Exmoor Trim seats

[loykd]

Does anyone have the Modular Seats from Exmoor Trim (about 155BP, minus VAT)?
http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/90110front.htm

or the DIY trim kits (about 60BP, minus VAT)?
http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/diy.htm

They advertise that the trim kits make the seats new, just like the original LR seats and can be ordered with replacement foam.

The Modular Seats are advertised as more comfortable than the stock ones.

I've been trying to get a hold of them to find out pricing/shipping and to see if they'll fit NAS. Not too responsive though.

If anyone knows about them, or would be interested in them, perhaps we could do a group buy.

[Eric Siepmann]

Ken,

FWIW, I just ordered a pair of Badger Coachworks seat covers and drop curtain for the SW. During the conversation with them, they mentioned that they had just installed Exmoor seats in a customers D-90 and were very impressed with them . He was going to call them and ask a few questions about the foam, materials, etc. Give Badger a call and get their impression firsthand. Post the results as my Tickford seats are starting to get a little shady.

[Buckon37s]

At that price you are at $258 before shipping and to get it over here would be expensive. At that rate you should really consider getting the Mastercraft seats. Custom made to your order. Here is a pic of mine, thery are arguably the best you can get.

[Buckon37s]

Here is the pic.

[loykd]

Dave, I've seen those before. The only thought I had about the Exmoor seats was that they'd be a direct replacement for the OEM seats, with easy access to the seat boxes. I'll let the board know what I find out about shipping costs and price for the seats. The replacement foam may be a good deal though...

[rover4x4]

Why has no one used Recaro or Sparco seats? I think they are more appealing to the eye than the Mastercraft however I have only sat in the Recaro's...

[Buckon37s]

FYI Mastercraft makes an option with a removeable seat cushon for access to the battery box. $G also makes quick disconnects. I make my own for $9. The fit is very nice. Here's another pic just to spread holliday cheer :grin :grin

[rover4x4]

:naughty

[TDI Guy]

:grin :grin Thanks, I needed that.


Randy

[dmarchand]

Atlantic British is carrying the exmoor retrim and full seat options, but it seems only for their leather XS style seats.

Pricey. But I like them.

[dmarchand]

Ken, did you do anything yet about the seats? I was considering going with a retrim kit, maybe XS style, since I live so close to Badger, I figured they could do the work on it.

[JimC]

I would really like a pair of those forward facing highback folding rear seats. More comfortable and safer looking than the bench, and they stash nicely up on the wheel well which frees up the loadspace. I'd do a re-trim at the same time and have matching front and backs. I just wish you could get them with the orignal LR twill-look vinyl.

[loykd]

Dave, I've called and emailed Exmoor a few times. They don't win any awards for customer service. They say that they're in the middle of moving. I also talked with AB a while back, and they were checking with Exmoor. Apparently Exmoor doesn't reply to vendors any better than customers. I'll give another call tomorrow and will let you know. Those XS seats would look great in your truck! I've got plenty of other projects to keep me busy, so I haven't been pursuing too aggressively.

Jim, Isn't that Denim Twill (item L on the "Trim Range" page) the same as the original LR seats? I'll ask about that too (If I ever get a hold of them.)

[JimC]

I got the impression that the Denim Twill was actually denim twill. Not that denim twill would be a bad fabric for Defender seats, but I really like the waterproof stain resistant vinyl.

[wicks]

Where can I order one of those britneys?

[loykd]

Spoke with Exmoor Trim in UK and here are the prices (excluding shipping to the US)

Modular Seats (complete replacements for current seats with integral headrests) $885 / pair for XS leather; $683 for techno cloth; $660 for denim twill. The website talks about sending your seats back to the manufacturer, but I think what she said was that it wouldn't be required for sales here if you could use your current runners. If you need replacement runners, it would be about another $180.

DIY Trim Kits:
Denim Vinyl $147/seat, including replacement foam. Foam costs about $68 and you could buy the trim kit replacing just the foam that you need.
XS Trim $202/seat, including replacement foam. Cloth center, leather seat sides, vinyl sides of the seat and back, back pocket.
Lumbar support $61

Front Facing, fold-down rear seats $187/seat in denim vinyl

She said that in the case of the DIY kits, it's the same seat that goes into UK Defenders. For someone in the UK, do you think that seats are any more comfortable in today's production trucks than our old '94-97s? In other words, is replacement foam worth buying?

Some of you know the cost of shipping better than me, but she suggested that for just the DIY kits, the cost would be about $200.

She would be willing to do a group price if others want to put something together.

I'm not advocating these seats. It's not a high priority for me, just another thing on the "to-buy" list. But if others are also interested, I'd be willing to organize the buy. AB offers these products too, and you get the benefit of them dealing with the shipping and making sure you get all the right bits and pieces. Of course, you also pay for that service.

Interested in hearing your thoughts.

[dmarchand]

I wonder for the DIY trim kits, if these accomodate the seats we have (meaning with adjustable headrest), or if they are for the UK type seat without adjustable headrest. It seems like their are two different kinds of seats. Anyone know the answer?

Thanks for the info Ken. It appears with a shipping cost like that, that the AB seats are almost the same price.

Wicks, now that her wedding is anulled, I think their is plenty of room to step in. I'd be happy being the guy "married" to her for 24 hours...

[rover4x4]

our headrests are adjustable? I cant get mine to budge.

[loykd]

Dave, checking on the headrest differences. "May" hear back tomorrow.

I agree that it's not that much cheaper than AB, unless we do a group rate and single shipment. Even better would be to ship in a container that someone is bringing over. Know of anyone?

Saw a funny skit on Conan last nite about Brittany...

[JimC]

If you organize a shipment, consider me in. I would want not only re-trim, but the rear seats if possible.

So the Denim Twill is actually vinyl? Excellent.

[mattdh]

i would be in on a group buy

[dnewman9]

I am going to need to recover at a minimum my front seats in a 97 and I would also like to do the rear jump seats at the same time. I am in for a group buy if it works.

[loykd]

Exmoor could do NAS style headrests.

Any others interested? I'm working on shipping options and costs.

[dmarchand]

Count me in for a set of front seats (DIY Re-trim).

[Quimbola]

Denim twill is like the vinyl? I.E. Waterproof? If so I would be in for a set of front seats.

[loykd]

As a matter of update: I'm checking into shipping options. The best way that I've been able to find is to use a freight forwarding company and have them put into a container to send to the US. From there, I'd arrange for shipment to you. I think that another way to reduce shipping costs would be to open up the shipment of other goods that you might want shipped from England. You'd just have to deliver to the port. I'm waiting for a second quote right now.

Does anyone else have experience with shipping from UK? Any other tips?

For those of you interested in the seats, you may want to call or fax Exmoor about your specific order, and get some part numbers together. We'll work in a group discount once we get the whole order together, and figure out shipping as well. Suggest you not email them since their email isn't very reliable.

Would anyone else be interested in putting things into the container if we go that route? It would be especially easy for DC area residents.

Will post again on Monday or Tues with more info.

[JimC]

Slow and/or convoluted shipping doesnt bother me at all. Please let me know if I can assist in any way.

[dmarchand]

Thanks for doing the legwork on this Ken.

The only method for shipping would be to contact a reguler importer who can brings over containers and would handle the paperwork. I think some of the UK retailers that regularly send things here do this. But I don't have any names at the moment.

[TDI Guy]

Ken I sent you an email

Randy

[boshea]

Ken,

Do you know if the re-trim kit for the front seats include the black vinyl sides? I spoke with George at RoversDownSouth and he sells the re-trim kits in solid grey. I am trying to keep the vehicle as stock as I can. If the seats include the black vinyl siding...I'm in too. Can I order just one...or are they sold as a pair?

Thanks,
Brian

[loykd]

Brian, Did you check the Exmoor Trim website? http://www.exmoortrim.co.uk/diy.htm

From the pics, it looks like they're just like the original. Check the "Trim Range" and "Prices" link on the left of their webpage. It looks to me like the Denim Twill (dark gray vinyl) is the same as what's in my truck, but that's just from looking at the pics.

You might want to call the company and ask them directly, since I don't know much more than what's on the website. It does look like they sell single DIY kits, though. It's just the Modular seats that come in pairs.


Anyone need anything shipped to Baltimore from England by container?

[Mike Hippert]

Ken I was talking to Jimmy from MAR and he said that he has friends in the UK that may be able to help.

[loykd]

I got shipping estimates from a few sources, and being the cheap bastard that I am, I think I've found a "relatively" inexpensive (although perhaps slow) option. Fortunately, it sounds like no one is in too much of a hurry. Shipping costs will be between $75-100 for two front seat DIY kits, to Baltimore, plus UPS/FedEx to your house/work. That includes customs costs. My thought would be that we'd share the cost of shipment, so it's hard to say exactly what the total will be. I rounded up, and hopefully, it will be less. Of course, we'll figure out a fair method of sharing all the costs.

Please contact Caroline at Exmoor Trim and figure out exactly what you want. My hope is that she'll package and then deliver to Bristol for ocean shipment to the US. Suggest you telephone (011 44 1984 635060) rather than email. Fax number listed on their website didn't work for me tonite, unfortunately. Look at the "Prices" tab on their web page to see how you can get any mixture of seat foams and fabric.

By my count, I see:
-Jim Cheney, Retrim Kit & Rear Seats
-Matt Hurst, Retrim Kit
-Dennis Newman, Retrim Kit, Front and rear jump seats
-Dave Marchand, Retrim Kit
-Josh, Retrim Kit
-Brian Oshea, Retrim Kit

Who else? The more who buy in, the better the costs.

If any of this sounds off base, let me know. First time doing it, and I'm just as concerned about getting a fair deal as you.

Please email me off list and we'll get this thing rolling. Shipping time is about 3 weeks. If we can't get the order together by Thursday or so, I think we'll have to either go for a more expensive door-to-door service, or wait for delivery to you in the beginning of Mar.

[loykd]

Have heard from a few of you. Thanks for the feedback. I know that the biggest concerns here are exchange rate and shipping costs. Can't do much about the former, but we can do something about the latter.

Let me suggest that everyone looks on the Exmoor website or call/fax them (fax works ok now). Put together your order, but don't purchase just yet. Once we get all the orders together, we'll get a good quote for shipping. I could also look into bundling with someone else who might be bringing over a container or something else Yankee-cheap. Shipping costs are based on size and weight, so if you get just the trim kits, shipping cost should be a lot less than what I stated before.

Doesn't sound like anyone is in a hurry, so if you don't mind waiting a bit while I work out the shipping details.

Need to hear from everyone who's interested and to get your parts lists together, hopefully by the end of next week.

[loykd]

For a variety of reasons, we decided to delay on this purchase. If you're interested, please email me and I'll give you specifics of what we're doing and the costs. Placing the order and hopefully shipping next week for delivery in about a month or so

[jbird]

Ken - left you a voicemail. Please give me a call to discuss whether there is still room for additional orders. Thanks.

[TDI Guy]

Ken, will you ever be ordering a shipment from them?

[loykd]

Did it. I'll be picking up the truck on Sat and can talk to you then. I might have an idea for you if you're interested in the really cool LR logo fabric.

[boshea]

Did you guys ever place an Exmoor order? Do they still carry the techno-cloth fabric?

thanks,
Brian