This was the side bolster on my driver's side seat on my car with 18K miles on it, 3 1/2 years old. The area damaged was OEM in vinyl, and caused by my heavy belts and having a wallet in my back pocket of my pants, going in and out of a small sports car.

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I took it to Lim's Auto Upholstery in Tyson's Corner VA and didn't want another piece of cheap vinyl sewn into the panel, and asked him to put a section of black leather in there instead, because I know the leather will hold up far better. Just got the car back and he did a great job. $ 380 was the cost.

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Showing this here as an example of how you can replace a panel and keep using the seat. Color match was pretty good, too. Not exact, but acceptable.