Arida Zona
    Posts
    30,107
    My Cars
    z3
    I talk to that guy pretty often. I can see if he can do 96+ foam

    Ozworks/vader factory does great work from what I have seen. I have 10 yards of m rain headed to him now for 2 interiors

  6. #6
    Join Date
    May 2019
    Location
    Nyc , Ny
    Posts
    9
    My Cars
    528i
    Hey , just checked them out i have a e39 i want to change my seats to sport comfort seats . Do I have to buy/ source the seats and ship them there. The work looks beautiful, i do they only work exclusively with e36’s ?

  7. #7
    Join Date
    Oct 2008
    Location
    La Mirada, CA
    Posts
    7
    My Cars
    1997 BMW M3 Sedan
    Thanks for posting pics!

  8. #8
    Join Date
    Jul 2018
    Location
    Rowland heights, CA, U.S.
    Posts
    29
    My Cars
    1997 BMW M3 COUPE
    I feel like Autoberry has genuine OEM leather covers but fitting sucks im guessing. For Lseats, I heard the fit is very good if you just know how to fit it right however the color isnt the same, it is a very close match for dove grey interior color.

  9. #9
    Join Date
    Jul 2006
    Location
    tool country, low-cal
    Posts
    797
    My Cars
    chrysler turbo GM
    SUb’d

    lseat looks like a great value
    1 trick pony

  10. #10
    Join Date
    Jan 2008
    Location
    Spartanburg SC
    Posts
    955
    My Cars
    E36 ///M
    Insragram: bmwrestoredseats

    no affiliation but the work looks amazing
    1999 BMW M3

    Avatar Credit: HERMPWR aka Brooke Weisbender

  11. #11
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    332
    My Cars
    A few
    I reskinned the Vader seats on my 1995 Dakar M3 using Lseat covers. The leather material had a slightly different texture than OEM but the fit was very good. Here are some photos taken right after the restoration. Note that the material does settle and smooth over time (it can also be tightened to eliminate any wrinkles).








  12. #12
    Join Date
    Jan 2006
    Location
    Oakhurst, CA
    Posts
    6,667
    My Cars
    96 M3 97 M3 98 M3 99 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by R.Thomas View Post
    I reskinned the Vader seats on my 1995 Dakar M3 using Lseat covers. The leather material had a slightly different texture than OEM but the fit was very good. Here are some photos taken right after the restoration. Note that the material does settle and smooth over time (it can also be tightened to eliminate any wrinkles).







    Sorry, but that is just nasty looking.

  13. #13
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    332
    My Cars
    A few
    To each their own : )

  14. #14
    Join Date
    Jun 2005
    Location
    New England
    Posts
    25,402
    My Cars
    F90 M5; E36 M3 Turbo
    Quote Originally Posted by Braymond141
    Sorry, but that is just nasty looking.
    I would not go that far, but I would call it disappointing. Maybe a heat gun would help? On the other hand, they probably still look better overall than a set of worn out seats. I am leaning towards buying aftermarket seats like recaro or sparco or maybe corbeau. The Vaders don’t fit my shoulders and the foam on mine is original at 140k miles and 20 years so the seat bottom is not that comfortable

  15. #15
    Join Date
    Nov 2016
    Location
    Long Island, NY
    Posts
    332
    My Cars
    A few
    Yeah, like I said, the Lseat covers I used did flatten out and visually look better after a few months (normal material shrinkage I expect). It was a remarkable improvement over the prior condition of my seats and the condition that is typical for most vaders. I think I spent $400 for everything, which is a hard price to beat, especially if you are looking to retain the OEM look.

    Aftermarket seats are good option provided you can test fit before. Personal comfort / fit is so subjective.

  16. #16
    Join Date
    Apr 2020
    Location
    Central Arkansas
    Posts
    18
    My Cars
    1998 BMW M3/2/5
    I just ordered up a set of black vader covers from LSeat. We'll see how it goes on my '98. They will undoubtedly be a great improvement over the ripped up originals.

  17. #17
    Join Date
    Oct 2006
    Location
    Utah
    Posts
    509
    My Cars
    '67 HD Electra Glide
    Quote Originally Posted by vinco View Post
    I just ordered up a set of black vader covers from LSeat. We'll see how it goes on my '98. They will undoubtedly be a great improvement over the ripped up originals.
    Please let us know the end result (pics). Thanks.
    1998 E36 M3/4/5 - 1993 Spec E36 325is
    Crew - #52 - SCCA World Challenge TC

    MoTeC Man

  18. #18
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Florida and ATL
    Posts
    8,384
    My Cars
    1999 M3 and 1990 Jetta G
    I have a friend that just had his vaders recovered with some covers from vaderfactory... somewhere in europe. They have an instagram. His install looked clean and the leather looked nice and tight. I don't have any pics and I haven't felt them myself, but he seems very happy.

    I'll see if I can share some.
    TRM Coilovers 670F/895R | BBS LM | Corsa RSC36

  19. #19
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22,823
    My Cars
    skateboard
    Quote Originally Posted by propcar View Post
    I have a friend that just had his vaders recovered with some covers from vaderfactory... somewhere in europe. They have an instagram. His install looked clean and the leather looked nice and tight. I don't have any pics and I haven't felt them myself, but he seems very happy.

    I'll see if I can share some.
    Please do


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
    ― George Orwell

  20. #20
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Florida and ATL
    Posts
    8,384
    My Cars
    1999 M3 and 1990 Jetta G
    there's also BMWRESTOREDSEATS on instagram, he's in the North East. seems to do some quality work although I imagine at a cost. But you get what you pay for with upholstery usually.
    TRM Coilovers 670F/895R | BBS LM | Corsa RSC36

  21. #21
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22,823
    My Cars
    skateboard
    I’ve used him on my e30 m3 interior


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
    ― George Orwell

  22. #22
    Join Date
    Apr 2005
    Location
    Florida and ATL
    Posts
    8,384
    My Cars
    1999 M3 and 1990 Jetta G
    Quote Originally Posted by GG///M3 View Post
    I’ve used him on my e30 m3 interior


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    How'd it turn out?
    TRM Coilovers 670F/895R | BBS LM | Corsa RSC36

  23. #23
    Join Date
    Jan 2004
    Location
    NY
    Posts
    22,823
    My Cars
    skateboard
    Good I’ll dig up some pictures


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
    “If liberty means anything at all, it means the right to tell people what they do not want to hear.”
    ― George Orwell

  24. #24
    Join Date
    Mar 2006
    Location
    NY_LA
    Posts
    216
    My Cars
    98 M3 | 07 328i Wagon
    is there a way to get in contact with them? how do you order, I reached on insta but nothing.

  25. #25
    Join Date
    Sep 2016
    Location
    Bridgeport, CT
    Posts
    37
    My Cars
    90 M3, 97 M3, 03 M3
    Quote Originally Posted by propcar View Post
    there's also BMWRESTOREDSEATS on instagram, he's in the North East. seems to do some quality work although I imagine at a cost. But you get what you pay for with upholstery usually.
    Thanks for mentioning me, if you need any work done let me know. Thanks

    Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

Page 1 of 3 123 LastLast

Similar Threads

  1. E36 WTB E36 Vader Seats (SoCal)
    By umichchris in forum Interior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 01-28-2014, 07:53 PM
  2. E36 FS: E36 Vader Seats - Price: 6 pack of Drakes or Lagunitas (Northern California)
    By Capt Canuck in forum Interior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 10-04-2013, 03:36 PM
  3. E36 BMW E36 Vader Seat [HEADREST]...$75 shipped
    By GunMoto in forum Interior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 3
    Last Post: 08-11-2013, 05:43 PM
  4. E36 E36 Vader Seats BRAND NEW SET; CA
    By catuned in forum Interior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 11
    Last Post: 12-08-2012, 10:50 PM
  5. E36 FS: e36 Vader Seats Socal
    By crazyafghanguy in forum Interior Lighting & Body Parts
    Replies: 7
    Last Post: 03-18-2012, 07:51 PM

Bookmarks

Posting Permissions

  • You may not post new threads
  • You may not post replies
  • You may not post attachments
  • You may not edit your posts
  •