mar1

Hi all,

my 1998 LS400 driver door panel is rattling, opened it and found some clips were broken and some of the clips supports needed to be re-glued (epoxy).



now before assembling back to the car, I saw that the armrest is in bad condition from the grip and the top area, you know after 14 years of holding the door from it and resting my hands on top. It was beyond cleaning. checked online stores for a new one and found that is cost around $200 !!

went to eBay, and all what I found were as bad as mine, then started the search for a good tailor and a leather match, finally yesterday I found a good leather match.





I'm very happy with the result and it cost me only $35 not bad a shiny new armrest.

might do the passenger door also.

bye

Live4brew

The leather looks great! I need to do my door rest, seat and, especially, the armrest on the console. Where did you get the leather?

mar1

Hi Live4brew

thanks for your post, the leather is a local find. I'm from Kuwait and after searching around 5 shops (all were in one street) I found this closest match.

a good suggestion also if you couldn't find a be very good match is to do the door panel with the armrest. By doing this you'll not notice any difference since the comparison is with the door panel only.

bye

Live4brew

I bet I couldn't get it done nearly as cheaply here in the states. I need you to ship me the leather!

mar1

The reason of not finding a matching leather is because of the discoloration that happened to the original leather, and that is because if age and sun light. Mine i can say is 85% to 90% match. But even lexus couldn't march the door panel plastics to the leather.

mar1

Ill ask the shop if he sells leather only and let you know

shirkes330

Yes please let me know as well!

mar1

hello, called the leather guy and he agreed to sell leather only, the leather comes in a big roll with a width of 135cm and the length is as you wish. price is $18 / meter.

The leather to my eyes is the best match I could find which can result to more than acceptable match to my LS400 leather.

I'm not by any means a seller or have any interested other than helping LS400 owners, and since i'm a bit new to the forum, i don't know wheather it is OK to discuss the above.

please guide me if i'm doing something wrong.

RA40

iTrader: (6)

mar1

Good job on fixing your armrest. :
Appreciate your wanting to help our members here. Before this goes to far:

For us statside, there are many leather/upholstery shops that have a variety of dyed leathers to choose. While I haven't looked closely for color matching, cost varies on quality of leather. I've picked up sides and quarter cuts at ~$8-12 sqft and by weight.

mar1

Thanks RA40 for the guidance. I'm sure a leather match is available in any country,

Last year i did my brother's 1992 LS400 interior. 4 seats were releathered, maron color was the original and a matching maron was used. Still very nice and soft. Cost was $450

mar1

update: the door is now installed in the car.



no more rattle and the fitment is now more firm, passenger door is next.

mar1

Hi, the same was done to passenger door, after these years the clips and their mounts will sure need attention.

so below is the passenger door;







armrest and panel leather were renewed, and door panel is back on the car;



might tackle the rear doors soon.