Dyeing Black interior seats to Saddle brown colour. Finished and it has been fitted in the car. .

[bungers]

I bought a couple of large propellant cans from an arts & crafts shop, I didn't use them in the end as I switched to a proper spray gun & compressor so they're available if required.

[sive s]

So far I've done all the door cards, the rear bolsters and rear headrests. Hopefully getting more paint and stuff tomorrow so will do the rest over the weekend.

I've learned a hell of a lot so far...the matt finish does give a matt look, but it seems to have washed out the colour a bit. I phoned furniture clinic and they suggested to mix some colour/gloss in with the matt which seems to have done the trick and i'm happy with the colour and finish at the minute.

Haven't started on the front seats yet but as I've got some cloth seats in my garage I've had a little practice at taking all the plastic trim off and then separating them. It's easy to be fair.

The propellant is £6.50 in Halfords.

Thats cool. the bolsters and the headrest are alright to do. But the seats are long.

Same here, you learn a lot. I know i will end up dyeing the rest of my others cars in the future. Good to learn now. What do mean washed out the colour, like its faded. Get some pics up mate. Not started on the gloss and the semi matt.

I was looking at the cloth seats, seeing how to remove them too. found a link which described how to separate them. Cant do it today as i need to pick up my dad from the airport today, will have a go at it tomorrow.

Going to go now to get some.

[sive s]

I bought a couple of large propellant cans from an arts & crafts shop, I didn't use them in the end as I switched to a proper spray gun & compressor so they're available if required.

Thanks could you inbox me where abouts you are located. might be interested of buying the canisters. Also where abouts did you get the compressor from.

[sean_mc_83]

Heres a pic to show how the matt finish washed out the colour...bolsters(top) just have colour applied to them, the front door card then has a few coats of the matt finish. The rear door card(bottom right) then has a couple of coats of a mixture of matt/colour/tiny bit of gloss.

Heres a pic to show the state of my garage yesterday...

And heres a few bits pretty much finished(the reflection on the bolster is from the flash). You can see how shiny/matt the finish is by comparing it against the old black leather chair.

[starkie7]

Been following these dyeing threads with interest. Problem I've got now is the more info you two post up the more I want to try it but I know my wife wants me to leave it alone. What to do, red leather or happy wife?

[JayP07]

Looking good dude!! Liking the shiny matt mix... looking forward to seeing it finished and back in the motor.

[sive s]

Heres a pic to show how the matt finish washed out the colour...bolsters(top) just have colour applied to them, the front door card then has a few coats of the matt finish. The rear door card(bottom right) then has a couple of coats of a mixture of matt/colour/tiny bit of gloss.

Heres a pic to show the state of my garage yesterday...

And heres a few bits pretty much finished(the reflection on the bolster is from the flash). You can see how shiny/matt the finish is by comparing it against the old black leather chair.

Thanks for the pics. Damn i can see where you coming from. From what i have read from the instruction they said too put the sealant and it should look like the one on the right.

Lol hahah here is mine. My dads gonna have ago at me lol. hehe. Garage is a mess, so doing it outside.

The rear seat is still needing some dye , rest of them are done.

Been following these dyeing threads with interest. Problem I've got now is the more info you two post up the more I want to try it but I know my wife wants me to leave it alone. What to do, red leather or happy wife?

Thanks mate, Thats what we are all here for, helping others and trying to do something different than the norm.

hahaha don't worry mate, i was in the same situation when i looked at the previous thread about dyeing. lol.

Easy choice mate, has to be red leather. just say it will add value to the car. Thats my excuse lol.

Looking good dude!! Liking the shiny matt mix... looking forward to seeing it finished and back in the motor.

Thanks bruv. will post pics when it done. Gonna get my mate to do a proper photoshoot.

[sive s]

Here is some new pics.

Also in the pic where they show the doorcard leather. would you dye the black bit in the middle(seen in the last pic- front doorcard) or leave it like above. Also should i dye the centre armrest and the gears leather or leave it black to break the interior.

[sean_mc_83]

On the door cards I've dyed the middle bit red too, think it looks a lot better one colour. I've also dyed the plastic airbag thing.

The armrest/gear gaiter etc, I'm still undecided. I think I'm going to do the armrest red as I think it looks cleaner, still unsure about the gaiters though.

Anyway, I'm off to do my rear seats now and then take my front seats out and prep them up for spraying.

[JayP07]

Tuff one - you cant really go wrong either way - I think i would keep the console area/armrest black to break up the interior but there's something i like about the dyed gator. Door cards I find harder - originally i would have said keep the black middle because you get the contrast of the colour pad on the armrest but the full dye looks luxurious as opposed to sporty.

[Ruesta]

This is coming along really well, I think its going to look superb, which ever way you do it but if it was mine, I would dye the arm rest and the middle bit on the door cards, plus the little air bag thing, just as Sean has but I would leave the gaitors black. I think it could start to look a bit too "custom" and less OEM with the gaitors dyed.

Just my 2 cents worth, its up to you at the end of the day. Still loving the saddle colour.

Edited August 9, 2013 by Ruesta

[bungers]

I'd agree with Ruesta, colour coding too much might look less OEM than your standard interiors, but you can get more colour coded OEM interiors, they're just rare (& a little gash IMO) e.g:

[Ruesta]

WOW! That looks horrible, really over the top. And to think , someone actually specified that when ordering the car new. Had enough good taste to purchase an E46 coupe but not enough to get a nice interior - shocking!

[mb15]

^^^ That is rank!!

Good work, enjoying this thread as well! Wish i had leather to give it a go.

[Docz2K9]

Do the airbag bit in the door card the same colour. Looks odd a different colour! Also I would leave the armrest black but dye the handbrake & gear gaiters.

[JayP07]

I like this...

[Rebel]

Hmmm... My sparkling graphite metallic is crying out for a dark red / burgandy colour change... hmmm...

[sive s]

On the door cards I've dyed the middle bit red too, think it looks a lot better one colour. I've also dyed the plastic airbag thing.

The armrest/gear gaiter etc, I'm still undecided. I think I'm going to do the armrest red as I think it looks cleaner, still unsure about the gaiters though.

Anyway, I'm off to do my rear seats now and then take my front seats out and prep them up for spraying.

Thanks mate.

Decided to do what you did. need to dye the airbag thing too. Doorcards done, just need to do the front seats now. Going to seal it and put the matt finish after as it can be done quicker.

Gonna leave the centre black as i have left the rear armrest cloth thing black. so it will blend with the front. I think .

Oh yeah tried another technique instead of the spray gun. Tried dabbing it with the sponge. it worked looks the same as the spray gun way.

Tuff one - you cant really go wrong either way - I think i would keep the console area/armrest black to break up the interior but there's something i like about the dyed gator. Door cards I find harder - originally i would have said keep the black middle because you get the contrast of the colour pad on the armrest but the full dye looks luxurious as opposed to sporty.

I was stuck, asked my brother and he said i wont blame you. Decided to dye the doorcards full in the colour. but leaving the centres. If i change my mind i can just strip the centres easy too do.

This is coming along really well, I think its going to look superb, which ever way you do it but if it was mine, I would dye the arm rest and the middle bit on the door cards, plus the little air bag thing, just as Sean has but I would leave the gaitors black. I think it could start to look a bit too "custom" and less OEM with the gaitors dyed.

Just my 2 cents worth, its up to you at the end of the day. Still loving the saddle colour.

Thanks mate. Good point that is what i was thinking too. will keep it black in the centres, but if i change my mind i can change it.

Thanks same here.

I'd agree with Ruesta, colour coding too much might look less OEM than your standard interiors, but you can get more colour coded OEM interiors, they're just rare (& a little gash IMO) e.g:

Its a extended leather ones , seen in the m3. Not a fan, too much colour , black would have made it look so much better.

WOW! That looks horrible, really over the top. And to think , someone actually specified that when ordering the car new. Had enough good taste to purchase an E46 coupe but not enough to get a nice interior - shocking!

+1 I agree

^^^ That is rank!!

Good work, enjoying this thread as well! Wish i had leather to give it a go.

+1 too

Thanks mate, they are going for cheap now, so easy too pick up.

Do the airbag bit in the door card the same colour. Looks odd a different colour! Also I would leave the armrest black but dye the handbrake & gear gaiters.

Interesting, something different, didn't think about this idea. Defo agree on the airbag bit.

I like this...

+1

Hmmm... My sparkling graphite metallic is crying out for a dark red / burgandy colour change... hmmm...

You might aswell mate, helping a lad from the evotechnik forum. Next week, so drop me a message if you need help.

[mjn]

Hmmm... My sparkling graphite metallic is crying out for a dark red / burgandy colour change... hmmm...

I'd be doing it bright orange, or purple

[lloydhickson]

Looking forward to seeing this fitted in the car, looks awsome

[sive s]

Hi lads. Been busy the past 2-3 days. Wanted to get it done, so been busy at it.

Stripped the seats apart 2 days ago , seen below.

I finished dyeing them in the morning, then added the semi matt finish. still liked the gloss look tho.

I then started to put the front seats back together.

Had a break and started to strip the cloth interior out of the car seen below. Sorry the car is a bit of a mess. The hedgehog says hi. lol Funny thing is that i found loads of coins under the seats.

URL=http://s1164.photobucket.com/user/sives1/media/IMG_20130811_222722.jpg.html]

The pic below is both the interior in the house. left is the cloth interior and the right saddle brown interior leather.

Below is when i started to fit them.

Here are the pics of them in my car. still got to get the doorcards fitted.

Like the way how it matches the alloys. also in the pic afterwards it matches the decal on the right.

Car got dirty when i was fitting it. lol.

Hope you like people, will upload pic in daytime, as the ones above were taken at night time. Also will take a pic of the doorcards too.

Thanks for looking, if you need any help or advice, ask me and sean_mc_83.

[sean_mc_83]

Looking good mate!

[Chimp Choker]

me likey.

1st class effort here

[JayP07]

Well Done Mate!! a true labour of love, well worth it.

SInce I've had mine (previously owned by a builder who used to transport stuff in the back seat) there have been small tears in the cards at the back of the seats, really annoying, not sure the best way to handle these..

Looking forward to the day shots mate!

[M3NXN]

Fantastic effort, well done