Bartlett Corporation Leather on Ebay - $150!

The reason for starting with the back seats is
a) you can still drive the car while working out what to do
b) It's good practice
c) If you dont get it quite right it's less noticable than the fronts
d) after doing 200 hog rings/tie wraps you'll be relieved when doing the fronts.

You do have to work out a plan of attack. When reassembling-the inner most hog wrings tie wraps first.
For removal the original covers I didnt cut all the old hog rings. I unbent one end of the wire rod going through them then pulled the rod out from the other end. You can then decide whether to unbend all the old hog rings or leave them.

There are loads of sharp metal edges - be very careful!
The back of the rear seats is bad but you dont really have to get your fingers near them
The front seats -you have to rotate the leather around the front edge which is just waiting to slice your hand off.
Managed it ok - but be very aware.

All the covers need cutting of the leather for inserting the headrest holders. Do this after youre sure you have the cover correctly in place and feel along the top edge for the hole in the seat back. Make a small hole first, you can feel through that with a small electrical screwdriver. Then carefully cut an X in the leather to the corners of the seat hole. The headrest holders can go in the wrong way & the headrests wont lock!

 

I've done the rear seat and found 2 problems. One was already discussed here... the extra wire... I chose not to use the extra wire but use the plastric that was on the leather. Another problem I found was that there weren't any holes for the 2 hooks that are used to connect to the vehicle body. It wasn't bad... Just had to cut 2 places and let the hooks thru...

 

prius2go,

Wow, your tips are invaluable, e.g.,

-- Front Seat Side: Finding and removing that little front seat screw so that you don't break that one-way screw/clip.

-- Carpet Clips: Your explanation of how upholsterers remove those molly type carpet screws with something akin to a BBQ fork to go in beneath the head to squeeze the screw's prongs; and your suggestion of using a knife instead to squeeze one side of the screw's prongs.

-- Headrest Holder Holes: Fit the leather first, then carefully cut an X (not a big hole) ....

The infrequent times I work on my car, I always find that I spend at least an equal amount of time trying to figure out those types of things, especially all the plastic screws, clips, tabs, etc. on the car, as I spend doing the real work.

 

Does anyone know how this leather compares with an OEM Prius leather seats? Just curious if anyone has had the opportunity to see/feel both to make a comparison.

 

Here are pics I took during the day (Saturday work) and the driver's seat (took 5 hours).

I get to enjoy the leather seats starting from tomorrow!

 

Congrats usbseawolf. Looking good!

Suggestions:

1. Go back to the PriusHoods black leather center console cover?

2. Consider getting black rubber or carpet mats like on the 2010 Prius Misty Gray interior?

 

Congrats sl7vk!

 

1) Yea, I too think the black center console cover looks better because they match with the black cup holders.

2) I was planning to get the Canadian version of black all weather rubber mats. The current carpet mats went through 3 winters and they are quite dirty anyway.

 

Is there more than a screw at the bottom as shown in the PDF?

 

That sound scary.... Did you take any pictures how it looks after you take it off?

 

GREAT JOB! Your back seat looks better than mine, but it's been rainy/cold here so mine needs some time to warm and shrink a bit. It's interesting that pictures show every tiny wrinkle, but in person they look fine. Plus even factory leather has a bit of wrinkling.

 

That looks GREAT! Did you use 3M Upholstery adhesive? How did the stock cloth come off? And it will be worth it - the pain will dim but the leather will remain. This has got to add more to the resale of our cars than what we paid for the kits. One thing I've noticed is I'm much more protective of the leather since I have my own blood and sweat in the job - I'll be all over the grandkids to be careful back there!

 

How did you guys handle the door armrest?

 

sl7vk,
Did you order or find the clips for the cargo area yet?

I've searched on this site but I was not able to find the clips for the rear seats..
http://www.trademotion.com/partloca...=2008&graphicID=8545415&callout=2&catalogid=2
I've found one for the cargo area and one for the interior roof...
DiscountToyotaParts