Refurbishing Seats
I am considering refurbishing the interior of my G Wagon and am thinking of replacing the existing cloth which is black/grey check with leather. Can anyone post any pictures you may have of 'jobs well done' so to speak. Has anyone e.g. used red leather or two tone??
I await with interest your responses..... or do we take the purist route and keep everything original ?
Tom,
Problem is that is not as common as it might seem.
In the many years I have been in the GWOA I have never seen a W460 converted to leather. What people would normally do is to replace the seats with a set of second-hand ones if the existing one are too bad or upgrade to a W463 if they want luxury.
Sorry!
Hi Jesus... at least someone responded although no Brits as yet !
What about a look at the insides of your beloved W463 ? I'm sure if you start they'll all follow. You know Jesus, the Brits are great followers and i supposed that's why we love them...
Tom, if you look around the german used site's http://uk.mobile.de and http://www.autoscout24.de,,, you may come across some two tone leather styles. Some of the Brabus G's have red leather seats, and you some times come across a green / black two tone. As Jesús says on 463's. Not what you wanted, but you may enjoy looking at german G's
Thanks Mark, appreciated. I'll have a look but I'm sure all of our GWOA Members are as we speak photographing their beloved Gs in order to exhibit them for us all to enjoy. I don't mind even if some wise guy who hoses out his G gets involved in the action....
:lol:
No time for photographs, their getting their G's ready for Sunday :wink: :D
You're right Mark and my apologies for not planning to attend. Maybe next year when I get up the courage to face you guys.
Still, when you meet up with them get them all to use the Forum more .... and post pics of their Gs.
Thanks Mark
Hi tom i am currently in the middle of scrubbing up the g ready for next summer maybe a few shows and things we will see. To answer your question i have not yet gone on the interior but my intention is, seen as i have recaros and my wagen is silver is all out red leather nappa like my mams tt, looks cool i am a bit undecided on black or red carpet though, if you get it done let us know....
I was told that you can expect to pay about £2,000 just to redo the seats on a 463. Which in my eyes makes me think I might as well put the pennies towards a newer G.
Very good point Sir and one worth noting. Maybe seat covers are the answer or yuk?? Although if you have a Merc it seems that it's worth spending money on it regardless of the model (?)
By the way, have you received a private email I just sent ? (Sorry for abusing this Section)
Is it worth the money refurbishing a 460 G?
Well, this point has troubled me for the last while and I do accept all you guys say about the cost v. a newer G etc. Now, if the 460 G has been well looked after I think either it doesn't need freshening up or else if a bit tired then yes refurbish and do so well as it will last you for years.
Something though stuck in my mind. Where did I see a relatively new (2001) G that looked from the picture like the interior of a 460? After hours of searching tonight (it's 3:40 am now)
I found it... 25th Anniversary GWizz (a really great Mag.) page 6. Now, it looks fantastic but does it not look very similiar to a 460 'old' interior ?
Any comments? The Article was great and was entitled 'You have Zee Keys?
By the way, have you received a private email I just sent ? (Sorry for abusing this Section)
If to me, then no I haven't received it.
Something though stuck in my mind. Where did I see a relatively new (2001) G that looked from the picture like the interior of a 460? After hours of searching tonight (it's 3:40 am now)
I found it... 25th Anniversary GWizz (a really great Mag.) page 6. Now, it looks fantastic but does it not look very similiar to a 460 'old' interior ?
That is Howard's 461 that I was telling you about in the G Wagons... Old v. New thread. They are the replacement for the 460 and are what are being used in the military.
An absolutely beautiful car. Howard much really be happy with it. He must be some guy to take a chance with a 'new' one !!!
No doubt Howard will tell me to shut up if I'm out of order !
Is it worth the money refurbishing a 460 G?
If your refurbishing to sell, then i think it's money down the drain. But thats not the impression i get. From the "old v new" thread, you don't want / need a 463, so refurbishing sounds like a grear project..
As for the 461, they don't have the over the top electrics of the later 463's so don't suffer the same problems. The engine of the turbo models are electronicly managed, but thats not a problem..
I am considering refurbishing the interior of my G Wagon and am thinking of replacing the existing cloth which is black/grey check with leather. Can anyone post any pictures you may have of 'jobs well done' so to speak. Has anyone e.g. used red leather or two tone??
I await with interest your responses..... or do we take the purist route and keep everything original ?Hello Tom,
My 280GE is at the upholsterer's right now. The checkered fabric was threadbare and the foam was visible and starting to disintegrate. I tried to get new seat covers from Mercedes, and was told there are no more to be had in that pattern. So keeping it original means buying second-hand seats in unknown condition, shipped at great expense - not too many older G's in my neck of the woods as donor vehicles.
Instead of leather, I opted for the MB-Tex vinyl fabric. Most of the seat will have the same pebble texture that the rest of the interior has, while the center row of tufts will have the perforated fabric (with the rosette cuts in it.) This will provide a stock-ish look, as the pebble pattern matches. It is the same fabric used in other Mercedes models of the time. As far as leather is concerned, I think it is inappropriate in a 460 with no wood or carpet. It's also less appropriate used as a seat cover in an offroad vehicle. IMO. And, the biggest persuader, leather costs more.
I too have wrestled with the fix-up vs. trade-up concept. Perhaps it's an easier decision for me. My 280 has been in California for 90% of its 20 year life. No rust. So, if I freshen up the paint, rubber suspension bushings, the upholstery, maybe new rubber floor mats, and a few other little odds and ends, for a few thousand bucks and a little effort I have a pretty sharp looking G ready to go another 10 years. And, except for the V8 in a G500, I prefer every other aspect of the 280GE.
I'll post pictures of my newly refurbished seats when I can.
— Spalding
Really interested in your posting. My oldest G a 1986 GEL Auto Petrol has been a great servant for many years and like your seats mine are now a bit sader for the years. I like your ideas and look forward to hearing further from you in due course when you produce the photos.
I note your point about leather and it is well made. I like you like my 280 and look forward to the day when I can drive her around without making excuses about bodywork, intertior etc. due to 'her age'.
Keep up the good work Capt.
Really interested in your posting. . . look forward to hearing further from you in due course when you produce the photos.
Hi Tom,
I just got my seats back, and as promised, here's a photo. I'm very pleased with the results.
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C'mon loads of you guys have viewed this post so don't be shy.. show me yours ! I thought you Brits would only be too happy to exhibit your fab G interiors !