Refreshing Boxster seats by using the triple-swap method. - 986 Forum - The Community for Porsche Boxster & Cayman Owners

Retroman1969 · 08-12-2015, 07:14 PM

Yes, I'm considering redoing my seats by rotating them almost like they're tires.
The problem:

My daily driver's seats are becoming nothing short of hideous! Falling apart quickly.

I've looked at seat covers, reupholstering, aftermarket seats, etc.
After picking up the car from its 150,000 mile service at the shop today, the shop owner showed me a near mint set of factory sport seats he took out of a 40,000 mile 911 Turbo just like these:

The seats in my 97,000 mile Weekender Boxster are still decent, but starting to show some wear:

He suggested swapping my Weekender seats into my Daily, then installing the 911 Turbo seats into the Weekender.
The bill would be $1,000.
I'm going to call the shop in the morning with a yea or nay. Strongly leaning towards yea.

Just curious if this is something you guys would do given the same circumstances.
And the color doesn't bother me, as finding decent factory seats is hard enough, but green, virtually impossible. At least there is still black trim on the interior of the Daily.

What are your thoughts on this operation as a viable alternative?
Thanks!

Timco · 08-12-2015, 07:23 PM

Not just yes, but hell yes!

On that weekender seat, some steam on the pad will re-expand the foam to new contour. That's how they rejuvenate furniture seat pads. Should work for the seat. Just steam from an iron.

RedTele58 · 08-12-2015, 07:26 PM

I know a guy in Lawton that would grab those Sport Seats so quick...

I might be at your shop in the morning before you are!

911monty · 08-12-2015, 08:11 PM

Well if I fly all night.....

Excellent timing! Just wish I could find a deal like that! Of course you should let me buy them, since they don't really go well with the green!

KevinH1990 · 08-13-2015, 02:51 AM

If you do the swap and don't like it, it sounds like you could sell the sports seats pretty easily. I know I wouldn't mind having them as long as they were heated.

BruceH · 08-13-2015, 05:40 AM

Yes, you need to take that deal! The black will be fine in the daily and the sport seats are a clear upgrade. Not often you can upgrade two cars in one deal

JayG · 08-13-2015, 06:17 AM

Better be careful, seats with embossed Porsche crests are prone to early bearing failure

Retroman1969 · 08-13-2015, 07:13 AM

Thanks for the input guys!

Dropping the cars off today!

Perfectlap · 08-13-2015, 07:14 AM

Oh c'mon already. Don't you know duct tape comes in green these days?

jpc763 · 08-13-2015, 07:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedTele58

I know a guy in Lawton that would grab those Sport Seats so quick...

I might be at your shop in the morning before you are!

Quote:

Originally Posted by 911monty

Well if I fly all night.....

Excellent timing! Just wish I could find a deal like that! Of course you should let me buy them, since they don't really go well with the green!

Quote:

Originally Posted by KevinH1990

If you do the swap and don't like it, it sounds like you could sell the sports seats pretty easily. I know I wouldn't mind having them as long as they were heated.

Just looking through the posts this morning. The most recent post on the Craigslist thread.

http://986forum.com/forums/461370-post86.html

EJ-Fresno · 08-13-2015, 07:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Timco

Not just yes, but hell yes!

On that weekender seat, some steam on the pad will re-expand the foam to new contour. That's how they rejuvenate furniture seat pads. Should work for the seat. Just steam from an iron.

Steam from an irom will really improve the foam?
The foams on my 126K are kind of "tired" so I'd be glad to pump them up.
It won't affect the leather or the color?
Thanks.

Retroman1969 · 08-13-2015, 09:56 AM

Actually these seats aren't embossed. I just forgot to take a picture yesterday, so I used a picture of similar seats. Just dropped off the first car for the swap.
These are the actual seats:

Should have both cars done by tomorrow.

Do you think my IMSB will still be okay?

BruceH · 08-13-2015, 10:03 AM

Just make sure they use the Porsche recommended seat track lubricant and the IMSB should be ok.

Retroman1969 · 08-13-2015, 10:03 AM

PS: I forgot about the colored duct tape!
But if I did that then I'd have to bust out one of my taillights and replace it with red wax paper and box tape for it to really look right.

RedTele58 · 08-13-2015, 11:38 AM

I'm jealous.

You scored a great deal for $1,000.

I'm gonna start hanging around your mechanics if I can score a deal like that - they are only a few minutes further away than mine.

Perfectlap · 08-13-2015, 12:42 PM

tip for Retroman... moisturize the daily driver seats once a month with 1Z ... or the Griot's kit
those green seats had a painful death...

Porsche9 · 08-13-2015, 01:10 PM

Lucky Retroman! That a great deal on some sweet seats.

JayG · 08-13-2015, 01:32 PM

Ya bastard!
Great deal!!!
Those seats look 10/10
and since they are no embossed, your bearings are fine

Retroman1969 · 08-13-2015, 06:44 PM

Thank you guys!

I was going to ask how I should condition the daily's seats to help them last as long as possible, so thank you perfectlap!

Here's the weekender with the sport seats:

And the Daily. The black doesn't look half bad with the black trim.

Those new seats are amazing! Hugs like crazy and lots of back support. And it's so nice in the daily to be able to get out without the routine of picking up the falling cusion and brushing the foam off my shirt! (Although I'm still instinctively trying to).

Mark_T · 08-13-2015, 09:27 PM

I paid $1800 for my sport seats. You got a great deal.