W124 Armrest re-trimming

[Charles Morgan]

My W124 armrest plastic piping / trim on the driver's side has split in numerous places, like virtually every one with leather I have looked at online. Has anyone had it re-trimmed, as I find it quite irritating resting my arm on it in shirtsleeves, and how expensive was it?

 

[Sorry Pete]

They come up on ebay.de in as new condition for around 80-90 Euros. That would be the route I'd take. Replacing the piping will be almost certainly more over here if you go through a reputable upholsterer.

 

[del320]

Now, look here, Morgan - pay attention!

My retrimmed armrest!

Why on earth MB used a rigid plastic material here, I will never understand. Anyway, a wee local guy did mine for £30. He had an off-cut of near-enough matching leather so did it propah with an insert of stringy stuff.

Go back to post #58 on my refurbish thread for a "before" picture. The job was reasonably done, but as I remarked, I would not have wanted him to do an entire interior.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Now, look here, Morgan - pay attention!

Yes sir, sorry sir! I take the internet delivered ear tweak or chalk board eraser hit between the eyes as a fair punishment for my lack of attentiveness in class!

The plastic is both silly and irritating when cracked, your solution perfect. Better start hunting for a leather uphosterer with that colour in stock.

 

[coupe deville]

I sliced the split trim off with a craft knife, not ideal i concede but much tidier, but mind the stitching

 

[EDZ649]

They come up on ebay.de in as new condition for around 80-90 Euros. That would be the route I'd take. Replacing the piping will be almost certainly more over here if you go through a reputable upholsterer.

Trouble is though they will be from left hookers so wrong fittment for UK cars...

 

[Sorry Pete]

Nope, MB had them attached to the driver's seat for LHD cars, and never changed the configuration for RHD cars. That's why our armrests are on the passenger's seat

Have a look at this from ebay.de

On del320's post, good man for getting it re-piped for £30. I know crammy69 had his re-piped for a similar amount, but wasn't terribly impressed with the quality of the stitching!

 

[Charles Morgan]

How easy is to take the armrest off? There are numerous leather repair / upholstery places near me, but I suspect that it might be cheaper to get a new one given London prices.

 

[bh13coupe]

Charles

My Armrest also has a face like Joan Collins, its on my to do list so I will be watching how you get on with this. I have seen a few on ebay but not this side of the pond.

Watching with interest.

 

[coupe deville]

How easy is to take the armrest off?

just 2 bolts under the little plastic cover on the passenger seat, pity they're not reversible because the underside will be perfect

 

[coupe deville]

ive been spurred on by this thread to have another look at my armrest and have removed all the split piping and fitted real leather beading from ebay £1.99 for 2 meters inc p&p.
I,m still not 100% happy as i could only source 2mm in a natural colour [ light brown ]. pic doesn't look mushroom but it is
i will be on the lookout for 3 or 4mm leather beading in beige at craft fairs etc but for now its an improvement.

 

[Charles Morgan]

Well, I reversed the piping to get the undamaged bit, but there isn't as much tension on the leather, so I did what I should have done and ordered a new one off Ebay Germany. In the process of fiddling, the armrest metal attachment scored my mahogany table.

DIY and me don't mix. Ever.

 

[coupe deville]

i broke the pastic cover that hides the bolts

 

[Charles Morgan]

Oh dear. Not a good day for the E320 Coupe re-trim little platoon.

I haven't broken mine....yet

 

[del320]

In the process of fiddling, the armrest metal attachment scored my mahogany table.

DIY and me don't mix. Ever.

i broke the pastic cover that hides the bolts

 

[The G.F.P]

so I did what I should have done and ordered a new one off Ebay Germany

any chance of a link

i dont speak german, if i encounter a non english speaker i just shout at them until they understand so i searched for

ARM REST

rather than

arm rest

but alas no luck

 

[Charles Morgan]

The German for armrest is armlehne.

There's a whole load on there, the leather ones are mostly here

 

[The G.F.P]

they are mostly £80 ish !

are they selling the entire unit which you then just bolt on or just the new outer part?

 

[Charles Morgan]

They are sending the entire unit which you just bolt on.

 

[The G.F.P]

id want them to fit it for that price and give the car a once over with a shammy too

is there anyone in the uk who i can post mine to that will do a proper job as ive seen some that look like my granny did them