Finally! My replacement interior covers shipped! They look like this, but in black and DARK GRAY instead of red:



She also made me door cards, front and rear, as well as a black leatherette shifter gaitor and e-brake gaitor, all for about $280 shipped from the UK. Not bad a'tall I think. The lady that did them is a long-time supplier to the British Mini crowd, and everyone raves about her quality, so I can't wait to see for myself.

Pics to follow in about a month (longer of I have difficulties with the installation).

 

Holy crap, that's a nice price. Let us know about the quality once you get them on.

 

I was really nervous when I first heard the price, but lots of UK Mni people have used her. OF course, I've seen some SCARY Mini "restorations" from the UK, sooooo.... :: crosses fingers ::

 

Those will look cool in your mini.

 

Sadness dance... It's been more than a month, and no package. I fear my seats and door cards may have been eaten by the postal system.

 

Damn Matt that sucks. :( I'll do the sadness dance with you.

 

dont jinx it .....just know that it takes prob 3 times longer when getting a shipment from oversea's........im sure it's will get here.....

 

I'm trying to remain optimistic, but they told her 15 days when she shipped initially... Of course, that was during Xmas. Don't know if that would be worse (because of the increased shipping volume) or better (because they would be lots more employees working overtime).

 

That really sucks!!!!!!

 

I was looking forward to seeing the final product. I am going to put black seat covers on my back seat to match my new racing seats.

 

She has a customs ID number... can one confirm with customs that it's cleared the port, and if so does anyone know how I do that?

On the bright side - I heard from the supplier - she offered to make me a second set for only the cost of shipping from the UK (about $40) if they don't arrive by the middle of this month. I believe that she shipped them - she has a great rep on the UK Mini forums... I just have heard that the UK post can be "spotty".

 

If it works out that you end up with 2 sets, let me know and I might be able to help defray your costs.

 

Woo hoo! Kara just told me that a box from the UK FINALLY arrived!! Looks like my covers are FINALLY here!

 

Wow... getting them on was surprisingly easy. Now I have to do all the carpeting though.

 

Dang!! Those look good!

 

Yeah, I'm VERY pleased with them. Really nice workmanship. I'm wondering if I should have glued the material to the front seat cushions, as her covers lack the tensioning peices the stock covers have (they force the cover to suck down to the foam peices) - time will tell and I can always re-do that later if I need to.

 

if you dont glue them down tightly there is a possibility over time they will rinkle due to them streaching....no so much with the backs than the bottoms, where most of the weight is.......very nice by the way

 

Good info to have... I'll get a can of the 3M adhesive and plan to spray the seats, then. Hopefully I can get a few more clips as well someplace - the OEM seats have plastic rails sewn in that grip the entire bottom edge of the seat, but the replacement covers are only held by a few metal clips.

Is that the sort of item that a auto re-uphostery place may have access to, do you think?

 

I am fortunate enough to live near an auto upholstery shop. When I was renovating my MGB, I was planning to replace the seat covers myself. I was running out of time and I took everything to them. For $20 per seat they put new rubber strips (like a seat diaphragm in a Mini), new clips and put the covers on. I was very pleased. Might be worth farming it out while you, ah, attend to other matters?

 

Not a bad idea... never even thought of doing that. Seems like every time I try to replicate people's bright ideas like this though, I get quoted 5X the price...

 

Very nice indeed.