Recovering the seats

[jbar1]

You certainly are approaching the job in the right way by researching as much as possible before jumping in. Your brothers taught you well.

[LoneWolfGal]

I'm stymied at square one. I'm trying to remove the hinge cover so I can disassemble the seat at the hinge. The cover just clips on — except for one part that extends under the side of the seat and is fastened with a large plastic screw through the outermost hole:



Problem is, you can't get at the plastic screw easily. In fact, the only way you can even see it is to pry up the bottom edge of the seat with something. Has anyone run into this problem right out of the gate? I'm being super-cautious, because I don't want to break the hinge cover. It lists for $75!

Porsche design meeting:
"How can we prevent owners from doing their own repairs and maintenance?
"I've got if! We'll make things so inaccessible they can't get to them."
"Brilliant!"

[elgyqc]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

I'm stymied at square one. I'm trying to remove the hinge cover so I can disassemble the seat at the hinge. The cover just clips on — except for one part that extends under the side of the seat and is fastened with a large plastic screw through the outermost hole:



Problem is, you can't get at the plastic screw easily. In fact, the only way you can even see it is to pry up the bottom edge of the seat with something. Has anyone run into this problem right out of the gate?

Porsche design meeting:
"How can we prevent owners from doing their own repairs and maintenance?
"I've got if! We'll make things so inaccessible they can't get to them."
"Brilliant!"

I don't remember having a problem there... does the plastic cap pop off the metal bracket?

[LoneWolfGal]

Got it! It was just a matter of pushing the pin up from the bottom through the center of the plastic "rivet," which is what Porsche calls the hard-to-get-at hinge cover fastener. Best of all, I managed to remove it without breaking it.



Also, only the outside hinges are covered; the inside hinges are exposed. That means fewer covers to remove, but I'll have to buy the missing covers if I want the seats "correct." I hate to fork over $150 plus shipping for two pieces of plastic, so I'll check out eBay first.

[KevinH1990]

Originally Posted by LoneWolfGal

Also, only the outside hinges are covered; the inside hinges are exposed. That means fewer covers to remove, but I'll have to buy the missing covers if I want the seats "correct." I hate to fork over $150 plus shipping for two pieces of plastic, so I'll check out eBay first.

Are you sure that the sides of the seats that fit against the center console have covers? I thought that because the center console makes it difficult to see the inboard sides of the seats Porsche decided to forego covers on that side. Also, covers might interfere with the seatbelt operation.

When it stops raining, I will check the seats in my car and see whether the inboard sides of the seats have covers.

Good luck with your project.

[elgyqc]

I thought I had posted this yesterday... must have lost it somewhere. Here is my installation thread.

Reupholstering Boxster seats with the lseat kit.

I used zip ties... when working alone they allow you to connect the pieces loose and pull them tight.

[redpepperracing]

I don't know if this will give you detail you need, but Matt Ross on youtube did a video on it. If you want to skip to the seat part it starts about 3 minutes in.

[dghii]

I used small wire ties instead of hog rings to secure my leather to the seat. Its been two years and all good!

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by dghii

I used small wire ties instead of hog rings to secure my leather to the seat. Its been two years and all good!

I appreciate the tip. I guess some folks have used zip ties instead of hog rings. However, a friend loaned me his hog ring pliers and about 500 hog rings, so I'll probably give them a try, just so I can say I've used hog rings.

[KevinH1990]

I think I would have done the same thing. It sounds like the LSEAT product would require a lot of fine tuning to look as good as the OEM upholstery.

Adapting a full power seat for use in your car is possible. https://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/58080-full-power-seat-installation.html

Please let me know if you have questions about the process.

Good luck.

[LoneWolfGal]

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

I think I would have done the same thing. It sounds like the LSEAT product would require a lot of fine tuning to look as good as the OEM upholstery.

Adapting a full power seat for use in your car is possible. https://986forum.com/forums/boxster-general-discussions/58080-full-power-seat-installation.html

Please let me know if you have questions about the process.

Good luck.

Kevin, I just read your thread. My hat's off to you for figuring out the connections. I appreciate the info. It would have been an enormous help if I had decided to retain the power seat. But the manual seat adjustment works fine. Furthermore, time is a constraint. I'm planning to attend a get-together in July and I'd like to drive the 986, which leaves me about a month to finish the interior, and I'm not noted for speed.

[LoneWolfGal]

I'm disassembling the seat, switching out the base, from 8-way powered to 2-way/manual, and I'm also preparing to install the heater pads from the original seat. I'd like to separate the back frame from the seat base at the hinge. However, it seems Porsche, in their infinite wisdom, saw fit to use a bolt with a head that's kind of a modified Torx, about an E14, although it foiled the E14 socket in my set, which jumps from E14 to E16, no E15. (Could it be an E15?) At this point it's obvious I need to consult with someone who has successfully separated the seat frame at the hinge.Or maybe it's a bad idea, and the nonstandard bolt's purpose is to discourage home garage mechanics.

[LoneWolfGal]

Since disassembly at the hinge has turned out to be a thrash, I'll cut the Gordian knot and simply swap the cushions themselves — i.e., install the new cushions, back and bottom, on the original seat's frame as well as the original seat's cushions on the new seat's frame. By the way, I bought a leather cleaner and conditioner kit by Chemical Guys, a brand with high marks, including for its scent. Seems many conditioners have an objectional odor, but Chemical Guys' product smells like leather. I'm going to clean and condition both seats to a fare-thee-well before I install — or rather, wrestle — them back in the car. I found Chemical Guys' how-to video informative:
https://www.chemicalguys.com/blogs/interior-how-tos/how-to-clean-and-protect-leather-car-seats

[LoneWolfGal]

Before removing the leather from the cushions preparatory to installing the heater pads, I wanted to make sure it was soft and supple, so I hit it first with Chemical Guy's leather cleaner, followed by two applications of conditioner. The leather looked pretty good before but the difference is noticeable. Have a look at the bottom cover. (The leather has been detached from the the rigid plastic seat form underneath the foam, which is why it looks somewhat loose.)

[Bald Eagle]

I'm so impressed with the fine job you did and the clear, concise description of the creative ways you overcame the many challenges you encountered. I hope you enjoy sitting in your newly recovered seat for many, many enjoyable miles in your Boxster!

Lary (The Bald Eagle)

[LoneWolfGal]

Many thanks, Grant and Lary. It's been a long slog chock full of gotchas. But it was worth it, although I never, ever want to do it again.

[LoneWolfGal]

The finished seats, now both heated, ready for mounting in the car — after I psych myself up for the wrestling match. The passenger seat's leather has more "character" than the new one, but its condition is more than acceptable. Please ignore the weird lighting that resulted in strange reflections and shadows on the drivers seat.

[elgyqc]

Good work. Like you I discovered that this job, like many others on an aging car, takes a lot of experience mixed with imagination and lateral thinking.

[tcoradeschi]

Excellent. Enjoy your road trip!