Just curious if anyone has had custom Leather seats done by Downtown Mini in Orlando? I'm thinking about a 05 MCS with leather and the MA said that they offered a custom leather package thru the dealership at the same $'s as the factory option, but you had lots more choices to choose from. Any comments positive or negative appreciated as I'm probably going to place my mini order this weekend.

 

If memory serves, they have the leather installed by a Classic Soft Trim partner (I'm not sure who, I haven't taken the time to dig into the local upolstery shops yet).

To get an idea of what is offered take a look at:
http://www.classicsofttrim.com/leather.html

Classic makes good leather kits, and on the leather side of things most of the shops who install these kits do good work. Most also install sunroofs....don't EVER let anyone install a sunroof with the ASC or Farmont badge on it. ~shiver~

If you want other options, take a look at Katzkin. I'm sure they have a partner in town, but you can't roll it into the loan if the dealer doesn't work with that shop. http://www.katzkin.com/SITE/HTML/seats.shtml

Katzkin also offers DIY and "budget" all-vinyl kits (a normal kit from Classic or Katzkin has leather seat faces, with vinyl backs and sides).

The leather that Classic uses is normally a fairly smooth, where Katzkin's has a bit more texture...

I'd suggest that you get the name of the shop who does the work for Downtown and pay them a visit. Talk to them, look over the shop, make sure the installers know that when your Mini comes in it's not just another dealer car...it's /your/ car. Never hurts.


To sum it up: Go for it!

..david (formerly a sunroof and leather jockey for CC Tops, N. Augusta SC.)

 

When I spec'd out my Mini at Downtown, I considered the dealer leather. The choices were plentiful but I was not impressed with the install quality on a Mini in the showroom. For what it's worth, the factory leather did not impress me enough to spend the money either so it could just be me. See if they have an installed sample for you to look at and decide from there. I went with the grey leatherette and I'm very happy.

 

I have the factory profile leather which I love. But I have seen a few of the custom seats at Downtown MINI and they looked really nice, especially in yellow. I think they even embroider the MINI logo in the headrest.

By the way, why don't some of you Orlando people come out to the next MINIS OF ORLANDO meet.

James

 

I would have loved to have gotten a BRG MSC with red leather interior. unfortunatly, MINI Canada doesn't want us to have "real deal" british motoring colours.

-Steve

 

Hey James where and when is the next MOO meet??!?!!!!!!!!

 

what exactly is a meet? I'm assuming a gathering of other Mini owners / enthusiacs to admire each others cars and trade war stories:smile: ?

 

The next MINIS OF ORLANDO meet is scheduled for January 31st (the last Sunday of the month). No one has suggested a place yet. With Sunshine MINIs down the past week, it's been impossible to plan anything. But I don't want to plan all the meets, so if anyone has an idea, let's hear it. :smile:

James

 

pretty much.

 

I looked at the samples that Downtown Mini offered if they did the leather, there were many colors to choose from and you could get solid or perforated leather, but $1300 was just too steep. I went with the grey and black leatherette - new for '05, and so far I don't regret the choice!

If you do decide to go to a shop on your own, just make sure they take into account the airbags located in the seat. You don't want that protection device foiled by improper installation of the leather seats!

The real question for the Orlando people - why aren't you autocrossing? It's a blast! Check out www.martinsportscarclub.com or www.cfrsolo2.com for the schedule.

 

Any aftermarket shop work their salt (and especially any that a dealer uses directly) already is familiar with the airbag situation. The manufacturers of the leather kits do extensive testing of each kit style. I haven't worked with them since about '99/'00, but at the time Katzkin had developed their own strap system that tears a weakened seam along the edge of the airbag very similar to the OE seat cover system. Classic used a different system, but it was also effective.

 

Bump.

Trying to get some input from someone that actually has had the custom leather done by Downtown Mini.

Howard