Katzkins and tint just installed

[ljmattox]

Got our 5 back from the shop today upgraded with Katzkins leather, seat heaters, and tinted windows.

We're pleased...the folks at Total Customs in O'Fallon MO did a *very* nice job!

Here's some pix:

I'd recognize that yellow piping wouldn't be most folks choice...we use that color combo a few different places, it all started with our #1 touring bike, this one:

 

[bretthn]

Looks good! How much for the skinz?

 

[ljmattox]

Were $1495 installed, including the door panels...I'd priced them online a few places, and thought that was pretty decent given the amount of labor to install 3 rows and recover the fabric parts of the doors.

 

[1WICKED6]

Looks Sweet...and its 5 speed....Niceness!

 

[lindsayt]

Very nice! I've been thinking of going the Katzkin route too because I hate cloth with a five-year-old. My parents live in St. Peters so if you highly recommend Total Customs, I might just take my car there the next time we're down visiting. I actually bought our roof rack and accessories when we were down in St. Louis over Christmas so they're used to that kind of lunacy.

Keep us updated on how the leather works out - does it shift around on the seats or is it as stable as the factory leather? How well does it age, how well does it fit, etc.?

 

[ljmattox]

Thanks, we're very pleased so far, a *perfect* fit, very stable etc. There's a bit of minor wrinkling at the moment in a spot or two that's claimed that some nice days in the sun and some usage (i.e. butts in the seats) will fix, no worries.

It could lend itself to a job done during a visit. Took about 10 days to get the materials in, then just a day in the shop for the seats (plus a bit extra the next morning to finish the tint). They do a fairly good volume of dealer seat conversions, have warranty, etc. and were very easy to work with.

I found this shop via a guy who posted on the Nissan Titan forum...his were done in 2007, so there'd be at least one data point from someone who's had these for a while.

 

[Heat]

That's funny, I was just at an upholsterer a few days ago and their price quote was $500 per row.

Did you look into doing it yourself? Just wondering how complicated it would be.

Also, just wanted to say that my Mazda is from St. Louis, picked it up from Bommarito West just over one year ago.

 

[ljmattox]

I contemplated doing it myself for about 90 seconds or so. (bang)

Mostly kidding, I did research this some; I'm a middling mechanic but as I read more, the finer points of this felt like "art" in getting the finished product to look smooth and professional. So when the shop quote wasn't "that much" more than the covers themselves, and they'd have it in/out in a day...too hard to resist.

That, and if doing it myself I'd be horsing around with $1000+ of leather seat covers. Expensive "oops" a very likely possibility, certainly for me. Like working with cherry-veneer plywood or similar when woodworking.

Anyhow...that's the story.

Got my CX-7 from Bommarito West in 2007...went with Bommarito in Ellisville this time around..."just stopped in for a test drive".

 

[rweatherford]

Looks nice. I think I would have taken a different piping color, but I understand why you are using it.

Glad to see another MO forum member.

 

[mars1100]

very nice.
I had mine done when I purchased the car and they did not do or have the nice options you have(the different color piping).
I paid 1500 for all seats and door panels.

 

[ljmattox]

Thanks, we weren't sure what we wanted exactly when we picked it up, so we took a coupla weeks to visit some websites and find a local installer. Really nice to have, and with our dog's shedding it'll be far easier to keep ahead of it this way vs. coaxing the cloth seats to turn loose of it!

 

[Kenshin 1029]

Nice!

 

[mars1100]

Thanks, we weren't sure what we wanted exactly when we picked it up, so we took a coupla weeks to visit some websites and find a local installer. Really nice to have, and with our dog's shedding it'll be far easier to keep ahead of it this way vs. coaxing the cloth seats to turn loose of it!

I understand how you feel, I have 3 kids and they leave crumbs everywhere.
I should have shopped around a bit more but I didn't want to take it home without the leather seats, we paid the same and it looks like you came out better.
We are still very happy with our leather seats, I expected the seats to cost more and we were willing to pay more.