96 850 - Seat covers or new skins?!

850oldschool · Post by **850oldschool** » 03 Dec 2022, 09:55

When I watch videos of the skin swap it looks like the most frustrating part of it is getting it properly positioned on the foam for the best fit and the least least amount of wrinkles. Is this true?

Post by **abscate** » 03 Dec 2022, 11:24

If you want the perfect OEM like new look, have a shop,do it. Here’s my efforts..

viewtopic.php?t=84734

Post by **SonicAdventure** » 14 Dec 2022, 08:32

Looking at 850 seats vs. P80 70 series seats bottom sections only, the OEM 850 units have slightly different run of stitching along either side of the center sections. It’s a longer L shape (mirrored on both sides), where the 70 series breaks up those areas with a simple stitch through both sections of those outer panels.

My recollection is that the seat bottom skins were ultimately compatible 850 to first gen 70 series as the wire hangers only are set up for the seams in the center panels, and those are identical. Is that true or does the 850 have wire hangers for those L shaped outer stitches?

Post by **abscate** » 17 Apr 2026, 12:22

Old thread - I have the Lseat L-seat L seat swatches and just took pictures in shade sunlight against both a P80 beige and P80 charcoal interior.

I will let Matt fix the gamuts

Post by **matthew1** » 17 Apr 2026, 13:00

As long as there is something in the photo that is somewhere on the greyscale continuum, preferably in the middle, white balancing is achievable.

Post by **abscate** » 19 Apr 2026, 16:57

Well dim grey is closest for the graphite. Won’t be a match though.

Bisque or the Ivory for the beige interior?

Seat won’t sell you uppers and lower separate;y, but I need an upper on one car and a lower on another…so…

Post by **rolsen11** » 19 Apr 2026, 18:14

Ecru White looks best to my eye. Either that or Bisque. Very interesting thread and lead for a place to get seat covers. I've been searching nationwide for good junkyard seats for a while now and every time I think I found a good one, I find out it's been exposed to the elements. I can only get the OEM back rest upholstery, and the price of just that is more than the cost for that entire front row set from L Seat.

Post by **abscate** » 20 Apr 2026, 07:40

I think the era of good junkyard p80 driver seat leather is coming to a close.

Currently a set of s/v70 front seats cOvers are $349

Post by **BlackBart** » 20 Apr 2026, 13:59

I was once on a car parts trip to Seattle at a nice Euro salvage place for a barely used AC compressor, and LOOK, there's a nice set of front 850 beige seats! I considered, decided I had too much else in the car to haul back, and had exceeded my weekend budget, didn't buy them. But I felt encouraged that "they're out there," I'll get some later.

I called them maybe a few months later and they laughed...."There aren't any nice 850 seats available anywhere."

Hindsight.

Post by **BlackBart** » 20 Apr 2026, 14:16

abscate wrote: 20 Apr 2026, 07:40 Currently a set of s/v70 front seats cOvers are $349

And just how do we know these are "superior" cows? That's seems a bit discriminatory and subjective.