Leather Seats on E-bay??
- Thread starter MAC4Runner
- Start date
tkr128
New member
Definately send them back! That's just plain unacceptable that they don't match the factory color. Again, I hope everything works out well, and sorry for being such a pain about the "taupe" colored seats. Are you going to go with the CST or Katzkin kit now? I'm considering getting another kit to have as a spare when these show wear (which undoubedtly they will).
rando
Senior Member
@trk: No problem, you weren't a pain. Your assertion was completely rational. Even I had to look at your snippets to be sure.
Do you mean you plan to get another kit from ALI or one of the others? Do you have a reason to suspect premature wear or are you now otherwise unhappy with your kit?
Other than the color problem, these kits appear to be fairly well constructed and have a nice texture and look to them.
Do you mean you plan to get another kit from ALI or one of the others? Do you have a reason to suspect premature wear or are you now otherwise unhappy with your kit?
Other than the color problem, these kits appear to be fairly well constructed and have a nice texture and look to them.
tkr128
New member
I am very happy with my ALI seats. I'm very happy with the texture of the leather, it's very European-like. I also like how they don't become shiny after being conditioned. They're also wearing extremely well, much better than I had expected. I'm just not too sure I like the seatback design for the front seats, although it doesn't bother me too much.
The reason I'd like to purchase another set is because I do a lot of driving (about 100 miles a day back and forth to school) and my seats take a bit of a beating because of it. I don't like it when leather starts to crease and wrinkle, as I like my interior looking new. I'm very meticulous about maintaining my leather (I condition them at least twice a month), but even then some of the wear still occurs. I've seen too many cars that have "ugly" leather after just a few years. I guess I'm paranoid about having my leather look like all those other cars in a few years. It'll probably be a few years off before I'll need to replace them, so I'm just wondering which kit I'd like to "try" if the occasion should arise.
The reason I'd like to purchase another set is because I do a lot of driving (about 100 miles a day back and forth to school) and my seats take a bit of a beating because of it. I don't like it when leather starts to crease and wrinkle, as I like my interior looking new. I'm very meticulous about maintaining my leather (I condition them at least twice a month), but even then some of the wear still occurs. I've seen too many cars that have "ugly" leather after just a few years. I guess I'm paranoid about having my leather look like all those other cars in a few years. It'll probably be a few years off before I'll need to replace them, so I'm just wondering which kit I'd like to "try" if the occasion should arise.
MAC4Runner
New member
rando said:
My bad, I was actually referring to tkr's install........
rando
Senior Member
They paid to have them picked up and shipped back. They are going to get another kit in and take pictures of both side by side to see if there is any difference. It's possible that there was a dye issue. Who knows. It sure would help of the guy with the gray seats that supposedly 'look good' could post a pic.
rando
Senior Member
Yours appear to have a slight off-gray hue too, but I cannot be certain from those pictures. The gray in our trucks frequently looks kind of beige when captured with a digital camera (something to do with the camera technology I suspect).
Regardless, I cannot tell from those pictures if yours are a different color than the ones they sent me. What's important is that you like them. BTW rensho, do you happend to be in the SoCal area?
Regardless, I cannot tell from those pictures if yours are a different color than the ones they sent me. What's important is that you like them. BTW rensho, do you happend to be in the SoCal area?
Nope, No. Ca.
I do like them a lot. They really don't have any beige in them. It is the digicam or the lighting. In fact, i'm not sure how much more they could possibly match the grey int to be honest.
Sorry to hear about your off color. Your 1st pic looked awful with them laid on the floor. Mine doesn't look anything like that.
Good luck on the install. This is a lengthy install; in fact, i still have the driver seat to do. Everything else is done. So stoked.
I do like them a lot. They really don't have any beige in them. It is the digicam or the lighting. In fact, i'm not sure how much more they could possibly match the grey int to be honest.
Sorry to hear about your off color. Your 1st pic looked awful with them laid on the floor. Mine doesn't look anything like that.
Good luck on the install. This is a lengthy install; in fact, i still have the driver seat to do. Everything else is done. So stoked.
rando
Senior Member
OK, they got the covers back and claimed they were/are the right color. Moreover, they claim that the color is same and ONLY matching color used by every other leather seat manufacturer (CST, Katzkin, OEM, ...). Given the pictures we've seen in this thread, that's a bit hard to believe.
As a measure of good will, I offered to pay for the original shipping ($15) and will get the rest of my money back (fingers crossed). I guess I'm back in the market for a nice set of covers that MATCH.
I'm glad the rest of you didn't have any problems. The seats really were nice. Too bad they didn't match.
As a measure of good will, I offered to pay for the original shipping ($15) and will get the rest of my money back (fingers crossed). I guess I'm back in the market for a nice set of covers that MATCH.
I'm glad the rest of you didn't have any problems. The seats really were nice. Too bad they didn't match.
Derek
New member
okay, call me stupid, but I just had a few questions about the installation. You have to take all of the existing covers off of your seats, correct? Does this damage the existing covers in any way? Do you have to remove the seats themselves in order to install these covers? Overall, do you think its worth the time, money, and effort? Thanks for all the help!!! 
TRD04RUNNER
New member
I just help a friend install the same cover last week in his sr5! They are a BITCH to install if you don't know what you are doing. it was to hard to get those damm hook ring off so we just use zip tie! about 150 of them!I think the leather is better then the stock leather. it has texture and not smooth like the stock leather that will leave cress and crack after a while like smooth leather. also the gray/smoke match the factory gray 99.9%
You have to remove the stock cover to put the leather on. also the leather seat cover without vinyl siding would be a BITCH to stretch to fit on the seat! am I right you guy who install them? it's not just the leather their also a layer on thin foam and lent cloth under the leather! but it look really good install! Look just like factory except for the front seat backing. :iagree:
You have to remove the stock cover to put the leather on. also the leather seat cover without vinyl siding would be a BITCH to stretch to fit on the seat! am I right you guy who install them? it's not just the leather their also a layer on thin foam and lent cloth under the leather! but it look really good install! Look just like factory except for the front seat backing. :iagree:
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TRD04RUNNER
New member
rando said:
those gray cover are differently not the right color ! it should match your lower dash and door all most perfectly!
rando
Senior Member
Well ... I sent them back and they said they WERE the right color. It's kind of strange because the color they sent me didn't match the factory gray but didn't match the factory brown either. Who knows?
I'm glad you (or your friend) got a matching set. Can you post some pictures?
I'm glad you (or your friend) got a matching set. Can you post some pictures?
TRD04RUNNER
New member
Here is a picture of my friend seat with Ebay leather install with his brother 2003 land cruiser headrest on it.OEM factory light gray/stone same light gray as on 2003-04 limited runner. the color match PERFECTLY!!
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