Exmoor Trim experience

I am considering restoring my Defender seats (1993). The seat base is a bit spongy, I could make do but like to improve them.

Exmoor Trim seems popular, interested in user experience. What are seats like after restoration. I am looking for a good firm supportive seat. Other cars I have restored seats and interior I have found mixed results with 3rd party parts.

So just interested in experience comments form anybody who has used or has used the seat kit. What did you get Leather, Vinyl - rugged, quality??

Thanks, Tim

I needed a new seat base and it was cheaper to buy the complete thing from Exmoor (who are local to me). They sell the restoration kits, but I didn't fancy doing it myself. Very happy with the new seat base and with other stuff I've bought from them over the years.

Bought base seat foams off them and fitted them myself. Bit more involving than you'd expect with the glue and beading and all but the fit/quality of the foam seemed good.

My Defender has grey basic vinyl seats. Both bases were torn and the foam was poking out everywhere. The seat uprights were fine apart from needing a clean. It was cheaper to buy two complete new matching seat bases than a full re-trim kit.

I got mine from paddocks, and they were (whisper shush don't tell anyone) Britpart. They match well, we're the same as the old bases and are still like new a year later.

kes86 said:

Britpart.

Click to expand...

I fitted new covers on my year 2000 Td5 90 about 12 months ago which came from Exmore. They are still like new and fit very well. The only issues that I had when refurbishing was that it was fiddly and slightly messy with the spray adhesive. Mainly my own fault due to too much haste and not enough space. Haste because I did them on the kitchen table, when the wife was at work and needed them out before she came home, and space, because although the kitchen table is 8 ft long you really do need a large flat clean work bench if you are doing the job properly.

The one massive advantage for me was the fact that Exmore have excellent tutorial videos which can be stopped and re-set to see how the professional does the job.

Overall it's definitely a D.I.Y job and well worth the extra time to get a quality job.

Alan

The mess and fiddle is why I just bought a new base complete. I called in to see them to check exactly what fabric mine was -old design Moorland - and they rang me a few days later when it was ready. They weren't really interested in repairing my old base (which was both ripped and a different pattern fabric to the rest) but I later flogged it on fleabay for a tenner. Win win.

It's good stuff but rather dear. Seems very nicely made and thoughtfully designed though. I've just got plain black vinyl seats in their 'elite' style. They seem to be holding up well two years after installation.

Thanks for comments.

My seat backs are okay - like I like them nice and firm. The bases I have are odd one matches backs but other looks like it has been replaced.

This may sound odd - The stitch in the original seats. Is it a printed effect rather than actually stitched?
One seat base I have is stitched but the material feels of an inferior quality to the rest of the seats. This is what I am trying to avoid when buying a replacement set of covers.

Suggestion of just replacing the base is tempting - or will they look odd from backs then months later I will end up buying a full set...?!

Tim

I got the full kit from exmoor dun them my self it's all on utube

I did mine myself following the Exmoor Trim video that came with the kit. I thought it was relatively easy, bit hard on the finger tips doing the base but well pleased with the result. 12 months on and still pleased and wouldn't hesitate to do it to the next Landie I own. Worth doing the backs as the foam is all new and I find them comfortable enough. I am fussy with car seats as have a bad back. Worked for me.