GTI Aftermarket Leather - possible?

[Damn]

Howdy all.

My partner is looking for a MKV GTI, however she HATES the tartan cloth with a passion. Finding a white 5 door manual seems impossible enough, without throwing leather into the mix.

I was under the impression that cars with side airbags built into the seats you could NOT retrim, as the stitching on the side bolster was a specific type to allow the airbag to deploy correctly.

Has anybody had a cloth interior re-trimmed and if so what was done in regards to the special airbag friendly stitching?

Thanks in advance

[VW Central]

If you do this, you won't get the nice heated seats, which are amazing in winter

It may also look a little tacky and probably would cost a lot too. Why not just buy one second hand in good condition.

[The_Hawk]

I know when the sister in law was speccing her car a few years back (non VW) she wanted black leather which wasn't an option, but the dealer had it re-trimmed for her. Looked just about factory.

If you find a good trimmer anything is possible (including keeping the heated seats) but I'd guess you'd be looking at $2,000 ish. When it comes to new cars and the price of "factory" leather it's almost worth finding a good trimmer and buying the cloth variant and getting it done after market

[bazzle]

Howdy all.

My partner is looking for a MKV GTI, however she HATES the tartan cloth with a passion. Finding a white 5 door manual seems impossible enough, without throwing leather into the mix.

I was under the impression that cars with side airbags built into the seats you could NOT retrim, as the stitching on the side bolster was a specific type to allow the airbag to deploy correctly.

Has anybody had a cloth interior re-trimmed and if so what was done in regards to the special airbag friendly stitching?

Thanks in advance

Maybe get her to take a look at an R32??

Bazzle

[VW Central]

Maybe get her to take a look at an R32??

Bazzle

Bazzle, I am not sure what would be harder to find a White GTI Manual or to find a R32 in WHITE, that is manual

[isaw]

Why a manual? the DSG is quite the gearbox, and can be treated as a manual with either the stick or the controls on the wheel

My white 5dr leather DSG is on the market..

[MariusGT]

Why a manual? the DSG is quite the gearbox, and can be treated as a manual with either the stick or the controls on the wheel

My white 5dr leather DSG is on the market..

smoooooooth isaw!!

[tofo17]

When I bought my Jetta they didn't have the spec I wanted with Leather so the dealer got a car with cloth and got the leather trim done locally (in BNE, I don't know who they used). Did a great job. I got to choose the leather but picked something as close to stock as possible so people wouldn't notice come resale. If anything it seems better quality than the stock leather though of course I lost the heated seats... not a big deal in Brisbane!

[TGT20]

leather trim

I had my GT SPORT done aftermarket by LEE BROS at Albion in BRISBANE Still has heated seats and set-up for side air bags. Dark grey leather with double red stitching and GT SPORT logos front and rear $1800.00 you would not know it was not standard. Larry

[G-rig]

Ask Byza, his aftermarket leather job looks great.

Bazzle, I am not sure what would be harder to find a White GTI Manual or to find a R32 in WHITE, that is manual

Next to bloody impossible!!

[STV4SYT]

Not sure of your location, but this one is in Melbourne.

2007 GTI, Candy White, 5dr, Leather, manual.

http://www.carsales.com.au/all-cars/private/details.aspx?R=8123617&__sid=1212FE12FFEA&__Qpb=true&Cr=6&__Ns=pCar_RankSort_Int32|1||pCar_PriceSort_Decimal|1||pCar_Make_String|0||pCar_Model_String|0&keywords=&__N=1216%201247%201282%201252%201246%204294962746%204294962677%204294927728%204294766524%201622&seot=1&__Nne=15&trecs=8&silo=1011

[Damn]

If you do this, you won't get the nice heated seats, which are amazing in winter

Agreed!

If you find a good trimmer anything is possible (including keeping the heated seats)

I thought you only got heated seats WITH leather?

Maybe get her to take a look at an R32??

Keeping our eyes on this too, however they are above our budget

Bazzle, I am not sure what would be harder to find a White GTI Manual or to find a R32 in WHITE, that is manual

Yeah but she would take the blue or slate grey as well in an R32, there's wimmins logic for you

Why a manual? the DSG is quite the gearbox, and can be treated as a manual with either the stick or the controls on the wheel

I suggested she get a DSG, she drove one & doesn't like it, thinks of it as an auto, says she wants a clutch & 'proper' gear shifter. I've turned her into a hoon. In fact she has even mentioned 'needs more power', current ride is a very tail-happy Silvia.

...the dealer got a car with cloth and got the leather trim done locally (in BNE, I don't know who they used). Did a great job.

Here's the thing. I know people have had this done before. However, I was told by a panel beater that the stitching along where the bag is has to be different, and of course most aftermarket people just do their own thing. He said he has seen several cars with aftermarket leather with side airbags, where the airbag blew but did not deploy correctly, because the correct stitching was not done. See, a dealer only cares about making a sale, not how the car will react if you crash it.

However thanks for the info, might try some trimmers to see if they are on top of it all

Not sure of your location, but this one is in Melbourne.

2007 GTI, Candy White, 5dr, Leather, manual.

Funny as, on the 5th this one & another one in BNE both came up for sale. I've seen this one in person, and had lots of pics from the BNE one. However, at their current asking price, they are more than we have to spend.

I'm of the belief that their current asking price is on the high side, especially given people in this thread have bought brand new cars, drive away, for the same dollars

Anyhoo thanks for all your input so far, much appreciated guys

[triode12]

I had my GT SPORT done aftermarket by LEE BROS at Albion in BRISBANE Still has heated seats and set-up for side air bags. Dark grey leather with double red stitching and GT SPORT logos front and rear $1800.00 you would not know it was not standard. Larry

But how did they get the heating element parts since the standard seats don't have them standard?

[poyta]

But how did they get the heating element parts since the standard seats don't have them standard?

He probably had the factory leather option which came with the heated seated and simply re-trimmed them.

I'd love to see a photo.

[G-rig]

Probably aftermarket seat heaters.