Alcantaras Anonymous
#1
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Alcantaras Anonymous
Someone please help me, I'm outta control.
I need a 12 step program.
I was gonna go with gray instead of charcoal, but somehow it just did not seem right with the Laurel wood trim - now, if I had the brushed aluminum trim it would have definitely been gray.
So.... besides completely rebuilding, repadding and recovering all four seats with dual density visco elastic foam, breathable mesh underlay and perforated Alcantara, then re-covering the side panels, all five headrests, the shift knob top and boot....
...If I can ever figure out how to get the freakin center armrest cover off thats IT! I SWEAR I'LL QUIT. Hmmm, maybe the steering wheel too.
BTW, did you know that the front headrests PIVOT forward?? (and I really don't understand why...)
I need a 12 step program.
I was gonna go with gray instead of charcoal, but somehow it just did not seem right with the Laurel wood trim - now, if I had the brushed aluminum trim it would have definitely been gray.
So.... besides completely rebuilding, repadding and recovering all four seats with dual density visco elastic foam, breathable mesh underlay and perforated Alcantara, then re-covering the side panels, all five headrests, the shift knob top and boot....
...If I can ever figure out how to get the freakin center armrest cover off thats IT! I SWEAR I'LL QUIT. Hmmm, maybe the steering wheel too.
BTW, did you know that the front headrests PIVOT forward?? (and I really don't understand why...)
Last edited by RonKMiller; 04-29-2007 at 05:41 PM.
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#8
how hard was this to do btw, since i got in my friends is300 i love the look and feel of that stuff. Where did you buy the material? Maybe itll be my first project once im done with finals.
#9
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It was a LOT of work, and unless you have better than average upholstery skills and a commercial machine... the seats were a royal pain in the *** (no pun intended.) My company manufactures after market motorcycle seats for BMW, sorry we don't retail any of our materials.
#10
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Kleeman does!
Personally I don't like the extra large holes in their design - way too big for me.
(yeah, like all good ideas I stole my inspiration from someone else and specifically this picture
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2004 C32 ///AMG
still not feeling the shifter, but can live with the headrests.
i think a nice shift knob matched with a unperforated alcantara boot would be hot!
#14
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www.Alcantara.com. There's some guys in Florida and California that retail cut yardage - but hold on to your wallet...
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2004 C32 ///AMG
It was a LOT of work, and unless you have better than average upholstery skills and a commercial machine... the seats were a royal pain in the *** (no pun intended.) My company manufactures after market motorcycle seats for BMW, sorry we don't retail any of our materials.
#17
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Indeed, but it is actually part of the design - provides an amazing amount of swamp cooling effect when it gets nasty hot, about 35F cooler in low humidity situations. It helps to keep your core temperature in check by cooling the blood in the thousands of capillaries in your butt.
Under the perfed Alcantara we use a breathable 3D mesh (polyester) and below that an aluminized heat reflecting/waterproofing barrier (polyethylene) to keep the visco and polyurethane foam cores dry.
We also sell rain covers which defeats the swamp cooler effect so you can ride in all temperatures/conditions.
I would provide a link to my site but I got yelled at big time by the mods before for doing that. Go figure!
I'm a BAD person.
Under the perfed Alcantara we use a breathable 3D mesh (polyester) and below that an aluminized heat reflecting/waterproofing barrier (polyethylene) to keep the visco and polyurethane foam cores dry.
We also sell rain covers which defeats the swamp cooler effect so you can ride in all temperatures/conditions.
I would provide a link to my site but I got yelled at big time by the mods before for doing that. Go figure!
I'm a BAD person.
Last edited by RonKMiller; 04-29-2007 at 08:47 PM.
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2007 C230SS; 2014 ML350 BT
Not sure if I like the interior, but I will give you props for being unique
#20
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And here I thought they would be perfect for takin' a snooze while under way.
Jeez, ya learn sumpin' every day - there's alot of very clever stuff on this "base" model.... only had mine for a year so it's still like a new toy.
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white and whiter
NOW I get it... so the theory is that when you get smacked from the rear, the headrest pivots forward and locks in place to keep your neck from whipping back. Duh.
And here I thought they would be perfect for takin' a snooze while under way.
Jeez, ya learn sumpin' every day - there's alot of very clever stuff on this "base" model.... only had mine for a year so it's still like a new toy.
And here I thought they would be perfect for takin' a snooze while under way.
Jeez, ya learn sumpin' every day - there's alot of very clever stuff on this "base" model.... only had mine for a year so it's still like a new toy.
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#23
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(that makes sense since I did not see any locking mechanism in there when I took it apart - just a simple plastic bracket.)
Hey Frank - a question for you (and I've searched and searched) but can't seem to find instructions on how to take the center console apart so I can get the storage compartment lid off. I bought the new Mercedes repair CD but my computer is such an antique it won't run - no DVD drive or Pentium...
Thanks for your help!
#24
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...and just think, for only $392.00 for four plus shipping I could be a "REAL" poseur, but then I would have to get all the others to match.
Actually, I'm thinking about creating a new very exclusive limited production model: a "C3" with a supercharged chrome badge on the right side in script from a new chevy Impala - the best looking thing on the entire car.
Hello, Kleeman.... How much for a Supercharger?
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white and whiter
AH HA! So I CAN take a snooze while driving - PERFECT!
(that makes sense since I did not see any locking mechanism in there when I took it apart - just a simple plastic bracket.)
Hey Frank - a question for you (and I've searched and searched) but can't seem to find instructions on how to take the center console apart so I can get the storage compartment lid off. I bought the new Mercedes repair CD but my computer is such an antique it won't run - no DVD drive or Pentium...
Thanks for your help!
(that makes sense since I did not see any locking mechanism in there when I took it apart - just a simple plastic bracket.)
Hey Frank - a question for you (and I've searched and searched) but can't seem to find instructions on how to take the center console apart so I can get the storage compartment lid off. I bought the new Mercedes repair CD but my computer is such an antique it won't run - no DVD drive or Pentium...
Thanks for your help!