LeatherZ News


	Check here for the latest news about LeatherZ.

	January 10, 2011 - Shift and Brake Boots are now Available! After a long break, we are once again offering our Shift and Brake Boots. They can be found here.
	October 21, 2010 - Follow LeatherZ on Facebook! LeatherZ is now on Facebook! Follow us on Facebook to find discount codes and new product updates! You can find us here.
	October 6, 2010 - Shift and Brake Boots temporarily unavailable My brother Jon, who builds all the shift and brake boots is in the process of moving from Seattle, Wa. to South Carolina. Due to the logistics involved, Shift and Brake boots will be unavailable for several months. If you wish to be notified when they are available again, please email us and I will let you know when they are available again.
	August 2, 2003 - Bimmerfest We will be at the 7th annual BMW Roadster Homecoming again this year for our 6th time. Please stop by our tent and say hello. We will be offering special prices on many items. As you may know, the only time we ever discount products is at Homecoming. It will be worth your time to see us. If you have a special request for a part you want, please email us in advance and we will bring it with your name on it. See you there!
	March 1, 2003 - Bimmerfest Jon will be at Bimmerfest in Santa Barbara, CA on April 12th. He is going as a civilian (not a vendor) but if you have small product requests (gauges, shift/e-brake boots, etc) send him an email and he will bring them down with him.
	March 1, 2003 - Fixit Day Andy will be at Fixit Day in Allentown, PA on April 5th. He is going as a civilian (not a vendor) but if you have small product requests send him an email and he will bring them up with him.
	March 1, 2003 - Totally New Website! We've switched internet service providers and we figured we might as well rebuild our entire website while we were at it. We think the new site is a world apart from the previous one because now we have a totally integrated online store. We added multiple shipping options, a working search engine, and better defined product categories; not to mention a bunch of new products! We expect the site will be plagued with typos and possibly incorrect links or pictures. We did our best, but in true Leather Z fashion, we did all the work ourselves. We know leather and BMWs and cars. Not websites. We did our best, but if you find an error, kindly send a link or description of the problem to Jon and he will add it to his list of stuff to fix.
	September 27 , 2002 - Various Website Updates We no longer sell magnetic stoneguards. We have added many new products to our inventory and we are in the process of evaluating even more. If you have ideas, comments, or suggestions, we would love to hear from you.
	September 27 , 2002 - Mark3 Armrest Progress We will have the first batch of Mark3 leather armrests for the Mini Cooper and Cooper S available in the next 3 weeks. Please call or email if you are interested in being one of the first to own this unique product.
	June 3, 2002 - Limited Edition Phoenix Yellow Leather Now Available We have Phoenix Yellow leather available for a limited time. This leather matches the 2001+ M3, M roadster and M coupe exterior paint. Most of our products can be made from Phoenix. Prices are unchanged and there is no minimum order. Please email or give us a call to order, but hurry we aren't likely to have this leather in stock for long.
	June 3, 2002 - Limited Edition Imola Red Leather Now Available Time has come again for a hide of OEM Imola Red Nappa leather. This is the same Imola Red leather used in the 2001+ M3 as well as many M roadsters and coupes. Imola Red is not a color choice at our online store, so please call or email us if you'd like something done with this leather. Most products (but not all) can be made with OEM Imola.
	May 20, 2002 - Flash Enabled on Individual Site This is a small preview of a new look coming soon to the whole site.
	May 20, 2002 - Small Batch of European-only Parts Now Available OEM Z3 first aid kits, M convex mirrors, BMW Individual Z3 watches, M coupe and roadster indoor car covers. Call immediately if you want something... these items will not last long!!
	April 21, 2002 - Call to Mini Owners We are developing a complete line of accessories for the new Mini Cooper and Cooper S. We are looking for Mini owners in the Cincinnati, Ohio and Seattle, Washington areas for development and evaluation. If you have a Mini and are in the area, please contact us. We will pay you for your time with free accessories for your Mini.
	April 20, 2002 - Limited Edition Estoril Blue Leather Now Available We have OEM Estoril blue leather available for a limited time. Most of our products can be made from topaz. Prices are unchanged.
	April 20, 2002 - Limited Edition Topaz Blue Leather Now Available We have OEM topaz blue leather available for a limited time. Most of our products can be made from topaz. Prices are unchanged. We have several products now available in topaz at our online store. However, if you don't see the product you want, please email or give us a call.
	April 19, 2002 - Considering Custom Wood Shift Knobs We are considering selling custom wood shift knobs. These knobs are handmade in Europe, and are 100% solid mohogany. They are not veneer like BMW OEM knobs. Some designs can be painted on them to look like aluminum, carbon fiber, or certain colors. These are dipped in high quality epoxy for an incredibly durable finish. You would be able to specify the exact shape of the knob you want... Our craftsman will work from customer-provided dimensioned drawings. Prices would start at $200 and go up depending on configuration and specifics. If you are interested in these knobs, please send us and email and tell us. We want your feedback.
	January 15, 2002 - Online Store Reopened We have switched merchant accounts, and now we're back to business as usual. We cannot accept American Express or Discover credit cards at the moment, but we should within the next few days. Sorry for the inconvenience.
	October 22, 2001 - Mark2 Armrests Now Available in Imola Red For a limited time, we have Mark2 armrests available in OEM BMW Imola Red leather. Hurry, they won't last long. Prices are the same as our standard leather colors.
	October 15, 2001 - Mark2 "Armrest Only" Kit Improved We're now including a new 11/64" drill bit with every Mark2 armrest-only order. When you drill your cupholder base for a Mark2, it is critical that you use the right drill size and that drill be as sharp as possible. A sharp bit will prevent the point from wandering off center. Prices did not change.
	October 1, 2001 - We're back!! We are open for business as usual. Thanks for your patience.
	August 24, 2001 - Closed for Homecoming until October 1, 2001 We will be at the Z3 Homecoming for the third straight year! Please stop by and say hello. We will be on vacation for the entire month of September. Please check back after October 1st.
	July 9, 2001 - Moving to Seattle! As you may know, I do not do LeatherZ work for a living. I do it for fun. My day job has led me from Los Angeles to Seattle. I am moving Friday the 13th of July. It will take me at least 30 days to find a home and set up for production again. I will not be able to do any custom jobs during this time. Responses to emails will be very slow. We have temporarily removed several products from our online store. For the fastest response, call me at 213.304.3383. Andy will be able to ship most products from Cincinnati without delay. If we cannot fill your order immediately, we will contact you to discuss options. Thank you for your patience.
	July 9, 2001 - Technical Instruction Disc "teaser" Video Available for Download Click here to see the video. MPEG format (~5MB).
	June 13, 2001 - Mark2 Leather Armrest Now on Sale Finally. Finally!! Trust me, I have been waiting more patiently than anyone on the planet. This is a big day for us and we are very pleased to announce the Mark2 is now available via both phone orders and from our Online Store.
	June 6, 2001 - Mark2 Leather Armrest Reviewed at MZ3.net Go here to see the review! Make sure you check out this video of the Mark2 in action shot by Carter the Great.
	May 18, 2001 - Mark2 Leather Armrest Designs Released to Suppliers We have completed all destructive and beta testing and our suppliers have begun the first production runs of parts needed to make armrests. We expect to receive the parts in the next 3 weeks and will begin final assembly as soon as we have them in hand. Note that the Mark2 will not replace the current Mark1. We will sell both of them side by side, as each has merits. For questions about the Mark2 Armrest, please email Andy Maddux at andymaddux@LeatherZ.com
	May 15, 2001 - Introducing Leather Z Cincinnati All paperwork is now in order for a new sister company to LeatherZ. It will be located in Ohio and doing business as "Leather Z Cincinnati". My brother Andy will be president and owner. This will allow Leather Z, Inc. and Leather Z Cincinnati to wholesale parts to and from one another as well as offer other tax and strategic advantages. Leather Z Cincinnati will be responsible for all future plastics and metalworking projects, starting with Mark2 Armrest production and enhancements. Direct emails to andymaddux@LeatherZ.com
	Apr 15, 2001 - Mark2 Leather Armrest Progress Report The first test pieces were molded on Friday. We are finalizing programming for CNC routing and will begin testing next week.
	Apr 15, 2001 - Business as Usual I have been travelling for the last 4 weeks for my day job. The online store is now open again and we are back to business as usual. Thank you for your patience.
	Apr 15, 2001 - Thanks for BMW of Houston North BMW of Houston North loaned me a Z3 so I could attend the Texas Spring Drive. Click here for details and pictures.
	Mar 3, 2001 - Filming Begins for Technical Instruction CD-ROM We began filming the LeatherZ Technical Instruction CD-ROM (TIC) today. The CD will contain digital MPEG movies that show how to install each of the products listed on the LeatherZ website. The CD will be distributed to all LeatherZ customers. Expected launch date is September 2001, just in time for the Z3 Homecoming in South Carolina.
	Mar 3, 2001 - Limited Edition M Coupe Watches Now Available BMW made a special edition M Coupe wrist watch several years ago. The face of the watch looks like the European M Coupe speedometer and the "///M coupe" logo like the one on the US tachometers is below. Hands of watch are red like the gauges. Band is leather, sewn in the same arch as that of the stitching on the seats. BMW North America has them listed as no longer available and they have been out of stock for over a year, but I found a small supply of these watches in the UK. When they're gone, they're gone!!
	Mar 2, 2001 - Z3 Magnetic Stonegaurds Now Available In an effort to start to cbecome a full service accessory provider, LeatherZ is now stocking Z3 Magnetic Stonegaurds. These are Original BMW parts and are available in both black and silver. They are listed in the Accessories section under "Exterior" and are available from the online store. Retail price is $39.95/pair.
	Mar 2, 2001 - E46 Aluminum Pedal Sets Now Available LeatherZ is now stocking Original BMW Aluminum Pedal Sets for manual transmission cars. These pedals are genuine aluminum and the set includes a new gas pedal along with replaceable rubber inserts for better traction. They are listed in the Accessories section under "Interior" and are available from the online store.
	Mar 1, 2001 - Now Accepting American Express In an effort to provide maximum customer service, we can now accept American Express for both online and phone orders.
	Feb 15, 2001 - Z3 Clear Sidemarker Lenses Available LeatherZ is now stocking original BMW clear sidemarker lights. These are a direct replacement for the yellow ones that come with all 1996-2001 US-spec Z3s. Each set of sidemarkers comes with both white and yellow bulbs. They are listed in the accessories section.
	Feb 6, 2001 - New Chrome Engine Trim Products Available Ron Stygar has released more chrome trim pieces to dress up your engine bay. These extravagant pieces of art are a must-have for anyone who shows their car or appreciates fine details. They are listed in the Accessories section of the LeatherZ site. Some items are available from the Online Store, while others are special order only.
	Feb 6, 2001 - Switching to FedEx 2-Day for Default Shipping In an effort to improve customer service, all orders originating from Los Angeles and Cincinnati will now be shipped via FedEx 2-Day Express Service. Orders from Connecticut and Florida will still be shipped via Priority Mail with delivery confirmation. While FedEx service costs more than Priority Mail, it offers order tracking and insurance. USPS 2-3 Day Priority Mail is available at a lower cost, but only if you call LeatherZ to place your order. The Online Store will default to FedEx service.
	Feb 2, 2001 - Mark2 Leather Armrest Progress Report All It's going slower than I thought it would. This is a very big deal and I refuse to make any mistakes. We finished our drawings and models in early January. The final design is slightly different (in a very cool, artistic way) than the one shown in the picture on my website. We have all of the bids back from die makers and production costs from the molder. We are changing a few minor details in the terms and conditions of the contract, but we will place our order for dies next week. AndyM will be able to release some pics of the patterns used in die making in the next few weeks. Many people have volunteered to be beta testers (almost 1 per day), and I will be contacting them as soon as we have the first molds finished. The Betas will be plastic only, no leather. I will give them away in exchange for feedback. Our projected price is lower than my other products and I want to know what people think. It has become clear that I will need to do some kind of customer loyalty discount for Mk1 owners who want to go the Mk2. I'm not sure how to handle this, but I will figure something out.
	Jan 8, 2001 - Limited Edition Imola Red and OEM Beige Leather Available I have secured original BMW Imola Red and Beige leather hides. Most products can be ordered in either of these special colors. Prices are the same as standard leather colors. Please call or write for details.
	Dec 31, 2000 - Looking for Feedback on a New Lineup of Shift Knobs LeatherZ is considering importing a line of shift knobs from Europe. Click here to see a picture of them. We'd like to get feedback before we commit to a large order. These are very high quality, and they sell for an outrageously low price. If any of these knobs appeal to you, please write or call for a special price. We would like to hear what you think of them.
	Dec 30, 2000 - Mark2 Leather Armrest Progress Report All drawings and digital models of the Mark2 Leather Armrest are now complete. The bid process has begun for tooling, and final selection of toolmaker is expected to happen on or before January 10, 2001. Production is estimated to begin mid-February. If you would like to be a beta tester for the Mark2 armrest, please write or call for details.
	Dec 19, 2000 - OEM Z3 Warning Triangles are now Available These are not available in the US and LeatherZ is proud to be the only online source for these. They fit perfectly in to the trunk of any Z3.
	Nov 26, 2000 The new LeatherZ website is live! Credit card ordering is now possible through the Online Store. Hit counter reset to zero.
	Oct 21, 2000 Leather Z revealed its Mark 2 Leather Armrest Prototype today. The Mark 2 is designed to fit BMW’s “new” E30-style cupholder that has cupholders in the front of the armrest rather than in the rear. This cupholder is currently being installed at the factory on all US-spec Z3 Roadsters and Coupes. LeatherZ customers will soon be able to choose between the Mark 1 Leather Armrest currently in production and the Mark 2. The Mark 2 Leather Armrest will give customers superior value, innovative functionality, and all of the features that made the Mark 1 Leather Armrest a best seller. The Mark 2 offers: Full leather design. When the Mark 2 is in its stowed position, all visible surfaces are covered in the world’s finest leather. Dual armrest capabilities. The Mark 2 spans a full 6 inches wide - twice the width of the Mark 1 - allowing both the driver and passenger access to the armrest. Revolutionary hinge design and substrate material. Because of the cantilevered design, the Mark 2 requires a special structural center and hinge. The hinge will allow the Mark 2 to rotate towards to rear of the car and provide access to the aft cupholder and the storage bin. Zero storage envelope violation. The Mark 2 does not occupy any volume of the storage bin. LeatherZ understands that space is a premium, and went to great lengths to avoid taking any storage away from its customers. Styling that pays tribute to BMW’s E36 and E46 armrests. The styling of the Mark 2 was inspired by the leather armrests that BMW uses in its 3-series cars. It is designed to look like a factory part. 4 standard leather color choices and unlimited embroidery options. All of the options of the Mark 1 Leather Armrest, including the Individual Program, will be available on the Mark 2. Cross-platform design. The Mark 2 will fit other applications to be announced in a future press release. The hinge design is considered proprietary and trade secret. Pictures of the Mark 2 in the deployed configuration will not be released. LeatherZ will continue to sell the Mark 1 Leather Armrest - made from the earlier BMW cupholder design. The current Mark 1 Leather Armrest will fit all left-hand-drive/US-spec Z3 Roadsters and Coupes produced between 1996 - 2001.