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Model specific boards => Golf mk7 => Topic started by: nigw on 07 February 2019, 09:01
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I've got a 2013 5dr GTI. It's a great car, but I'm thinking of updating to a newer one at around 2016-2017. The problem for me is that I really want the leather interior; my current car has it but very few on the market do. I could buy the replacement before selling my current one - so was just wondering how simple it would be to swap the seats and doorcards over? Has anyone done this on the Mk7?
Thanks
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Expensive even if you can do it...
Use the cost of doing it to add to your pile of cash and order a new car to your spec rather than buy a 2017 plate? Probably not far off if you use drive the deal and take the VWFS contribution... its currently an extra £500...
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Thanks, but I was asking how simple it is to swap over. Not sure why it should be expensive (unless there's some coding issue?). I'd be swapping the interiors between my new and old car, before selling the old one.
Cheers
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Its not a difficult job at all. The door cards pop off easily enough if you use the right tools and some care. The front seats only have a few bolts holding them in and out they come.
The problems I see are:
- you're considering putting an "old" interior into a new car. Is the leather in very good nick? The look of the leather seats also changed a bit in the MK 7.5.
- will the seller be keen on you doing this? I'd say a main dealer would run a mile from the idea.
- the new car will need to have heated seats in order for your leather seat heaters to work.
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Thanks Joe. I'd be selling my current car privately - not as a p/ex. I don't need to sell one to free up enough cash for the other, so I can own both at the same time and not advertise until I'd swapped the interior.
The leather in my car is in perfect condition, but thanks for the heads up on the seat design change for Mk7.5.
I might find the replacement spec car I want.....I was just pondering alternatives! Perhaps too much hassle - esp re heated seats requirement.
Thanks again.
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Its not a difficult job at all. The door cards pop off easily enough if you use the right tools and some care. The front seats only have a few bolts holding them in and out they come.
The problems I see are:
- you're considering putting an "old" interior into a new car. Is the leather in very good nick? The look of the leather seats also changed a bit in the MK 7.5.
- will the seller be keen on you doing this? I'd say a main dealer would run a mile from the idea.
- the new car will need to have heated seats in order for your leather seat heaters to work.
I assume the OP would take the tartan seats out of his new car and put them in his old car - so essentially his old car would have much newer seats so will look mint to sell privately. Makes sense if you like leather I guess and can't find the right spec car.
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Thanks Joe. I'd be selling my current car privately - not as a p/ex. I don't need to sell one to free up enough cash for the other, so I can own both at the same time and not advertise until I'd swapped the interior.
The leather in my car is in perfect condition, but thanks for the heads up on the seat design change for Mk7.5.
I might find the replacement spec car I want.....I was just pondering alternatives! Perhaps too much hassle - esp re heated seats requirement.
Thanks again.
That sounds much more do-able so, if you have the 2 cars side by side and no dealer is involved!
Re the seat heaters, I think even the cloth seats have come heated in most cars in recent times (with the winter pack), so you might be OK there.
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If (as you say) you've not got to sell your old car prior to buying your new one, this gives you loads more flexibility when buying and (unless you're desperate to change) could easily wait until the exact right spec (or at least, close enough) comes up.
That's what I'd do in your position, although I do know how hard it is to wait for the right one sometimes lol.
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Aren't there other things electrical in the seats besides the heating connections?
Other things to do with the accident restraint systems? Seatbelt warning passenger detection at the very least.
It probably needs some sort of coding at the very least, assuming of course that the sensors are compatible between the two vehicles? VW make subtle changes like that...
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Active head restraints, side airbags etc.
Sure it can be done, but it's not something i'd attempt myself on a new car that's under warranty.
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Just to play devil's advocate, my concern would be as going between the marks, 7 to 7.5, I wouldn't want to be liable if you swapped the interiors and the person who gets your old car with the newer cloths seats has an accident and the side airbags don't go off. After some digging they would work out it's had an interior swap and come knocking. Vice Versa if you had an issue in your newer car with older seats. Food for thought.
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I did it on an e90 once, the only problem I had was that the battery needed disconnecting to fit the front seats and seat belt clips in the front, they were all wired and had plugs, I thought I had all finished so connected up the battery again only to discover warning lights on the dash, I had forgotten to put the plugs back into the seat belt holders and even after disconnecting the battery again and re plugging them in the warning lights remained. :sad: had them reset at the dealers.
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Given 2 similar cars of similar spec, its plug and play. There'll be a wiring harness underneath the seat that will unplug from one and into the other easily. No coding should be needed.
That said, considering the 2 cars will be several years apart in age, its not inconceivable that there would be some wiring incompatibilities.
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Why not just buy a car with leather already fitted as standard. I did.
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The leather on the FL (7.5) looks vastly different to the mk7 leather.
Vastly nicer I might add. The 7.5 with the 7 leather will look very suspect in years to come when selling the 7.5 on again.
nigw, I get your reasoning and I reckon the swap would be fairly easy but have you also considered an aftermarket re-trim in higher quality leather for the cloth specced 7.5?
An immaculate set of cloth seat covers has sell on value to offset costs.
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The leather on the FL (7.5) looks vastly different to the mk7 leather.
Vastly nicer I might add. The 7.5 with the 7 leather will look very suspect in years to come when selling the 7.5 on again.
What are the differences between leather in the 7.0 versus 7.5? Is it material or the actual shape of the seat?
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The leather on the FL (7.5) looks vastly different to the mk7 leather.
Vastly nicer I might add. The 7.5 with the 7 leather will look very suspect in years to come when selling the 7.5 on again.
What are the differences between leather in the 7.0 versus 7.5? Is it material or the actual shape of the seat?
The 7.5 is red pattern perforated throughout, and it has a strong red accent line all the way round.
7 is smooth black throughout and mild broken line accents.
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You can see the mk7.5 Vienna leather at reply #8 in the thread at the link below;
http://www.golfgtiforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=283900.0