How to Restore Leather Seats - E90 Folding Rear Seat Retrofit DIY - Part 1

[@jonowen6612]

Jason is back, y’all. With excellent content.

[@TomasLineros]

It’s a mega change. Incredible work, 50sKid! 💯🔧

[@chadriddle3517]

Major difference! Makes me want to do mine now too! Thanks for pioneering this leather refresher video for all us .

[@johnpaeng64]

retrofitted my e90 with folding back seats. Game changer! now I can comfortably carry my golf bag in the trunk with the seat folded down.

[@charlesberry4958]

Again, amazing work Jason. Thanks for sharing.

[@rayray3009]

I have to pick up some of that leather cleaner. Great work, can’t believe those are the same seats

[@bend__]

The difference! Amazing work.

[@lp2565]

Great video, Jason. Thanks for sharing.

[@1504zak]

Excellent video Jason, good to see you back

[@lawrencedagostino4282]

Nice Job. You can top that with Colourlock leather shield. That will protect your seats from things like die transfer from Jeans.

[@PyreneesBMW]

Thanks Jason, great vid!

[@ohgerald]

Really nice cleanup! If I recall, the Cold Weather Package was necessary for the rear folding seats when I ordered my 2007 335xi. It also got you the front heated seats. I forget what else. The folding rear seats are really handy. I got a boxed 55” TV in the trunk with the seats down.

[@jdamore44]

I've used seat doctors for my e46 m3 and my tannin red e46 touring! Great product! Well done!

[@maxbradley9534]

Wonder how well this would work for a colour change. I have the black interior in my E46 and would like to get the cinnamon one. Guess going from a dark colour to a lighter one wouldn't be easy

[@Streamlined955]

Cool! I’ve never seen this before. It’s like spackling drywall and painting.

[@sasamarjanovic8385]

Looks great is a different technic have seen some ather seat restoring they used a mini spray gun to get an even coat 👍

[@miguelarce-goitia4395]

I’m very impressed with the results you archived. Really nice work. 👍🏻👍🏻 up.

[@MarioDallaRiva]

Bravo, J! Looks great. Wondering about wearability with the dye...

[@n54glo]

50'skid is a natural

[@LochyP]

Grand! I would love to see you try your hand at changing the colour of the seats.

[@klextin]

surprisingly aqua net hairspray will remove ink from leather/vinyl

[@abimmernut]

WOW! I need to do this on our E46 ZHP...Same color or closer. I think it's Standard Leather/Gray (N6TT) This will be one of my next projects. Great video...as always

[@50sKid]

That is technically a different interior code than my Dakota Grey. Not sure if it’s a different shade of grey though

[@johnaramirez1816]

Wow! Stunning!

[@imartynenko]

You can get creases out by heating it up, there are some videos on YT

[@DD-jk3nf]

Just an FYI on the folding rear seats. Where I am, it was called the 'winter package' when choosing your model options. Apparently you only ever need to put your back seats down if you ski/snowboard xD

[@rueliotube]

Did you try a steamer on the divets? Otherwise amazing video!

[@50sKid]

I didn't, is that something you've done in the past or just an idea?

[@rueliotube]

No, I have not. I was envisioning some like ironing out wrinkles but not wanting to use and actual iron on the leather.

[@TheNewMechanic]

Great video and well done! I did a full re-dye of my e46 interior to "Japanese Koi" (it's basically a bright orange). I really like how you used a roller sponge. I sprayed my dye, which gave good results, but I think using a sponge would have made better use of my dye.

[@TheNewMechanic]

Oh and like a few others mentioned, you'll want to use a top coat. It'll protect the dye from UV, prevent dye transfer, and give it a nice feeling surface.

[@raychapman2194]

I'm planning on dying my 2000 323i. I want to theme the interior BMW colors being black blue and white. I was wondering where you got your dye and how much you used.

[@eluthriastarise1770]

I imagine you could greatly improve those divots with a bundled up damp cloth and a steam iron. Not speaking from experience though so probably best to test on some scrap material first. You may also need to touch up your dye afterwards but that doesn't look like much challenge for you. Nice job man!

[@jberzin3]

This level of dirty can be cleaned with a brush and a towel, just takes time.

[@50sKid]

I don’t have Shawshank Redemption kinda time

[@garrettgiuffre8505]

Krudcutter it's a eco-friendly cleaner I found it at Home Depot it's like 12 bucks for a gallon and it goes a long way I highly recommend it it's great on leather doesn't damage it or distorted or anything like that doesn't damage the paint of the leather and it will remove everything stuff you thought you got off the first time no there's still more it's amazing stuff not only does it leave the leather clean but it leaves it soft has no scent to it try it you'll love it also works great is Degreaser and a whole bunch of other stuff

[@CaffienatedMothman]

So I've got a 2001 330ci and the seats are in otherwise great condition, no scuffs, cracks, stains or wrinkles. But they're stiff. Is there anything you would suggest to soften them? Also, I picked up some drill brushes off of amazon, I thought I'd give that a shot and see how well that works.

[@50sKid]

That I don't know, I'm afraid. The ones in my E46 are stuff and cracked and I won't be reusing them -- I found other seats with better leather and I'll restore those.

[@silverhornet9916]

I've had very good luck with Lexol. I had to apply it several times (on a warm day it's better for absorption) over a period of days, since the seats had been neglected for years. The leather became noticeably softer, and the seats became more comfortable since the leather was not constricting the cushioning anymore.

[@alfrednavarro2391]

Do you think you method could work on the door panels?

[@50sKid]

Yes I’ve been told the dye works on vinyl and I plan to try it in an upcoming video

[@EverGone03]

does the leather feel soft after? or does it need something to make it "feel" soft?

[@50sKid]

It was already soft before, it was just very dirty. I'm afraid I don't know how to turn hard leather soft again.

[@subru3285]

@@50sKid On the market they are special stuff to make leather soft again. It's some kind of oil. You have to repeat few time process of putting it on leather but results are very good. Personally I used colourlock altleder softener

[@xCRASHxNxBURNx91x]

Wow that looks great I didn't know you could do this. Now I have a new idea for my e46. Thanks for the video. Only question where do you find the stock color for your car? Because I love my black and want to keep it the same

[@50sKid]

Search for bmw vin decoder. Find your options

[@guyinagarage571]

Jason, have you ever thought of using Leatherique?

[@flipvdfluitketel867]

When I bought my previous E46, a 320 sedan, I found out it didn't have folding seats when I attempted to fold them. It never occured to me that it would be something to check when buying a car.

[@50sKid]

Right!? Every car should have them. I don't understand why it's an option!

[@mariusbancila2702]

Doesn't it need some kind of locker after painting? I've been watching some other videos saying that the dye would stick on the clothes later on on hot days if you sweat

[@50sKid]

The guy at seat doctors says it’s unnecessary

[@mariusbancila2702]

@@50sKid ok then. Maybe this one has some in it

[@rahmanr112]

how long does leather dye last? I’m think of dying my lather car seat from Champagne color to black? And heated seats can be dyed?

[@50sKid]

I don’t have any info on how long it lasts. I would assume heated seats are not an issue but I will email the seat doctors guy

[@rahmanr112]

@@50sKid thanks!

[@jnuechte]

I see on Seatdoctors website they have both Dakota Gray, and Alaska Gray. How did you know you had Dakota Gray and not Alaska grey seats? Its not like there is a paint code somewhere in the car like there is for the exterior paint...?

[@50sKid]

I searched my vin number on a bmw vin decoder and it told me all the options that my car came with. One of them was the interior color code

[@CrazyOneToo]

I've seen others dye their seats before, but my issue would be does the dye come off on your clothes afterward?

[@50sKid]

As far as I’m told, it doesn’t, but I haven’t sat on them yet. I’ll find out when I do the front seats soon

[@betatester2560]

just swap to black interior kind of makes life so much easier excellent work though :) the grey will get more rare

[@50sKid]

You’re definitely right. The Dakota Schwartz is the most common color I see in the junkyards by far

[@betatester2560]

@@50sKid hey just got a e46 q you might be able to help with .. have you ever seen a vehicle that has voltage supply and sensor signal connectivity to the DME .. but constantly reports the the Maf sensor is shorted to ground... it started to do it completely at random and then on the new maf i ordered which was a cheap one.. but it turned the engine light for a second when i initially just put it in then then it switched back on .. so I used Inpa to clear the code but each time it goes away for one cycle and after I restart the engine again the code is back .. Should I be taking it straight for a drive after clearing the code ? the Inpa shows 0 at the mas sensor for analogue readings but the bar is green. any thoughts would be appreciated. prity resigned at this point to having to buy a new Mr Proper Bosh sensor. other notes: The car does not cut out and runs fine i cant make it stumble with the tap test and unplugging it does not cause it to stall!?

[@50sKid]

@@betatester2560 Verify the wire integrity by unplugging the harness at the MAF end and the DME end (use newtis.info to find wiring diagrams, or search for and download WDS on the bmw forums) and test for continuity at both ends. You have to figure out which wire is shorted and then find and repair it.

[@betatester2560]

@@50sKid checked them with X connector disconnected all working... left me stumped.. what do you know as i was about to close the bonnet the the third sensor arrived put it in worked straight away .. what are the odds of that! 3 sensors 1 original failed 2 bad in row ..third times the charm.

[@50sKid]

@@betatester2560 I've had a new OEM MAF show up and be bad.

[@Buglife59]

We're the e46 no more

[@50sKid]

Still have, videos soon!

[@stylerunner2959]

Niceeee!

[@ProperRepair]

Folding seats were only an option? How are you supposed to haul roadkill home?

[@kawarider9049]

I have bad experience with dying the leather. After dying, the leather does not breath at all, so you sweat even more than on original leather :/

[@50sKid]

I think it depends on the type of leather.

[@kawarider9049]

@@50sKid It's the BMW's highend - nappa on my E39's comfort seats. Upper part is unpainted and it's completely fine, down it's painted and thats bad - gloss, "oily" looking, it's like sitting on plastic bag. Hope your seats will be without these problems! It sure depends on leather and paint/dye type. But I cannot wait to buy spare passenger seat and use it as parts donor for my drivers seat - to change leather, foam inside etc. :)

[@50sKid]

@@kawarider9049 After dying, my leather looked identical in texture and finish, just much cleaner. The dye dried very well and was basically absorbed into the leather to the point where you cannot tell it had been dyed. I was very impressed!

[@HeikkiHeiskanen]

Yeah, the folding rear seats as option... that is just plain stupid.

[@NuDystopia]

First