How to go from Leather Interior to M-Tec Cloth?

[PSUEng]

Toying with this idea of going from black leather interior to M cloth, but not sure how I would proceed or what is involved. Ideally, I make it same as if the car were new with the cloth. Upholstery is not something I have experience with or know about, so thought I'd put this out there for input. It appears one can buy the M cloth in bulk, but as a matter of technicalities and the work required to change over, I'd like some schooling on the subject.

[PetrolM3]

Material can be sourced but you need to pay a pro as this is not a DIY type of work. This won’t be cheap…

[Slideways]

One cost effective way to do this is to uninstall all the covers and door panels, buy the M-Tex material and send all of it to someone very experienced in upholstery. Then they send it back and you install all the seat covers and the interior. It is not easy, but doable.

[Gt4]

Or you do like me, you buy a car with M-Texture interior and swap your black interior in it and sell the car after. That way you get a free OEM M-Texture interior

[PSUEng]

Or you do like me, you buy a car with M-Texture interior and swap your black interior in it and sell the car after. That way you get a free OEM M-Texture interior

Now THAT is thinking! The two things I really wish my car had are a slick top and cloth interior. If I would have been able to order it new, I would have spec'd it that way. Figured the roof is really expensive to do and the cloth might not be too bad, but, maybe that's not the case.

[PetrolM3]

Most factory M-tech interiors will not be in great shape by now. And if you do find one that is, price of that car will not be cheap either not will it sell for a good price without it’s factory optioned interior…

[Icecream]

Most factory M-tech interiors will not be in great shape by now. And if you do find one that is, price of that car will not be cheap either not will it sell for a good price without it’s factory optioned interior…

Exactly, doing it the way slideways mentioned is the best way. If you get a used set, how long before it starts tearing, wearing and need replacement anyways.

[SQ13]

Here’s one option:

https://www.prestigeautoleather.com/shop#!/BMW-E46-M3-M-texture-Coupe-interior/p/210387547/category=0

[PSUEng]

Here’s one option:
https://www.prestigeautoleather.com/...547/category=0

Damn! I bet freight is an arm and leg. I could pull my interior and send it to them, I wonder if that lowers the price. My door panels are mint, and the armrests just painted by TexaZ3, and I'd like to keep my aluminum trim--it's in very good shape (perfect on rears, close to perfect on passenger side, and shows typical seat belt buckle knicks on driver side).

[SQ13]

Damn! I bet freight is an arm and leg. I could pull my interior and send it to them, I wonder if that lowers the price. My door panels are mint, and the armrests just painted by TexaZ3, and I'd like to keep my aluminum trim--it's in very good shape (perfect on rears, close to perfect on passenger side, and shows typical seat belt buckle knicks on driver side).

They said $300-400 each way when I inquired a few months ago.

[PSUEng]

One cost effective way to do this is to uninstall all the covers and door panels, buy the M-Tex material and send all of it to someone very experienced in upholstery. Then they send it back and you install all the seat covers and the interior. It is not easy, but doable.

This may be the optimal route.

[PSUEng]

They said $300-400 each way when I inquired a few months ago.

Was that for all the complete seats, complete door panels? I wonder if I pulled the parts requiring the cloth--panels would be easy to do, seats maybe another story, if that would keep the cost down. CT is a long way from me...

Hell I'd even go for just having the front seats done at this point, to keep from sliding around. Then I'd have a frankenstein interior, but probably OK.

[oceansize]

Damn! I bet freight is an arm and leg. I could pull my interior and send it to them, I wonder if that lowers the price. My door panels are mint, and the armrests just painted by TexaZ3, and I'd like to keep my aluminum trim--it's in very good shape (perfect on rears, close to perfect on passenger side, and shows typical seat belt buckle knicks on driver side).

You definitely want to do that. I bought a complete re-leathered imola interior from him and he did a fantastic job but what he can't control is how perfect the door cards etc. are. If yours are mint, wrap, ship, and your interior will come back really well done. I absolutely love my interior and haven't regretted a nickel of the thousands I spent.

[bigjae46]

I think it could definitely be DIY’d if you have a heavy duty sewing machine. You already have a pattern!

[Slideways]

Was that for all the complete seats, complete door panels? I wonder if I pulled the parts requiring the cloth--panels would be easy to do, seats maybe another story, if that would keep the cost down. CT is a long way from me...

Hell I'd even go for just having the front seats done at this point, to keep from sliding around. Then I'd have a frankenstein interior, but probably OK.

If I had black interior, I'd just go for a set of used street friendly Recaro or Cobra seats and send the covers in with the M-tex material. This way, it doesn't really look frankenstein IMO and you get that bit of M-tex without breaking the bank. It should also be much easier to DIY install the covers on the aftermarket seat rather than the stock seat.