This installation guide is designed to help you fit an Optimise Automotive non-reclining front seat cover kit.

Installing seat covers is very different to installing “nut & bolt” items. There is movement in the materials and, as a result, seat covers need to be manipulated, pulled and installed through the fitter's touch and feel.

I recommend taking your time, do not rush the process and double check alignment before cutting or gluing anything.

If you have any questions during installation or need any assistance, please get in touch and I'll be happy to help.

Your Kit - What’s Included:

• 2x replacement seat cushion covers

• 2x replacement seat squab covers

Tools Needed (Recommended):

• Slot head screwdriver

• Pin hammer

• Contact spray adhesive (high temperature resistant)

• Sharp knife

Preparation & Pre-Installation:

My non-reclining front seat cover kits fit just like the original covers, so when you remove the original covers from your seats, take a good look at how they are installed.

Remember to keep your original trim-clips, as you will be using them to install your new covers.

Removal:

Before you start removing the covers, remove the tilt handle knob. It simply screws off.

Start by removing the squab cover. The squab cover is held in place using metal trim-clips, located underneath the seat frame, at the back (the first two layers are the squab cover) and on either side in the rear corners.

Turn the seat upside-down so you can access underneath the frame and remove the trim-clips using a small slot-headed screwdriver.

Once the clips are removed, turn the seat the right way around and pull the cover off over the top of the seat. Keep the clips to one side to reuse.

You can now remove the cushion cover. It is held in place using metal trim-clips located underneath all four sides of the frame.

As before, turn the seat upside-down and remove the trim-clips using a slot-headed screwdriver. Once the clips are removed, turn the seat the right way around and pull the border upwards, inside-out, level with the face.

The final step is to remove the cushion cover face from the foam. It is likely glued to the face of the foam, so take care whilst removing the cover not to damage the foam. Keep the clips to one side to reuse.

At this stage, if you have a steamer, you may want to steam your foams. This will puff the foam back up to its original state, creating a better base for your new covers.

I also recommend painting your seat frame legs with black metal paint, such as Hammerite, before installing your new covers.

Installation:

With the old covers removed, you can install your new seat cover kit. Essentially, you are now going to reverse the process of removing your old covers to install your new covers.

Start with the cushion cover. With the border inside-out, the first step is to glue the cover to your foam. The cover aligns around the edge, with the piping lining up around the edge of your foam.

Spray both the face of the foam and the backside of the seat cover. Wait for the spray glue to go touch dry (tacky) before gluing the items together.

It is important that the adhesive is allowed to become touch dry before fitting the covers. If the adhesive is still wet, the covers may not bond correctly.

With the face installed, feed the rear tab through the gap between the squab and cushion and also turn the border down, so it sits around the foam and frame of the seat.

Turn the seat upside-down so you can access underneath the frame. Starting with the rear tab, attach the tab to the frame using the metal trim-clips. You can push and/or hammer the clips on using a pin hammer, ensuring that you pull the tab nice and tight.

Then, starting in the middle of the front and working out around the frame, attach the border to the frame using the metal trim-clips, again ensuring that you pull the cover nice and tight.

When you get to it, cut a hole in the cover using a sharp knife to feed the tilt pull handle through. Double check that you have lined it up correctly before cutting the hole.

You can now start to install the squab cover. First of all, turn the seat the right way around and place a plastic bag over the seat back. This will help you to pull the cover fully down into the correct position.

Place the squab cover over the seat and pull it all the way down, so the shoulders of the seat are tight against the inside of the seat cover.

Reach inside and remove the plastic bag by pulling it back over the seat, ensuring that the seat cover remains in place.

Feed the inside tab at the bottom of the face panel through the gap between the squab and cushion.

Turn the seat upside-down again so you can access underneath the frame. Starting with the inside tab, attach the tab to the frame using the metal trim-clips, ensuring that you pull the tab nice and tight.

Repeat the process to install the rear of the cover. The rear has no tab; the rear panel attaches straight to the seat frame in the same location as the front tab. Again, ensure that you pull it nice and tight.

Finally, attach the side borders of the cover to the frames using the metal trim-clips, ensuring that you pull the borders nice and tight.

Depending on your model of seat, the tilt pull handle is located in different positions on different models of non-reclining seats. You may need to cut a hole in the cover using a sharp knife to feed the tilt pull handle through.

Reinstall the tilt handle knob. It simply screws on.

With your new seat covers installed, if you have a steamer, you may want to steam your covers as this will smooth out any imperfections.

Post-Installation:

With your new front seat cover kit now installed, you can reinstall your front seats into your Mini.

Finished:

I hope you love your new Optimise Automotive interior and enjoy seeing it transform your Mini.

When your installation is complete, please send me some photos of the finished result. I'd love to see your Mini with its new interior fitted, and customer builds are always fantastic to see and help inspire future Classic Mini owners too.