The leather on my 130K xk convertible has been on the verge of complete failure for some time. I’ve patched, glued, dyed the leather and finally started squinting my eyes as I would get in the car.

I’m old and this car is not my forever XK(R)! but at present it is my XK which I do enjoy.

I cannot justify spending thousands on various areas of this car while still retaining hope of the ‘right’ XKR showing up.

So, with that background established I took a chance and purchased front leather seat covers from a Texas outfit. Their ratings, as to customer service are not very encouraging but since I live in Texas and have a handful of friends in Houston (where the shop operates out of) I figured if things went south I would physically visit them and discuss things.

These covers are made to order, not in stock. (My guess is they are made south of the border, shipped to Houston and then shipped out to customers)

I knew it would take a bit of patience so I placed my order and paid in full up front. I then got quite nervous when the tariff master jumped in with his ‘Liberation’ day. (I had just been caught with a 25% tariff on some lights I purchased in Canada…making that okay deal less than ‘OKAY’.)

I communicated several times with them and always received a no nonsense, to the point, reply.

Seven weeks after ordering I received the covers.

These are complete cushion and backrest plus headrest for both front seats.

They are pretty well made, not Katskin quality but not Walmart either.

I’ll post finished pictures when I undertake the replacement, hoping for sometime this June.

I need to understand how to remove the head rest GUIDES that fit within the lean back.

Any help would be appreciated!

Oh yeah, the cost…$420.00 usd delivered! If they hold up several years they have been worth it and hopefully I’ll be in a different XK before they start to show their age.

I did install the new leather on the head rests yesterday, they look good…and they smell like new leather.

So, bottom line, can someone help me in removing the guides? A link or description of what the best procedure is would be appreciated.

wj