Alcantara replacement/renewal

[jockthedog]

Hi guys,

I've been researching options for renewing the 'silver' alcantara seat panels in the front seats in my Plus, since those are about the only thing looking worn inside the cabin.

The exact colour of alcantara unknown to my Audi dearlership, apparently, but I've just received a bunch of samples from a supplier and the Silver Grey #4978 looks pretty damn close.

Has anyone else managed to source the correct colour?
Or have I alreday hit the nail on the head?
Or have Audi done a special order of a special colour, perhaps?

[jockthedog]

[jockthedog]

I'm happy to say that this is indeed the correct colour and material for my front seats.
2 meters is enough for the front seat panels and knee bolsters that I'll be replacing.

I'll post some before/after shots when it gets done, in the next month or so.

myfabrics.co.uk, Alcantara Car 34 (4978c)

[Shoppinit]

Are you doing the seats yourself?

[jockthedog]

nah, guy down in Edinburgh's doing them. I'll take them out the car and deliver them.
I'll need to make sure they are reclined when they come out, which might be tricky.
The 'normal' way to get them out would be folded up, out the front doors.
I'm hoping to slide them back out the boot, one at a time. Should be a right laugh.

[simonpoulton]

Out of interest, can you just power them up with a 12v supply when out of the car and then adjust?

[jockthedog]

You can of course make a patch cable to extend the under-seat cabling, but that's a right pain.
And I wouldn't want to set off the airbag in the seat by mistake!

[jockthedog]

Seats are out. Well, still in the car to keep them dry, but disconnected from it.

Easy enough job -

Remove the headrests.

Send the seat forwards and prise off the plastic covers at the rear of the seat rails. Pull out at the base and then wiggle a bit, or push a flathead driver down between the cover and the carpet at the point where the protruding end of the cover starts to protrude. There's a wee steel spring to push down on, to free the cover.

Send the seat all the way back and undo the two bolts (13mm?) under the front of the seat. They are tucked away, but still accessible.

The seat will now lift up at the front. You may need to send it fwd a few inches first.
Lift the front 2 inches and slide the seat all the way back, off the runners - you may need to push the carpet out of the way.

At this point I tilted the seats back, to make it easier for the upholsterer to access them

Remove -ve battery terminal. AIRBAG EXPLOSION DANGER.

The seats should pull back and tip forward so that you can get to the wiring harness from the back seat area.
There are a few plugs to remove and that's that!

I removed my steering wheel before this, as it is due to be recovered too. Certainly helped with the drivers seat.

The seats will now tip sideways out the front doors or even back out the back doors.

FTW!

[Ajc]

Nice little right up jock . Though I would add that once you remove the battery terminal you should be waiting at least 5mins before touching any of the airbag systems too make sure the system is discharged fully . They're bulky and surprisingly heavy things too get out aren't they

[Greenslade]

They're bulky and surprisingly heavy things too get out aren't they

Has anybody actually weighed these seats? Would love to know how much I'm saving with having Recaro CS ones.

And good write-up Jock (Zildjian here ).

[jockthedog]

My S4 recaros were 35kg each - these are slightly bigger and have heating, but I reckon 36 or 37. If I get a chance I'll stick on on the scales.

Battery schmattery I did wait a wee while, but not intentionally I think it's more important when reconnecting everything tho.
The inside lights should drain any residual current, I reckon.

[jockthedog]

Wrapping this thread up now.

Got the seats back yesterday and fitted them.
There is a trick to getting the front of the seat locked into the right position for the bolts.
You send the seat all the way back and then you HAVE to send it fwd a couple of inches, to allow the front part to slide home.
Can't be done with the seat ALL the way back.

Before:



After:


Also had my wheel re-thickened + re-covered by Jason at JW Auto Trim...


I never got round to weighing the seats but I'd guess around 30kg.
I also got a couple of these, for airbag safety - tenner each from TPS...
Plug in the big red plug first, then the purple airbag plug

[Shoppinit]

Looks good.

Remington Fuzz-away works well on worn Alcantara.

[Ajc]

Looking fresh jock
Loving the wheel, I need to get mine sorted this winter whilst it's not being used .
Nice to see that you didn't cover the airbag though .

[Mɐʇʇ]

Very nice. I love Alcantara, but you gotta keep it looking fresh....