I was wondering if anyone has or tried to recover the drivers side seat in a R53 using the skin from a passenger side seat? My drivers side seat skin is looking a bit too cracked for my liking. Thanks for any info.

 

Thinking it could be done. The latches and handles are not part of the covered seat but rather the frame I think.

 

I'm thinking so as well. Just thought I would check in with the experts to see if somebody else has been down the swap road. Going to be picking up a pair shortly and giving it a go. I will update with the results of my experiment.

 

I've recovered the seats, so I didn't need to swap them left for right. The backs are not swappable because of the side airbag provisions, but I think you were just talking about the bottoms. As far as I could tell the shapes are the same so the basic fit would be OK, but the side skirts have various cutouts to wrap around the mechanical bits and those are not the same left and right. You might have to put up with some minor exposed edges or holes.

 

Going to pick up the donor seat tomorrow so going to find out.. Thanks for chiming in. Will update. I must admit Im looking forward to figuring this out.

 

Posting here so I can follow along. Good luck. Post photos.

 

I have sheep skin covers on my seats since 2005. I wouldn't have it any other way. All my cars have them.

 

Is the driver seat upholstery no longer available?

 

Im sure it is but cost prohibitive. Just thought I would give the swap a go. Seats are in hand but I bought a Vrod yesterday and going to sort that out this week. Swap to proceed next week. Will update as I go through the steps.

 

possible to carefully dismantle, cut the template, and just reskin entirely with new fabric?

 

Is it vinyl or leather? It is truly amazing what can be done to bring back leather.

 

Our's are vinyl. I would replace them with a leather set I've found but the drivers seat has an aftermarket seat heater installed in it and I have to say it's quite nice. Passenger seat and rear are in great shape so I thought I would go down this road.

 

Thought I should update this thread. I received my donor seats but the covering on the base has a different pattern stitched in them. I wasn't aware R53 seats came in 2 different styles. The bolsters on the seats I received are a bit more pronounced than the ones removed from our car. Perhaps they came out of a R52 or did they change the design a bit for the later R53's? Needless to say I don't think these skins will slip on our 03' seats. May just go down the Recaro road for the driver seat.