Bartlett Corporation Leather on Ebay - $150!

What comparison? ound::jaw::yo:

 

Re: Center console

Start with the bottom... secure the metal clips at the rear end of the console cover with the console first. Leave it about 80% open, then squeeze/press the bottom area that's secured so that the metal clips come towards you as much as possible... this gives you juuuust enough room to try and hook in the front part. You might still need to move the console cover to slightly different angles as you do this... for some reason certain angles help more than others at different points.

I won't lie, it was a little tricky and I messed up my fabric a bit trying to figure it out. However, if I had to do it knowing what I know now I could do it correctly (I guess that's what you pay an upholsterer for).

 

I may have a defective center console cover. I did try to clip it on but I couldn't. The cover was too short and I couldn't clip. The problem is the metal clip should extend further to the edge.

I took a picture. Can you guys tell me yours look the same? Do your metal clips that much further in?

 

I can't say for sure... looks about right. But if you can't even get the back to clip on (not even minding the front), then it probably is defective.

 

I can clip the front or the back but not both. If the metal clips are at the edge, it would work.

I may have to melt the hot glue holding the clips....

 

Ok, I will take another look and try again.

 

For the armrests, I used PriusHood's leather over the fabric. The fabric acts as a cushion and makes the leather feel softer.

The issue raised from it is when you put it back together. Since there are now two layers, you need to push the piece tightly back into the door panel. That will hold the leather. I didn't need to use any adhesive.

I have yet to do the battery vent.

 

usb i'm not quite following your last post... so you didn't need to use anything at all to apply the leather to the armrest?

 

Bartlett messed up my address so FedEx couldn't deliver tonight. They were going to try again on Monday. After a few calls to FedEx I managed to pick the kit up from their terminal at 8:30 tonight.

I was looking at the console cover and it looks like yours. did anyone else notice that the console cover is covered in vinyl, not real leather? I peeled a bit of the cover on the inside just to be able to see the backing and it's cloth-like, meaning the cover is vinyl. Now I know for sure I will leave the ultrasuede and not replace it with vinyl. However, hope you manage to get it to fit!

 

That would explain a lot of the difficulty trying to pull and stretch it.

I think the OEM "leather" center console may be vinyl too.

But the diagram Bartlett put out showing which panels were leather, shows the front center console (armrest) being leather.

 

Looks like Bartlett is out of business after 9 sets were sold.

 

Yeah, I couldn't find a current ad of theirs on eBay the other day. But I'm thinking or hoping they might be back. The same way that for a little while recently, their covers were "Buy Now" only (no bidding).

 

I found my first flaw in the kit in the "60" rear seat. The left vertical in the cloth armrest cavity has a plastic "rod" sewn in for attaching with the hog rings. The leather kit has the typical sewn loop for inserting a rod, so there is no rod to remove from the cloth and transfer to the leather at that position.

I took two coathangers and fabricated rods similar to all the others in the seats. I slid them both into the loop. I used two because they are so much thinner than the rods in the seats. This worked out fine.

Ed

 

yes the 04-05 rear seats are different
theres a change in width of the centre section of the back rest. It's only an inch and you can make do but its best to have the right cover for the right seat

 

Hey prius2go,

Welcome back!

Notice how many here plowed ahead despite your warnings?

But I do think they have it easier with the benefit of your and others' experiences, plus they have each other to lean on and learn from while they're doing their installs.