DIY: contrast stitching trim, shift and ebrake boot!!

[1sikbmr]

This will be a DIY for contrast stitching for carbon leather trim, 6mt shift boot and e-brake boot. As always Do at your own risk.

Here goes

Note: this does not require removing OEM stitching this is simply just adding a top stitch to what is already there essentially looping thread.

Things you will need:
1. leather stitching kit. curved needles mostly. see pic for reference



2. NYLON thread. I repeat NYLON or waxed nylon thread because cotton thread will fray or unravel and you do not want that. You can get the thread at either a fabric store or on ebay(best option).
3. your trim or your shift/e-brake boot.
4. patience

This is fairly simple to do but is very time consuming.

Let us begin:
1. remove the trim that you would like to do and set them aside. note: if you will still be driving the car then do the long dash piece last as that will take some time/make your vents useless.

2. lets start with the threading of the needle. measure the length of the trim and add an extra foot of thread, do not cut it just yet. Now you will take the length that you have and double it essentially making a double stitch thread. This will allow you to thread the needle and have equal length thread on each side. see pic for reference.



3. for the trim it is relatively easy to get started. thread your needle and behind the trim run it through the oem stitching being careful to hold down the oem stitch so not to knock it loose. Pull the thread until almost all the way through and then there are two ways to continue from here. 1. stop and put a drop of crazy glue OR 2. make a double knot and let it stop there.



Tips: Make sure the thread stays nice and tight otherwise it stands a chance of pulling through the oem stitching. When beginning no matter what method you chose to hold down the end please take your thumb and place it tightly over that piece until you have threaded a decent amount of loops so that it will not unravel from then on.

4. Continue looping and pulling the thread and keeping it tight until you reach the end. Every now and then you must stop to relieve the tension on the thread from the constant looping. Stop to let the thread untangle and unspool this is essential to keeping the thread nice and neat. As always double check your work as you go along and make sure the thread stays nice and tight throughout the threading.

5. When you have reached the end of your trim do the same process you have done in the beginning and end the thread. Continue this same process for the remainder of the interior trim.

Shift boot/E-brake boot:
1. thread the needle the same way it was threaded for the carbon leather trim but this time make a double knot at the end of the thread(this will come in handy later).

2. from underneath the boot find the first OEM thread and right underneath that poke a hole through the leather and pull the thread all the way until you hit the knot. It will require some strength to get the needle to bore through the leather but it will eventually go through it.

3. after you have done this you can start to loop the thread through the OEM stitching on the boot. When you have reached the end or what would be the top where the shifter sits you will poke another hole through the leather going back to the backside of the trim and then cut the thread. After cutting the thread from the needle you will make a double knot tying it to the back of the trim so that it will not come loose and the thread pull through when shifting.

Repeat this process for the remainder of the two pieces.


All said and done this project cost me <$25 and I think it looks pretty neat!

Thanks for looking and any questions feel free to post here.

End result:

sorry for bad pics/dirty car.

[jjw2331]

That's pretty Sweet! Nice job

I might try this soon.

[imserious]

Great job! and thanks for posting. Compliments your interior.

A couple of questions...

So are you essentially slipping the contrasting thread under the existing OEM and pulling tight? This effectively lays the new thread on top of the old and allows for that break in the stitch where you are slipping under the OEM thread, yeah?

How would you approach trying to replicate the M tricolor stitch?

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by imserious

Great job! and thanks for posting. Compliments your interior.

A couple of questions...

So are you essentially slipping the contrasting thread under the existing OEM and pulling tight? This effectively lays the new thread on top of the old and allows for that break in the stitch where you are slipping under the OEM thread, yeah?

How would you approach trying to replicate the M tricolor stitch?

This is exactly that. The loop pushes the black oem stitching to the bottom where it doesn't show anymore. For tri stitching its relatively the same. Top row in one color bottom row in another and the third color you x through your new threads.

[downtowncb]

Right on, thanks for sharing! Pretty easy and looks like it produces great results.

[mkPOTO]

whoa badass.. I've been looking to do this for a very long time!

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by downtowncb

Right on, thanks for sharing! Pretty easy and looks like it produces great results.

thanks! It does indeed. No need to worry about making a straight line because BMW did that for you haha.

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by mkPOTO

whoa badass.. I've been looking to do this for a very long time!

Well now you have the know how what are you waiting for!!

[ChallengeM]

Looks great! You make it sound so easy but I'd still manage to mess it up.

[Brian0473]

Thanks for posting this! I might give it a try!

[downtowncb]

I'm shamelessly copying you



I went to a fabric store and couldn't find nylon thread, but did find outdoor rated polyester. It's not quite the true BMW light blue from the tri-colors, probably closer to the Atlantis blue if I had to guess, but I like it! I just did this one to try for a couple of days and make sure I like it before I do the rest.

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by downtowncb

I'm shamelessly copying you

I went to a fabric store and couldn't find nylon thread, but did find outdoor rated polyester. It's not quite the true BMW light blue from the tri-colors, probably closer to the Atlantis blue if I had to guess, but I like it! I just did this one to try for a couple of days and make sure I like it before I do the rest.

posted for people to copy off of so no harm done! looks good man!!

[ijnoj09]

Pretty cool... I might have to try this... thanks for the post

[downtowncb]

What brand of thread did you use? The only thing I don't like about it is that the thread is thin, something meant for upholstery might be a little thicker and look better.

Thanks

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by downtowncb

What brand of thread did you use? The only thing I don't like about it is that the thread is thin, something meant for upholstery might be a little thicker and look better.

Thanks

I bought #69 nylon thread off ebay.

Here is the link for the needles:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/UPHOLSTERY-R...item46187f8788


Link for thread:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/8oz-ONE-CONE...item3f2f3b3cb9

This is just an example of the thread but the #69 8oz nylon thread should suffice.

edit:

light blue: http://www.ebay.com/itm/8-OZ-1-2-LB-...item46045d48d2

[JPH704]

Awesome job! I don't have the patience to tackle this project.

[webninja]

I've wanted to do this for a long time. Always wanted just a touch of red in the black interior. Looks great OP - thanks!

I wonder if this would work on the seats?

[1sikbmr]

Originally Posted by SpaceFox

Awesome job! I don't have the patience to tackle this project.

Patience is really all it takes to do this LOL.

Originally Posted by webninja

I've wanted to do this for a long time. Always wanted just a touch of red in the black interior. Looks great OP - thanks!

I wonder if this would work on the seats?

I think its possible. just gotta start from the least visible thread and loop around. I couldn't try because i did red and already have fox red/recaros.

All thats required is cutting the end of the thread after knotting it making it almost invisible to see.

and as always at the end of it all it is reversible!

[bsiciliano]

Originally Posted by imserious

Great job! and thanks for posting. Compliments your interior.

A couple of questions...

So are you essentially slipping the contrasting thread under the existing OEM and pulling tight? This effectively lays the new thread on top of the old and allows for that break in the stitch where you are slipping under the OEM thread, yeah?

How would you approach trying to replicate the M tricolor stitch?

Here is the link to my tri-stitch instructions. I used slightly thicker thread for some pop - http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthr...ght=tri-stitch

[ATTN]

Thats awesome much easier using a sewing machine hehe

[NJ 1161]

Is the thread used 1mm, 1.5mm or other?

Could this be done on door card stitching ( currently all black? )

[gazosnic]

thanks for posting. I think it would look better if it actually replaced the original stitching , but not bad.