Katzkins - DIY - I don't think so...

I guess I am somewhat handy - so I thought...

Bought the Katzkins - bought the hog clips (tru-value, ace hardware), and the hog clipper... Removed a front seat, followed the Toyota description on dis-assembly, got a few screws out, started to pull it apart, and STOPPED....

Happily.

I called around looking for someone to install it, got crazy quotes, then found an old thread which mentioned a place in So cal :: COACH AUTOMOTIVE RESTYLING CONTACT INFO :: PORTLAND RESTYLERS :: NORCAL RESTYLERS :: LOS ANGELES RESTYLERS :: KANSAS CITY RESTYLERS :: UNION CITY COACH AUTO :: PORTLAND COACH AUTO :: ORANGE COACH AUTO :: UNION CITY COACH AUTO :: KANSAS CITY COACH . They are also in No cal, LA, Portland, and ?). I called, explained my predicament - I pulled the seat thinking I could do.......... They got me in same day, and in hours, my covers were installed (while I watched).

It seems (from watching), you can dis-assemble the complete interior in 30 min. It also seems seats can be recovered quickly - some of them....... I believe, front seats are really not easy (HARD). Rear are a bit easier, but the door panels, and center console are much more time consuming... I was sooooooo glad I did not undertake this mod!!!!!!!!!!!!! Got to see the cheap door speakers, and the back vent et al...

The interior panels is I think the hardest to get right - just from watching the process by someone who dies it daily...

All said and done, find a real spot who works with Katzkins. Clearly, this spot knew the 2010 (and other cars). They had like 40 Katz boxes waiting, and were doing 4 dealer cars while I was there (Nissan)...

OABTW - hog clipping - there are power tools for clipping multiple times - another reason not to do this yourself............

AOBTW2: I read a post about after market leather smell - I had this! If you watch the process you will know why. It has nothing to do with the leather. They run power glue spray guns to apply all the non-seat interior stuff - and there is lots of it... all that stuff has what looks like rubber cement as a backing - hence the smell.. I went to Target, bought a car "tree" smelly thing, and it smells tooooo much... I'm sure that smell goes away (as dealers use it), but it is a smell....

I'll post pics when I can...

sweet...thanks for the info. how much did they tax you for the install and for the covers?

Probably 90+% of their work is dealer, and they were great. I won't quote my cost - but I found it very reasonable - in a separate thread, I mentioned currently you can get Katz on line with a $290 leather upgrade ( the Tuscany - for what it's worth)... Can't tell the difference - but I'm guessing it's probably better leather... I am a very happy camper, and would be on a Britney hold had I attempted it... I also love the fact that you can see how to get into all the spots with techniques (door panels - remove light, and window switch panel before pulling the whole panel - to keep from pulling/damaging wires).

If they are slow, you can wait and watch as the thing happens - quite amazing!

They did damage a plastic thingy that holds the rear seat down - he explained it, and I was happy to go to the dealer, and get a new one ($3.96 including tax - but a 3 day wait).

It is certainly possible for someone with considerable experience to do it at home. However, it is not for the casual or new installer. I did my own Bartlett leather, and am glad I did (it guaranteed no broken parts, but to do so is S-L-O-W). After quite a few hundred hog rings by hand, I was glad for getting the better plier, but it's still manual. My hand took a week to recover, LOL.

Here are a few pics - love the leather, and am *very* happy I did not go perforated (these feel similar to our Lexus)... I'm also glad to get rid of a bit more "misty gray (almost white)"... Altogether, there are 7 trim treatments in addition to the seats...

The colors look neat man, a nice combination of light and dark grays. Looks classy.

That's beautiful color combo. What exactly is the leather color called? Thanks.

Thanks for posting the pics rrolff. I've been thinking about upgrading to leather and was wondering how a darker gray would look with the misty gray interior. It looks great.

The color is "Flannel", and from the upgraded "Tuscany" line (They are doing free upgrades right now). In standard leather, it would be "Lt Gray".

They now have a "Frost" color that matches the misty fabric - I'm very glad I went dark... I think "Misty gray", as it stands, is a MIST{Y}AKE... The cloth interior is such cheap material, and the color shows stains way too easily...

If you are going to upgrade, be *sure* to buy the $10 (delivered) Katzkin color guides - it's refundable on purchase - who knows - you may end up choosing the "everglades alligator stuff"

TTFN!

Do they add leather to the steering wheel too?

No - there are a few threads on that - there's nothing available today that looks remotely OK...

rrolff,

Really nice color. Was wondering if you had the light grey interior originally? If you don't mind, what was the cost of the installation??

-Chan

I had the light gray interior (called Misty) - the matching Kat is Frost. As mentioned - I have no idea why Toyota offers this color... There are now a nice full mixture of grays (note - even the battery vent in the back is now visible). I like the light and dark...

Cost was very reasonable - all in, less than $1100.

My car still has a bit of residual glue smell from all the interior coverings - but it is almost gone.

WOW!! That is a really nice install. I have a 2004 with the original interior material which is quite resilient. Only reason I don't like leather is it is too hot in the summer and too cold in the winter. I wonder whether they have some type of option for heated seats. When/If my interior starts looking tired, I may just upgrade to a two-tone type leather.

There is no way the factory cloth on my 2010 would hold up for 6 yrs.... I would be highly surprised if this thin cheap fabric would last 2 years... With the color, i'd give it 1 yr...

Search on Bartlett leather - there's a long thread on self-installing that kit, and it includes links to a company that sells both seat heaters and power lumbar supports that can be inserted when recovering, as I recall. I have found good leather to not be so bad winter or summer compared to vinyl (and my perforated leather is cooler to sit in for a while in the summer than the cloth was). Also, my '06 cloth looked pretty good, but when we pulled it out to do the leather the outside bolster of the driver's side seat back was threadbare. Interestingly, it was wearing out from the inside, so it still looked good although it was badly munched up there and very uncomfortable. I'm certainly glad of the change - and I didn't do heaters (wish I had done lumbar support, though).

Altogether, there are 7 trim treatments in addition to the seats...

Seven trim treatments in addition to the seats? Ok there are four door inserts and the center console. What are the other two?

The other two are areas next to the rear seats. On the passenger rear it has a vent for the battery and on the driver rear it does not have a vent.