Hello,
Can anyone recommend an upholstery specialist in the MD/DC/VA area that has repaired the pulling dashboard on the XK's/XF models?

thanks,

 

That seems to be a fairly common problem, while searching to purchase an XK I came across four that had that same wrinkling on the upper dashboard in the center.

I'm going to see a seat specialist on Wednesday or Thursday in Falls Church, I'll ask if they do dashboards.

 

Teego, not sure if you want to give this a try on your own, but there is a process to fix it yourself.

Short of the process is you take a hair dryer or heat gun and you heat up the leather in the bubbled area. ONce it is warm, you take a needle and poke a small hole in the leather to let the air out. You can then press the leather back into place as the glue will once again be tacky (because of the heat). As you get near the end, you remove the needle and once you press over the area where the needle went in, you won't see the hole.

As for a specialist like you are after, I would be interested as I am looking to possibly have my steering wheel re-wrapped due to some wear spots.

 

I know several people that have had work done by this place, and they recommend them. There is a Tyson's shop and a Chantilly location.


Lim's Custom Top & Upholstery




--Bob Collum

 

Thermo, I have a bubble on my dash and was thinking of doing something just like this. Glad to see that someone else has already done so. What kind of needle did you use?

Also, I have used Kim for some other work on a previous Porsche. Wouldn't hesitate to use him again.

Thanks, Mark

 

Phantoms, you want to see if you can get something like an insulin needle or something fairly small like that. You don't want to get something too big as that will increase the chance of leaving a small indentation. But, it would take something of fairly decent size to start leaving a mark. You might be able to stop by a medical supply place and you can get a needle though them. Should be fairly cheap to get that way should you be able to. I know they control the needles for sale fairly close. The other option is if you have a friend/relative that is a nurse, I am sure they can get you a needle or two.