This was so easy and affordable!
After eight years, the faux leather surface of the earpads had completely flaked off, which is typical here in humid Singapore, where anything remotely rubberised will eventually disintegrate.
I found the Brainwavz "Sony WH-1000XM2 & MDR-1000X Replacement Earpads - Soft PU Leather & Memory Foam Ear Pad Cushions" for less than USD 20.00 & ordered them from the Brainwavz website.
These six photos illustrate how easy the installation went.
Photo 1: The old ear pads - down to some kind of fabric on the foam that was under the faux leather surface that had vanished.
Photo 2: The Brainwavz replacement ear pads.
Photo 3: One old earpad removed using a tiny & thin standard screwdriver - once part of the old ear pad was free, I used my fingers to leverage the rest of it out. Note: Brainwavz suggests that the foam inserts can be removed and cleaned at this stage. Those are so delicate that I decided not to take any chances and just left them as they were.
Photo 4: The replacement ear pads in place - they snapped in very easily.
Photos 5 & 6: Admiring my restored and beloved WH-1000XM2s <3
I must say the Brainwavz replacement ear pads are a great, easy and affordable solution. Superb value for money.
Photos taken with a Sony Cyber-shot DSC-W350