I would not pay anywhere close to that kinda money just for a center arm-rest and a bolster and bottom recover, that's just me. I'd probably spend the money on used seats that were in better shape, and get a new armrest off a parted X (doesn't Mike Aya have a beige armrest from his 4.4?)
I finally found Ldiggs910 thread from when he had his seats recovered (front/rear) 2 years ago, he said he paid less than 1000 for front/rear including center console, in leatherette

http://www.xoutpost.com/bmw-sav-foru...recovered.html

But then again I have no idea how bad yours looks, I mean at 75k at 11 yrs old my drivers bolster definitely has more wear than the passenger side, but its not bad. I keep it cleaned and protected and just chalk up any slight wear to age. I've seen seats that are so worn that the leather itself is almost worn through.

EDIT: Contact info in the thread, real leather should run you about $1500 for whole interior in real leather.


Suns Auto Interiors at 246 E 125 St between 2/3av in Harlem NYC 10035. (212) 426-5778. The older Asian gentleman Sam that did it is somewhat difficult to communicate with but his craftsmanship is excellent.

The old adage on paying for what you get.....I think for the cost posted, there is a tradeoff somewhere.

My shop has old vintage cars, bentleys, couple of merc for new softops, etc. There is another shop I know out in CT. His prices are similar inline with my shop. Not going to debate about whether a full interior should cost. I choose my shops real carefully......I drive 1 1/2 hrs to my tire guy, even for a simple tire patch.

go to intrack tires in queens next time u need something wheel related

That's a little extreme..:stickpoke

Hemming and Hawing. I'm 50/50 on whether I'm going to do it.

http://www.pingable.net/images/X5/seat1.jpg
http://www.pingable.net/images/X5/seat2.jpg

They have seen better days haven't they?:)I need to recondition mine but I'm thinking to do them myself..buff the dirt out and bring them back to life with Leatherique .
Should look pretty close to new.I might even spray them with an HVLP.

I had the X until 58K. Then it become the wifes.

It's unavoidable ....jeans, etc. Just abrasion wear.
Leatherique is useless on coated leather.
It's like the old wives tale, just like cleaning windows with newspaper. The newspaper of *yesteryears* is not the newspaper of today.

A mild cleaner, foaming cleanser-brush it out to agitate the dirt and then a couple of MF water wipedowns. I stopped *conditioning* coated leather a long time ago....and it's not for a lack-of product. I have shelves and shelves or product.

They look to me like they need cleaning.

I'd just make sure they are UV protected and cleaned (judging by above you know how to clean the coated leather) and chalk it up to age.

My drivers seat is worn on the seat in the usual places. Presumably passenger side and drivers seat parts would be interchangeable? I have seen a passenger seat on ebay and the good side could replace the drivers seat worn parts on mine?