[Paul D]

Folks,

Cleaned my '98 CSE Anniversary seats with good quality leather/saddle cream yesterday and was wondering if the backs of seats are actually leather?

The lower skirts (valance) at the lower front of all seats (back and front of vehicle) appear to be PVC, and I am dubious about the back of the front seats too. The pockets on the back of the front seats are definately PVC. Not sure about the side parts of the front seats but they appear to be leather.

Anyone know for sure about:
- Front seats, side parts?:
- Front seats, back parts?:
- Front/Back seats, lower valance?:

Thanks for all feedback.

 

[Derek]

Saab advertised the seats as having "leather facings".
As far as I can tell the cushions, fronts of the seat backs and head rests are all leather, all the rest is PVC including the sides.
Mine has a small nick on the side of the driver's seat and the white backing fabric of the PVC was showing through until I disguised it with a black marker pen.

 

[Paul D]

Thanks Derek,

That makes sense.

My previous 9000 ('94) CDE had mid grey leather seats, which happened to be leather all over. But an informed dealership mentioned that it was an after market job. It was nice, except that the leather on the rear side parts of the front seats seemed vulnerable to scratching.

 

[billj]

Interesting. There is a tiny split in the back (front of the back, if you know what I mean) of the driver's seat on my Aero and I've always thought it looked as if it weren't leather.

Must have a closer look...

 

[WindyH]

On my 97 Anniversary it has leather seat facings and the backs are a good look alike vinyl . On my 96 Aero, the seat covers are full leather . a clue is to look on the inside of the pouches on the back of the front seats. Leather looks like -well, leather. The artificial stuff has a synthetic weave based material. A 1990 SE turbo I peviously owned also only had leather facings

 

[Stewart]

And why the hell do I have a "Bridge of weir leather" tag on my headrest,is this a gimmick too,do I only have leather where I put my bum on .
Maybe when I sell the car I should write "partial leather interior",'mmmmm',it makes you wonder!!!!!

 

[Paul D]

WhoDanDare.
Leather facings mean seat top (all over) and back rest (all over), plus headrest (all over). Maybe Aberdeen Angus too, being manufactuered in Bonnie Scotland! I once read that the wlanut/wood fascias were made by a company in Northumberland. So Saabs are part British after all!

I must say it was a bit of a surprise to discover the seats weren't leather all over - probably because I didn't expect it from a Saab and because my last one had fully (albeit aftermarket) leather seats.

Mind you, I guess the PVC is less vulnerable to scratching on the backs of the seats. The best thing about the leather seats, is they come virtually free with the car for the prices we pay on second hand Saabs!

Can't think of a cheaper way to sit on leather, other than to buy some leather trousers. Mind you, they'ed have to be turned inside out or you'd be sitting on suede instead!

 

[john]

I once read that the wlanut/wood fascias were made by a company in Northumberland.[/b]

I read in Saabscene magazine from about 1990 that they were made by a company in Berkshire - or somewhere near Marlow, IIRC.

I daresay that Saab sources items from different suppliers over different years, anyway, so they may well have come from Northumberland aswell.

 

[kprm77]

I read in Saabscene magazine from about 1990  [/b]

Saabscene Magazine????

 

[wrighar]

I think only the CS Aero's had leather all over (it is on mine, including the pockets).

All my other 9000's only had the bits you sit against as leather.

Andrew

 

[deebel]

And why the hell do I have a "Bridge of weir leather" tag on my headrest,is this a gimmick too,do I only have leather where I put my bum on  [/b]

Tanning company just outside Paisley in Scotland which supplies the leather for lots of prestige cars
Merc AMG (CLK55) SAAB 9.3x (two tone green leather) MG ZT, MG ZS, Volvo since the 700 series also new Volvo XC90, Cadillac CIEN V12

Believe also supplies Jag and host of other British specialist manufacturers.

Bridge of Weir Leather

No jokes about Scottish cows in Saabs please!

 

[aeropilot]

I think the Aero's and maybe the top spec Griffen's had 'all' leather, with the rest of the cars being leather faced.
In the sales brochures (C900) of the late '80's I seem to remember Saab making a big thing of the Bridge of Weir leather used in Saab's, claiming it to be the best in the world for use in vehicles....or something like that...

 

[adrian]

Aero's and earlier Griffins have full leather whilst the last few model years of Griffins were only leather faced. I have a booklet type thing showing the various trim specs of the GM900 and the 9000 from the introduction of the CS to end of production and there is a column for leather faces and a column for full leather. Also makes it clear that the last model year CSE 2.3T anniversary has the aero engine. Also of interest (to anoraks) is that half way through the 94 model year or was it 95 the CSE 2.3T lost electric powered seats, the Driver Co-driver computer and the cruise control. I've just got to fit cruise to my 97 CSE 2.3T to get the full spec (retro fitted everything else)

 

[markcanderson]

my 2.3T griffin has full leather.. can't remember what it says on the tab.. will look next time.

 

[CarlyKeith]

Slightly off track here Guys&Dolls, does anybody know or have any links to good car trimmers?

 

[sgould]

My local garage is an accident repair place as well. But they send out their seat and trim repairs to a "little man down the road".

Whoever he is, he's done a couple of seat rebuilds on my cars and I'm very pleased with the result.

If this is the way the industry works, then it may be worth asking in a local body shop.

There are some specialist upholsters around that do cars but the only time I used one it cost an arm and a leg because they just bought in whole new seat covers, whereas the "little man" just unstitched the torn trim and sewed in a new panel.

 

[Mark B]

Surrey Trimming Company, 01932 351251, 07802 484171, Paul Bird. They do the Sultan of Brunei's cars as well as replacing the window in my soft top.

However, as they are a long way from you, I'd start by asking your local purveyor of interesting cars who they use. Your local Mercedes dealer will have a tame trimmer for replacing the windows in SL roofs (and then doubling the price!).