Anybody buy seat covers from topsonline?

They are a ebay seller, but they sell seats and armrest covers.

TIA

 

See https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...-covers-40193/

 

Be aware that some seat covers will block deployment of the side airbag in the seat.
Jaguar issued several warnings when the airbags were installed in the seats.

Here is a TSB I found.

bob gauff

 

How did I miss that in my search, thanks!!

 

The TSB is for V8 Sedans.

 

Several weeks ago, I developed a split on the seam of my driver's seat cushion between the front panel and the center panel. Since I work in the interior decorating industry, I have my own upholsterer, and I knew it could be repaired by pulling the seat cover, soaking it to soften it up, and stretching it slightly to get an extra 1/2" or so to resew the seam. I didn't want to have to purchase a whole new interior for just one seat cover since the rest of the interior is as new. But since TopsOnLine lists an address that is less than 3 minutes from my house, I decided to drive by and see if I could just order one seat. When I got to the address I was surprised to find that it was an automotive upholstery supply house named Vic's from which I had purchased leather and vinyl many times. They sold me a single seat for I believe was about $240.00. I figured it would be quicker and stronger than a stretched cover that would still be prone to weakness at the edge. Vic's orders the covers from somewhere else, and it took about 4 days to arrive. When it came, I was disappointed in that the leather was not even a close match to the original, much heavier grain, matte finish as opposed to the gloss of the original. To their credit, the offered me a full refund, however, I ended up taking the cover figuring that I would have my original repaired anyway, and depending how it turned out, I would swap it out and resell the new cover. After putting high gloss protectant on it, the shine, at least temporarily approaches the other seats, and being black, the difference in grain is not that noticeable. So, next week after my original is done, I'll make my decision as to what I'm going to do. Either way, I'll have an extra driver's seat cover if anyone needs a black one.

 

Can't speak to the leather grain mismatch as hides and suppliers vary, but the finish is likely an age thing. Jag leather was/is matte finish as new. Over the years, and with normal use, it picks up a sheen from wear (aka butt polished). Hence the glossy shine.

Is it closer to the finish on the rear seats?

 

While the original leather is not patent leather shiny, it is nevertheless not a dull matte finish and has a sheen and smooth surface grain, even in the rear seats. Undoubtedly, the patina from butt-rubbing is a cause of a little more shine, but the grain was decidedly different and the finish was much more matted than even the untouched areas of the back seat. With time, lots of shiny conditioner and my big butt rubbing against it, it may approximate the look of the other seats, but it is very different than the original. I have worked with textiles, leathers, and vinyls for more than 45 years, so I'm really well versed in the differences. Now, would anyone else who was not the car owner and someone who's life's work was in textiles really care? Probably not. So we'll see what I do when the original is repaired.

 

Post pix for the spectators. ......

 

Will post pictures later this afternoon for the spectators.

 

Pictures as promised although I don't think you can see much difference in photos, but to the naked eye, they are very different. New seat cover, is very matte, very deeply grained whereas the previous (passenger seat) has a shinier, much less grainy and smoother texture. First photo is new driver's seat cover, second is existing passenger seat.

 

I've got an easy fix...replace the passenger seat next for another $240 It'll bug you until you eventually do, so save yourself the unnecessary worry and pony up now.

 

I agree with Matt. Putting the old and new side by side and expecting them to match is asking for disappointment. I just replaced both of my front seat covers with factory-matched leather from Vic's (topsonline), and they look fantastic. Perfect match to the rest of the interior, the leather smell is back in the car, and it all feels like new again. I'm very pleased.

But if I had attempted to replace only my ripped driver's seat, it wouldn't have worked out well at all.

 

Post pictures!

 

Dear The Coupe,
It doesn't bother me so much that I can't live with it, I was just rather surprised (and disappointed) that it didn't in any way match existing leather, completely different texture (deep, heavy grain), different sheen level (completely matte like flat wall paint as compared to semi gloss paint), etc. It's not even close. It's nice quality, and that's why I went ahead and purchased it, and I can coat it with a series of applications to bring the sheen up to make it closer, it's not that critical. Additionally, my original will be repaired this week, so I can and very well may put it back on and keep the new one for some later time. Since my original seat cover split on a seam (really just the thread joining the front and middle panel simply fell apart due to age and use), it will repaired with no visible "scars." The disappointment was that I know closer matched leather is available, in fact, I have purchased such at Vic's on many occasions.