Seat bolster leather

Want to get a quick opinion from you guys. Short version: My seat bolster on my 40th AE is so bad I duct taped it and now passenger side is also tearing at seams so I am looking to get redone. Been to several local shops and my car being a 40th AE the leather is listed as "Natural Black". No one seems to have this color just black which honestly seems to be what "Natural Leather" actually looks like. To order bolsters direct from Porsche for the two seats is going to take so long and be so expensive speaking to several dealers I may as well put GT3 seats in. My questions are: 1. Should I bite the bullet and order OEM Natural Leather color from Porsche? Looking at north of $1500 2. Should I just do them in OEM black and save almost 1/2 of the OEM Natural Leather? Under $900 3. Since the reupholsters do not have OEM Natural Leather option should I just go with generic Porsche "like" leather (it is high quality and looks very much like OEM) and save 1/2 the cost of OEM Porsche black. About $500.00 What would you do?

option #3 Even if you get #1 it won't match the backs, unless it includes the whole seat cover, backs & bottoms. Option 2 for ~$900 won't match. So option #3 makes sense. It will develop a patina that will look good in a couple of years.

I agree, option #3. PLus a really good auto upholstry shop and replace sagged foam, or increase size of bolsters, if wanted.

OK, so far that answers reflect the exact same logic I am coming up with. If not going to be 100% match anyway why not save money I can later use on hookers and blow?

Now that we know where your extra cash goes, I encourage you not to skimp on the Scotch Gard for the passenger seat. I'm sure you're worried that the leather might not be a perfect match, but I'm positive it'll match better than the duct tape.

Oh come on give me some more credit. I actually spend the extra $3.00 and bought the heavy duty Gorilla tape in black

I have seen this place on eBay for a while now: http://www.ebay.com/itm/1997-2004-Po...74709d&vxp=mtr Don't know what the quality is like.

No returns and not eligible for the ebay buyer protection. That's scary

I chose option number three for my natural brown leather bolsters. The match wasn't perfect at first, but it gets closer and closer with age and sun exposure.

My bolster was worn, so I had a local shop recover it. Looks perfect. Of course, it no longer has the faint Porsche logo stamped in the headrest, but who would ever notice? For a rare and high-value car, I'd go with the OEM. For the 996 (even 40 AE), go with a high quality aftermarket leather. My $0.02.

I've never done business with these two companies. They advertise in Porsche Panorama magazine. Might be worth checking out. http://www.heritagetrim.com/ http://www.porschetopsandinteriors.net/

Follow-up: I had the seat bolsters replaced on both last week. I did both driver and passenger as both were damaged (passenger not as much) cost me just over $500.00 for the pair using non-OEM leather. Glad I did both sides because it affords the whole job a more "factory" look to it. Place my indy recommended been around for a while and did a good job. It took day and a half and although the grain on the replacement leather is slightly different from OEM given some time, wear and Lexol treatments to fully bring the leathers character out it will be fine.

Pics?

Here are some quick / bad iPhone pictures right after install before the Lexol treatment: The middle always looks weird in photo's as it is the original 40th AE "special" leather inserts that were retained. I think I may have him do the seat bottom sides as well even though not worn just to give it a more even look.

Looks good, once it wears in a little it would be tough to tell any difference, especially if you have the bottoms done, as the centers are perforated the slights grain mismatch would be more difficult to spot.

Yea, I was so fixated on the bolster and matching the seat bottoms I never put much thought into just replacing all of the side leather including bottoms. I think I am going to go ahead and do it. Also, I asked him to "overstuff" or use stiffer foam which he did and seats hold you in much better than stock. I mean not Euro GT3 seats but sure beat what was there previously.