Styling Replacing The Interior

[MattBedpost]

Hi,
I've recently purchased a Fiat Panda MK3, and intend on changing the interior,
The car has a creme interior and I wish to change it to the red and black interior set,
However I have multiple questions,
Is it possible to simply dye the creme door inserts to match the new red style or would it be recommended to by the entirely different inside of the door which is red instead of creme,
Should I simply get red and black seat covers, I haven't been able to find any and this instead leads me down the path of attempting to simply buy entire seats with the original black and red colour scheme, however my concern over this is the nearside passenger airbags, as most seats which you can buy have likely come from a car which has been in an accident, so I would be concerned whether these airbags have been damaged or already used/removed.
Does anyone have any experience with this situation, if so I would love some advice.

I hope I have done this correctly as this is my first time using the forum's
Many thanks for your help

 

[AnthonyH]

Hi, welcome.

Buy generic seat covers, it's cheap, easy and if they don't fit you can send them back. Buying new seats will cost hundreds of pounds, finding them will be a problem, getting them shipped a problem, fitting them a problem.

Personally I'd leave the creme part of the door inserts alone. They don't look too bad and they're not too big.

The creme is ugly, but I find spending £600 on seats ugly, when seat covers cost £50.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

The cream parts are PVC (even on the seats) so are unlikely to take a dye…

 

[JayAre]

Should I… get… seat covers

No. You’ve actually answered your question:

my concern over this is the… passenger airbags

and you’re right to be concerned because:
“Using non-airbag-compliant seat covers on seats with airbags can hinder or prevent airbag deployment, potentially reducing safety and increasing the risk of injury in an accident. This could also void any claims under your car insurance”

 

[AnthonyH]

I was under the impression that the Panda 2012+ has passenger airbags in the front dash of the car?

Do they have airbags in the seats as well? I'm thinking yes now.

So the choices are pay a pretty penny, leave it as it is, or cut holes in some generic seat covers.

 

[JayAre]

I was under the impression that the Panda 2012+ has passenger airbags in the front dash of the car?

Do they have airbags in the seats as well?

the OP explains his concern about airbags, specifically seat airbags “as most seats which you can buy have likely come from a car which has been in an accident, so I would be concerned whether these airbags have been damaged or already used/removed” - seat airbags were available as an option on some models

Edit to add:
- page 117 2013 owner’s manual shows location seat side airbags
- manual also states: “If a side bag is fitted, it is dangerous to use seat covers not available from Lineaccessori MOPAR”

 

[The Panda Nut]

Dye the whole lot of the upholstery or replace it dont dye some and change others or it will look a mess,. I suspect you could spray dye the cream bits. Ours is a cream interior and it does need cleaning at least once a year,especially the door cards. But it cleans up really well as do the seats. I use a spray on foam cleaner, lots of iit!

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

I was under the impression that the Panda 2012+ has passenger airbags in the front dash of the car?

Do they have airbags in the seats as well? I'm thinking yes now.

So the choices are pay a pretty penny, leave it as it is, or cut holes in some generic seat covers.

Only some had airbags in the seats as standard - the Cross 4x4, later Lounge versions and some of the ‘specials’ like the Waze. But most did not until very recently. The seat will have a clear label showing ‘SRS Airbag’ sewn into the outer edge if airbags are fitted in the seats . They all have curtain airbags (above the door openings) and front airbags.

 

[KPat]

Dye the whole lot of the upholstery or replace it dont dye some and change others or it will look a mess,. I suspect you could spray dye the cream bits. Ours is a cream interior and it does need cleaning at least once a year,especially the door cards. But it cleans up really well as do the seats. I use a spray on foam cleaner, lots of iit!

My upholstery is treated with Scotchguard. Available in spray cans Just clean occasionally using wet wipes.

 

[The Panda Nut]

My upholstery is treated with Scotchguard. Available in spray cans Just clean occasionally using wet wipes.

No dying on top of scotchguard. Yep I use Ultra Grime (Blue) wipes. These things are staggeringly effective on all sorts of stuff and I havnt seen side effects on anything yet. They even seem kind to your hands! My current issue is working on a house and my nees get very dusty when Im in the car they touch the door card and mess it up.. Hopefully in a few weeks I will be working in a clean place rather than a dusty one.

 

[MattBedpost]

Hi, welcome.

Buy generic seat covers, it's cheap, easy and if they don't fit you can send them back. Buying new seats will cost hundreds of pounds, finding them will be a problem, getting them shipped a problem, fitting them a problem.

Personally I'd leave the creme part of the door inserts alone. They don't look too bad and they're not too big.

The creme is ugly, but I find spending £600 on seats ugly, when seat covers cost £50.

I have considered the use very much however I struggle to find seat covers which actually look fit for the Fiat Panda and are not some generic cheap covers that I think would likely make the interior worse, do you have any advice as to where I could find some good quality seat covers
Many thanks

 

[MattBedpost]

Dye the whole lot of the upholstery or replace it dont dye some and change others or it will look a mess,. I suspect you could spray dye the cream bits. Ours is a cream interior and it does need cleaning at least once a year,especially the door cards. But it cleans up really well as do the seats. I use a spray on foam cleaner, lots of iit!

When you use the foam cleaner does it end up making the seats look a lot more like the orginal creme colour as mine seem to have darkened through the years, if so ill defininelty look into doing that,
Thanks for your suggestion

 

[MattBedpost]

Only some had airbags in the seats as standard - the Cross 4x4, later Lounge versions and some of the ‘specials’ like the Waze. But most did not until very recently. The seat will have a clear label showing ‘SRS Airbag’ sewn into the outer edge if airbags are fitted in the seats . They all have curtain airbags (above the door openings) and front airbags.

Having checked the seats it doesn't appear as if they come with airbags as standard at least in the case of my model, therefore I think seat covers could potentially be viable as they would not cause any issues as far as I can tell
Thank you for your help

 

[The Panda Nut]

When you use the foam cleaner does it end up making the seats look a lot more like the orginal creme colour as mine seem to have darkened through the years, if so ill defininelty look into doing that,
Thanks for your suggestion

Yes tehy comeup like new. The car in now 11 years old butyou would not know this! I think oits just a product bought in Aldi so nothing special. Im afraid I have even washed the door trims with the hose brush in summer them dried them down with a towel and some paper towel. They dont seem tp mind that either. Reasonably tough. Panda seats seem to suffer water staining if you get drops of water on them, but these go if you gently wash the trim. I usually leave the car running for at leat half an hour with the heater on max and the air con on to dry it out. A hot sunny day does the trick though. Experiment the the dirtiest bit. Even my wife noticed the seats looked good last time!!!

 

[AnthonyH]

I have considered the use very much however I struggle to find seat covers which actually look fit for the Fiat Panda and are not some generic cheap covers that I think would likely make the interior worse, do you have any advice as to where I could find some good quality seat covers
Many thanks

Search for official Fiat seat covers, or try a Fiat single purpose shop. If the shop only sells Fiat parts you can be relatively sure that those they send will fit.

If you're ok with the colour but want cleaner then use the products suggested above and the car will come up nice.

 

[Herts Hillhopper]

@MattBedpost have you seen this older thread? Might offer some options?

Replacement Genuine Seat Covers? | FIAT Panda (Mk3)

Can’t find the answer so asking….has anyone found a source for the genuine Fiat covers. Mine could do with replacing. Thanks

www.fiatforum.com