Again another minor problem by my pendanticness!!!
This time there is a tear in the vinyl where it has ripped from the Seam at the cloth edge.
Has anyone had any sucess in repairing this? I think if i was to try stitching it up it would only tear further as it’s an area of stress.
Your best option would be to take the covers off the seat and replace that panel. I guess you could sew it up and maybe glue a piece in behind to help relieve the stress.
I have a very good trimmer who could sort it if its any help.
Usually holes in this area are caused by the vinyl rubbing against the seat adjuster trim, and cracking/tearing
Get some grained vinyl sheet. Clean up the tear as best you can (removing the threads). Put in some stitches at the edges to prevent the good bits from further unravelling from the cloth trim.
Cut your scrap vinyl into a small square, and manouevre it under the torn material, and glue it in place with vinyl glue (Loctite etc). Its not clear from your picture if you have all the pieces of vinyl. If so, you could probably close the torn edges over the vinyl patch, and have a near invisible repair. If not, its going to be hard to have a totally invisible repair, but its in a discrete place, and will be no more visible that an entirely different panel of a different grain sewn in by a trimmer for £100.
Many years ago, Halfords (I know, spit) used to sell an interior trim repair kit, which, if memory serves me correctly, included a black filler material for repairing vinyl trim, which could improve the appearance of a repair. So, such a product does exist.
But, it might be worth seeing what a SMART repairer will charge. There are some pretty good examples of what a pro can do here:
http://www.smartfixrepairs.co.uk/smartrepairimages.html
These repairers probably use products similar to these:
http://leathermagicpro.com/Pages/vinrepprods.htm
The “liquid vinyl” can have a grain “moulded” into it to mimic the rest of the seat, but also remain flexible.
Personally, I’d try a DIY approach, with a flexible glue that won’t make it any worse.
PS. I might have some scrap black vinyl from a defunct 1996 Roadster, which I can post you if you PM me your address.
My drivers seat has the exact same problem in the same area. I tried to repair it with one of those vinyl repair kits Geoff was on about (worked ok on door panels but no good on the seat).
My answer was a bloke on Ebay in Germany sells the right hand seat covers (our drivers seat is a passengers seat over there so hardly used
) . I got a set for my seat, £25 + £14 postage. The sellers Ebay name was agatakristi73, if you search for “Mx5 seat cover” you should find them.
The seat is fairly easy to take apart, the cover is held on with “hog rings”, basicly loops of wire, so you need a decent pair of pliers.
Hope this helps
Martin.
Cheers all I’ll have a play around. And see what I can do. Ill photo as I go and if I get a good result will post a short tutorial.
or you could find another seat withthe drivers bolster worn and swap the seat pads over.
You find that the mk2 seats do wear like this but the mk1 don’t as the foam is a different shape.