I've fitted the cheap and cheerful (Lidl £12.99) seat covers. Thus managing to turn the fairly classy interior into humdrum. However OH wanted to protect the leather seats, so I had no option.

In reality doesn't look too bad.

Regarding the side air bags, which I believe are located within the seat backs..... I've fitted the handed seat covers correctly (there is a patch saying "air bag" on the cover) But how does this all work in case of a collision? There is a small cloth tag on the seat back itself saying "air bag" but doesn't seem to be any opening for the bag to come through. In addition, with the cover in place, how does the bag inflate?

Thanks

Edited 12 May, 201313 yr by richard999

If the airbag operates the force will break the stitching of your seat, designed to do this, your seat covers will also break to allow the airbag to operate.

Nice to know it is possible to get some cheap airbag compatible seat covers.

Thanks Spectrum

In actual fact as we left for the Moon and Parrot for the carvery(£6.99) I noticed there was a area high on the door pillar marked "airbag" and I assume the bag comes out there rather than from the seat.

This seems more logical than breaking thru the stitching on the seat back, which looks pretty sturdy.

The airbags in the top of the pillar are curtain airbags, and the are not the same as the ones that come out of the seats

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im sure the seam on the side of the seat is a bit weaker as is the seat cover side to allow the airbag to deploy (hopefully shouldn't need it)

Why seat covers over the leather ??

They may well damage the leather rather than protect it

im sure the seam on the side of the seat is a bit weaker as is the seat cover side to allow the airbag to deploy (hopefully shouldn't need it)

+1

The side airbag unit is located in the side frame of the seat backrest from about 1/4 to 2/3 the way up. The seat covering is designed to be very tight over the backrest side yet single stitched so the airbag breaks the seams.

The rule of thumb is if you can pinch the cover 1/2 way up the side of the backrest and pull it away by more than 40mm, then it will impede deployment of the airbag. The seat cover must be tight at this point.

I've seen a T-boned Octavia where the side airbag has deployed but not burst through the added 'airbag friendly' seat cover. It makes you wonder how the occupants got on :( 

richf....

reason for covers over the leather.

I'm still working and am forever chucking equipment into the back of the car body and on the front passenger seat. also am in and out of the car many times a day. Last car, I wore away the fabric on the seat edge. I also tend to pick up the odd kebab or mini fish and chips and eat them in the car. Missus wants me to try and keep this car pristine for the next couple of years till I retire.

Car was S/H. Given the choice I'd have had fabric seats.

Kebab and chip fat clean off leather nicely , but the fabric rubbing over the leather wont , as I said there is a good chance they may well cause more damage than they save

My old car had all sorts thrown in it as well as kids throwing up in it , the rear seats especially were often disgusting with ingrained chocolate and worse , quick wipe down and they look new

It's more damage caused by tripods and light stands and sharped edged camera cases I'm worried about.

Re the covers...... I can pull out a lot more than the 40mm mentioned by Briskodian. Does this mean I'm dicing with death?