Ok folks, I am frustrated and out of ideas. My desire is to re-do the leather on my Black Leather Sport seats to add red inserts that you see in cars NOT sold in the US. I bought Red leather hide from a top vendor in the UK. I found several shops who quoted high prices because they are difficult to do right. However all now have decided that they could not replace the thread around the piece over the side air bag. The thread vendors will not support the liability, and the shop owners do not wish to take the risk, even if I am. Does anyone know of a vendor in the greater San Francisco Bay Area that will do a good job and can handle the air bag panel??

I have lusted after the Cooper Works Seats but they appear to be fiction. Last word from Cooper Works was that they were having troubles cerifying the new seats with the Air Bags and said the last date in August was not realistic and had no estimate.

So, any help from all the smart folks out there? I do NOT want the cheap seat covers. I want it to look factory.

Maybe this is a stupid idea

but i will share it with you
I have heard that there is paint for leather home furniture

maybe they have it in red???

good luck!

Greetzz MiniHolland

check the new MINI accesories catalog at your dealer.

THanks for the replies. The painting of leather is a problem for treated leather like on the seats. The paint also tends to wear out or off. I have high quality red hides from the UK. The only real problem is the thread used to sew the patch over the Air Bag. It is supposed to be a speacial type that breaks away properly.

As for the suggestion to check out the mini accessories catalog, for what? The seats are not orderable with red inserts in the US. The Cooper works seats are not available and won't be for an undetermined length of time. None of the dealers I have spoken with have had any ideas.

I do not want to go to after market seats (except John Cooper Works ).

Any other ideas?

did you go to stitchcraft? which aftermarket people did you go to?

I would not suggest painting the leather EVEN if you took the time to treat it.

Try calling Jack Davis @ Generations Auto Upholstery, 354 Umbarger Rd. #6 San Jose 408 224-5552. There isn't very much that he can't do in the way of upholstery work.

Charlie Arolla