Yup, you guessed it. Another learn me thread, this time it's leather.

Seeing as how I've never owned a car with an intact leather interior I've never bothered to really learn how to care for em. Now that I have a car with leather I want to last a good long time, how do I care for it? Seriously no clue here. HELP

Me too. All of my cars are over a decade old now, and to varying degrees, the leather is starting to crack or the color is starting to fade in spots in each of them. Leather reconditioning seems to be a black art. Anyone have any product or process top tips?

I just plan on replacing mine every decade or so. Katzkin does pretty much any interior, and their pricing is good. Until it rips up, I'm fine with what's in there.

With that said, I haven't really found a single product that stood out, so I'm certainly interested in this thread.

On what used to be my DD I just get a foam pad you get at an auto parts store and get some "meguiars gold class leather conditioner" and use the same technique to wax my paint on my leather. (without waxing off) Some stuff smells weird, all cleaners/conditioners i've used stay extra shiny for a few days and fade into the leather. (or i think it does)

Also do this depending how much sun exposure you car gets, whether it's tinted or not, how dark of tint, etc. But I usually do it every 4-6 months since my car is always garaged or under in a parking structure. You could do it more, since it's pretty quick. I can do 5 seats and all the little leather bits in about 5-10 minutes.

For routine upkeep, I've been hapy with Lexol products. Cleaner the first time and maybe once a a year afterwards, conditioner quarterly or so. Letherique has been mentioned here and on CMS lately; will let you know how it works in a few weeks.

For upkeep, I use "meguiars gold class leather conditioner". Bought it a few years ago and it works great. Leather is skin, so it gets dry, especially if left in the sun. I treat the leather twice a year.

If your dealing with cracked and ripped seats, I've had good results with the "Magic Mender" repair kit. It works great on cracks. Fixing rips is a bit more difficult. The first one I did looked like crap, but the second one was OK. The only problem with those things is that if your seats have a "texture" in the leather, the repairs will show.

And the repairs still looked great a year and a half later when I sold the car.

this is what i use and have used for 30 years and i love it but there are so many people tell me i am wrong for using it but i like it and the results i get from using it especially on older hard leather it is "Kiwi Saddle Soap"....

cutter67 wrote: this is what i use and have used for 30 years and i love it but there are so many people tell me i am wrong for using it but i like it and the results i get from using it especially on older hard leather it is "Kiwi Saddle Soap"....

You are not allown. I have used that stuff for years.

Lexol for maintenance/cleaning. leatherique for scuffs, scratches, gouges. Facing an interior redo on a p-928, I'm considering picking up an industrial sewing maching and figuring out some of this stuff. How hard could it be?

dooodstevenn wrote: On what used to be my DD I just get a foam pad you get at an auto parts store and get some "meguiars gold class leather conditioner" and use the same technique to wax my paint on my leather. (without waxing off) Some stuff smells weird, all cleaners/conditioners i've used stay extra shiny for a few days and fade into the leather. (or i think it does) Also do this depending how much sun exposure you car gets, whether it's tinted or not, how dark of tint, etc. But I usually do it every 4-6 months since my car is always garaged or under in a parking structure. You could do it more, since it's pretty quick. I can do 5 seats and all the little leather bits in about 5-10 minutes.

That's the stuff I use. My leather is 2 years old and still looks good.

I just plan on replacing mine every decade or so. Katzkin does pretty much any interior, and their pricing is good. Until it rips up, I'm fine with what's in there.

Huh. Interesting. Do you send them the seats or what? Cost?

Most of the high-end guys swear by a product called Leatherique:

http://www.leatherique.com/

I've used it in the M3 and it does work very well.

Joe Gearin wrote: Most of the high-end guys swear by a product called Leatherique: http://www.leatherique.com/ I've used it in the M3 and it does work very well.

I've heard good things about that product, but that has got to be one of the worst web sites I've ever seen. What products are you supposed to use?

oldtin wrote: Lexol for maintenance/cleaning. leatherique for scuffs, scratches, gouges. Facing an interior redo on a p-928, I'm considering picking up an industrial sewing maching and figuring out some of this stuff. How hard could it be?

Sewing isn't hard, and if you don't go too crazy with sewing, you could get away with an old singer. I have a 15-93 singer and it goes through leather like a champ.