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Just few quick words on the fit and quality of replacement seat covers available from Swedish Auto Lamps for Less.
I purchased a set of these a little while back and got around to installing the covers this weekend -
http://www.ebay.com/itm/VOLVO-240-245-265-SEAT-COVERS-ORIGINAL-UPHOLSTERY-BEIGE-VINYL-NEW-price-reduced-/360648214136
Quality is good, upholstery grade vinyl, similar to if not the same as OEM. Color match to my 92 beige is spot on. Overall stitching, fit and attention to detail is good. You do need to transfer over the various retaining bars and bits, and will also have to perforate the portions where the hog rings / zip ties latch on. My only quibble, and it is a very small one, is the stitching toward the front of the seat where it tucks under - seemed a bit uneven once tensioned in place, completely unlike the remainder of the seat. That said, very pleased with the end result and would purchase from them again. Called them up and they posted up a pair of seats for a few bucks less and with lower shipping since I needed the pair. Will post a few pictures soon.
Zach
'90 & '92 245s in AK
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Got the drivers seat done last night. A few notes -
Seat base looks great. Had to do a bit of foam reinforcement - the drivers seat has been put to that much more work than passenger side. The new seat cushion on the drivers side looks great, even with some cardboard installed to reinforce. I'm not sure if it is the seat cover itself or my skills as an upholsterer - but I'm not quite as pleased with how the seat back turned out. I'm going to give it a few days to see if things settle into position a bit better. Will post a few more pictures now of a full seat.
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Shows a bit of the puckering. That said, wife commented that the seats looked like new, so perhaps it is like when you paint a room and know that there is one little spot that isn't perfect though everyone else looks completely past it.
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Looks great, Zach! I bet the puckering settles. Vinyl has a habit of stretching the way it needs when it gets good and hot.
I am really impressed for the price. Now, if somebody would just reproduce the tan cloth for the same price, I'd be in heaven. Especially that old corduroy "velour" material the early 80s 240s got. I loved the retro feel of that stuff.
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I've got one seat of velour for you if you'd like for the cost of shipping.
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ZJZ, The seats look fantastic...you done a great job.
I called the seller about the black seat cover's price
and his response was that in a couple of months or so
the price will be lowered to the price of the tan covers.
Happy Volvoing
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I appreciate the offer, Zach, but it wouldn't match anything I've got right now. All 90s cars these days.
Thanks anyway!
Sean
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There is a little puckering but they still look nice.
Maybe, if you tried a couple layers of light muslin material, like Jorrell suggested, they could probably tighten those right up.
It would have to get worse for me to do it. After you have used them for awhile it may need that option pursued?
Still a not bad deal there?
I paid $220 per seat to have my GT done over ten years ago. Cloth with a stripe down the middle. Seemed steep but I took the seats to him. It was bargain compared to shopping for the work now.
Phil
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Awesome, Zach! I've been waiting for a good review and some photos. Might have to get a set for my father's wagon. Now if the black ones just didn't cost 3x the beige . . .
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Yeah, I'd been watching for a while as well and decided to bite the bullet. Happy with the result. Now if I could just get that head-rest retainer tab to release...
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I've had to turn the seat cover inside out in the past and use a hammer and drift to drive the headrest out from inside. The tabs are easy, the shaft just seems to get sticky.
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Try one side at a time and you need to pull as you press the release.
Dan
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Do they have the rear seat matching assembly?
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I don't understand why the black colored covers
cost 3 times more?
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Maybe a typo? You can give them a call at 877-902-2600 and see what the deal is.
I haven't seen them (or anyone else, for that matter) offer the rear seat covers.
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i bought the blue ones, but have not yet installed. i recently inquired about the availability of back seat skins and they said those were not yet available. sounded like they're thinking about it. jc
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If you're still active here, can you tell us how you felt the blue seat upholstery color matched (from Swedish Auto Lamps For Less)? I am assuming you had the vinyl (not cloth), in dark blue. I need to replace one seat, and my color code is 5147 ('89 245).
Thanks!
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They look great! I am so glad I have cloth in both 240s still going strong
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Thanks for the post, Zack. I have been so curious about that offering. I wonder if they plan to offer rear covers in the future?
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You're hired!
Looks really nice! The thread seams look like they line up to the older upper half too!
Phil
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They cost $100? Go over the foam, not the old cover?
--
240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio
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Correct, $100 for two pieces - the seat base and seat back to do a single seat. You remove the old cover first and then install the new cover. I paid $195 to do both front seats.
Based on the $50 for a sheepskin cover from Costco that mostly fit, this seemed like a better option.
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Thanks. $100 materials + $195 labor? I was going to ask if the bottoms had the flap that goes down into the center of the seat but you might not know that is you had them done.
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240 drivers / parts cars - JH, Ohio
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No - $100 materials to do one seat (base and back cover only. does not include zipties, foam, grid, etc).
$195 buys covers for both front seats. Labor to remove and replace was my own.
Yes, the covers are done to OEM spec with the flap on the bottom in the middle with the rod in it that is hogtied/ziptied to the foam to gives the seat cover its shape.
Will post a few pics of the installed seat base and the uninstalled covers in the next day or two.
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Zip ties are the way to go much easier to install and remove later on plus they last.
I also use a piece of cut to fit corrugated plastic sign material between the grid and the foam, it works great.
Dan
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$8 for both from seat covers at the junk yard, I prefer the fabric covers that seem to last a lot longer and are more comfortable than vinyl.
Dan
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Dan - A much better price - have not had luck with that locally. Could not find the right style of beige fabric to redo the entire wagon interior and didn't want to mix and match. Got one cover off ebay but was the earlier, mid-80s velour-y style and didn't install it.
Junkyard vinyl is only good for a year or two of regular use. Any vinyl covers that are at the junk yard are at least 21 years old and are at the end of their run.
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I did luck out on a good set of fabric covers they don't come along very often, but even dirty ones clean up real well in a washing machine.
Dan
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Pageda,
Yes, the cloth covers last much longer than the vinyl covers. The unfortunate side of the cloth covers is that the structural foam beneath them erodes VERY Quickly due to friction from the cloth. Best advice is go add a thin layer of muslin cloth between the cloth and the foam.
The factory foam can NOT last long with the cloth covers... period. Over a 60K mile run on our 89 244, the dealer replaced the seat foam twice. The last time they did the repair they added the muslin.
jorrell
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