Seat Paint Refurbish - DIY, cheap and cherry

[NZ_M3]

So not long ago with the mighty help of forum member "Select" - aka Julian, or as I'd like to call him, POST GOD, helped me acquire a front driver seat all the way from Germany.

I actually only wanted the seat rail off it and not the entire seat, but after much investigation on Select's part he figured out a way to ship the whole hunk of a thing to me half way around the world without breaking the bank - actually it was done in two lots but it worked out perfect in the end!!:thumbs::thumbs::thumbs::thumbs: Thank you again Julian!!!

As part of the giving back to the community I suppose, my intention of getting this hunk of a thing to me was so I have a beat up shell thatI can experiment with - paint wise, and this seat was the perfect candidate.

It was actually quite a new seat, just very scratched up. The rails were like new which was what I needed!.

Here's the seat in original form:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/4BBF5863-D805-4375-B554-7C290143A679_zpshcyqtx71.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/2D2D6BB7-8E77-4CF0-96A7-0C06C4D4BF8B_zpswkmk92m7.png

Someone obviously had a go at "touching it up" and failed miserably LOL
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/938E13EB-43F0-4DC8-A586-431F844CFD67_zpsk4qp9m4u.jpg

So rather than stripping it all back ect and filling the scratch marks ect I decided to just paint straight over it just to see how it matches colour and texture wise.

I decided only to paint the back of the shell NOT the bottom, so as to give an indication of colour and texture match.

Result:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/059275CE-8D76-4463-A204-0E906924CB09_zpsd2mepkid.jpg

Close up of the texture - I would give it a 99% match to original in colour and texture and tactile feel.
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/9EE82E5D-35E7-4EC5-A171-402F22323CBB_zpsfzhaxiyi.jpg

Next to a brand new seat (new seat on the left)
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/99520C5A-151B-446C-B636-CA15BC63DE78_zpsjdxbjr3t.jpg
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/D3D6CE9C-DF9D-41A2-817A-11760797C3E4_zpsffqjuexo.jpg

And here's the surprise bit you've all been waiting for ... what did I use!!??

I Shit you not ... spray paint - I've used this stuff before on exhaust and have always thought it felt and looked very similar to the CSL seat paint ... low and behold, almost a perfect match. :whistle:
http://i115.photobucket.com/albums/n319/M3_Power/Seat%20Rail/B33FA8CD-5970-4FAF-8FD0-1AC89FFEC0B0_zpsgfm8arf6.jpg

And the best/worst bit ... when you scratch this paint, it peels like the original! Lol!! Matches even in fragility!!

[select]

Wow that turned out to be a near perfect match. I wouldn't have thought that it would turn out this good without sanding it down before. Amazing stuff.

Now the question is, how do i get this magic paint? Would you send it to me? :hahaha:

[Chappers]

I imagine any black high temp paint is the same or similar. I might give this a shot then, I randomly sat in the back to clean my windows and realised they look awful :bigcry:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LDA3Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_5DKpzbFK3MHTR

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LDA3Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_5DKpzbFK3MHTR

His is just a different brand because he's in NZ.

[NZ_M3]

Wow that turned out to be a near perfect match. I wouldn't have thought that it would turn out this good without sanding it down before. Amazing stuff.

Now the question is, how do i get this magic paint? Would you send it to me? :hahaha:

It turned out better than I thought it would actually.

There is a slight texture difference with this being ever so less rubbery but still a very matte satin feel to it. The colour is actually a very good match as I didn't actually spray the full back, some of it I just applied in a touch up fashion in one light coat.

I can certainly investigate if you are serious Julian!! Paint is dangerous goods so no way that's getting on a plane!!!! Message me if you are serious!

I imagine any black high temp paint is the same or similar. I might give this a shot then, I randomly sat in the back to clean my windows and realised they look awful :bigcry:

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LDA3Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_5DKpzbFK3MHTR

https://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B000LDA3Q2/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_dp_T2_5DKpzbFK3MHTR

His is just a different brand because he's in NZ.

I actually only looked at two brands of high temp black exhaust paint, the CRC one and another made by VHT. The CRC one was the only one that matched in colour and feel. The VHT was a tad too dark. I think they will all vary slightly but close.

[select]

Thanks for the offer tom.:smt023
I will probably pull my seats out in the off-season and while they are out i'll remove the wrap that is covering the backside.
No clue how the paint looks beneath it, so i might not need the paint. In any case i'll look around first if there is a similiar Paint availiable.

[phoenixcsl]

That actually looks pretty decent, good job! I need mine doing, fly over and do mine for me :hahaha:

[Chad]

Looks good. But the secret to keeping them good , don't let anybody sit in the back. :thumbs:

[Diamondgeezer]

is the paint on the seat backs the same as the painted plastic on the rear seats ?

[NZ_M3]

is the paint on the seat backs the same as the painted plastic on the rear seats ?

I'd like to say they are but in my humble opinion I actually think they are slightly different albeit the same colour and feel.

The front seats have a white undercoat primer whereas the rear seats or rear console does not.

If you compare two brand new pieces together side by side the rear seats and console also appear to have a smoother finish compared to the front seats. Whether this is due to the undercoat on the front seats I do not know.

[Olive]

Is it possible to find this paint reference on EBAY ? I would like to be delivered in France:beer: