CL9 - poor quality leather

[Bakks]

I've been looking to get a CL9 luxury. I've looked at few and the one thing that turns me off is that they all seem to have very worn leather. It seems to me that the leather in the CL9 is absolute rubbish - it cracks and dries out very easily. Has anyone been able to restore it, to make it look at least a little less aged?

[HunterZero]

You can try some good quality leather cleaner and conditioner, it may improve the appearance somewhat. Eg, Zaino, Wolfgang, Lexol, Pinnacle, etc.

- HZ

[shmivic]

The leather is actually pretty high quality.

Like anything, it will turn to shit if neglected.

I use all the Meguiars leather treatments and i'd say my leather condition is better than new.

[Type R Positive]

If its cracked, it'll need professional repair.

Doesn't matter if the leather is in a Rolls Royce or a Chery. If its not looked after, it'll dry out and crack. Not because it's shit leather. More like shit owners.

[Bakks]

I've been looking at Liberty's, and Euro's. Liberty's of the same age the leather seems to age very well, but on the Euro's, not so much. E.g. this is on a car with only 40,000 km's:

http://i43.tinypic.com/24mhmi0.jpg

I'm no expert on leather, but that just looks very dry and without cracks - so it should be able to be restored with a good leather cleaner?

[shmivic]

It is dry in that pic.

Take a look at the floor mats on the driver's side. Pretty worn.
As is the centre console + steering wheel.

Looks like a low k, high use CBD vehicle.

Will come up ok with some conditioner.

[Bakks]

Yeh your spot on - actually doesn't look that bad at all in real life. Now let's wait and see if my lowball offer gets accepted :)

[shmivic]

I hope that car has black paint.

Black on black 06 Lux is rare

[Bakks]

Silver. Although there is a black on black auto for sale I will look at if this one falls through.

[I CU2]

I use all the Meguiars leather treatments and i'd say my leather condition is better than new.

Meguiars is an off the shelf leather treatment, it's not that good in comparison to specialist cleaner and conditioners but they are much more pricer. The brands listed by Hunter are all premium (if you can buy them in the US, they are cheap!).


Eg, Zaino, Wolfgang, Lexol, Pinnacle, etc.

Leatherique is the brand to use for Leather restorations.

[ryaan]

damn.. my leather does look like that :S
i think i need those leather treatments...

so would i need a restore with leathertique? or just a treatment.. meguiars and all that Hunter listed?
im a leather noob...

[HunterZero]

I just googled for Leatherique before/after. Leatherique rejuvinator looks to be a good option to restore seats in that condition.

- HZ

[y.vtech]

if your not happy with the interior just go get it repaired. I have an 04 base model silver and I'm currently doing a 100% full retrim in my car with genuine black mercedes leather. Ive changed the roof lining to black also so when you jump in the car its completely black on the inside! Ill hopefully post some photos when I'm done just so we can atleast compare new leather with old leather if its not looked after.

[Type R Positive]

damn.. my leather does look like that :S
i think i need those leather treatments...

so would i need a restore with leathertique? or just a treatment.. meguiars and all that Hunter listed?
im a leather noob...That leather will have to be stripped and resealed. Leather is coated....

Just wipe clean with a very mild detergent mix. All these leather conditioners do SFA these days, just make your seats greasy lol. Big statement I know....
I use Optimum Leather Protectant. Cleans, seals, protects.

[I CU2]

Sidenote: Leather shouldn't look glossy (unless it's treated), it should be a nice matte. This is why it is important to have a two step cleaner and then feeder/conditioner. If the seats are greasy still about an hr after you apply the conditioner then you fed the seat too much so wipe it off (it could also be that it ain't leather - me suspects the middle section of the back seats in the CU2)

Mercedes uses leatherette from C to E class I'm pretty sure but the S class uses real leather.

[Type R Positive]

Mercedes uses leatherette from C to E class I'm pretty sure but the S class uses real leather.Fake or not, it's dyed then sealed. Strip the sealant off, and your leather turns to poo.

google leatherique and BMW for lols! Big mess.....

[I CU2]

Why would someone remove the clearcoat off treated leather? Conditioners have no effect on vinyl so stripping off the clearcoat on fake leather to condition it serves no purpose in the first place?

I looked up leatherique and BMW and most of them were good reviews?

[Type R Positive]

Might be interesting for you guys, but here is a leather repair from the detailing site I'm on. Just to give you guys a better idea of what they do.

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=236534

[Type R Positive]

Why would someone remove the clearcoat off treated leather? Conditioners have no effect on vinyl so stripping off the clearcoat on fake leather to condition it serves no purpose in the first place?

I looked up leatherique and BMW and most of them were good reviews?you'll strip the colour, they'll have no UV protection, and they'll go to poo. The euro seats aren't vinyl are they?

[I CU2]

Wait...what, so we both agree that stripping the clearcoat is bad...where did the original suggestion to strip it off in the first place come from?

I tried looking up BMW + leatherique on your detailing forum and only founded praises as well:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=211799

The Euro's leather is a mix of Vinyl + Real Leather.

[Type R Positive]

Wait...what, so we both agree that stripping the clearcoat is bad...where did the original suggestion to strip it off in the first place come from?

I tried looking up BMW + leatherique on your detailing forum and only founded praises as well:

http://www.detailingworld.co.uk/forum/showthread.php?t=211799

The Euro's leather is a mix of Vinyl + Real Leather.
http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/7428555-Leatherique-A-Tale-of-Woe-(long (http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/7428555-Leatherique-A-Tale-of-Woe-%28long))
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140324

just be careful about what you are doing....

[-[NoS]-]

looks like alot of work and time involved...

[ryaan]

http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/7428555-Leatherique-A-Tale-of-Woe-(long (http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/7428555-Leatherique-A-Tale-of-Woe-%28long))
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140324

just be careful about what you are doing....

now im scared to do it... zzzz

[Bakks]

I ended up with a black Euro, with a black leather interior. The leather in the car I purchased was in better condition than the original in this thread, but could still do with some conditioning.

[opilot87]

I used Leatherique when I bought my 2004 Euro with very neglected and disgustingly dirty leather. It came up very well, made the leather much cleaner, more flexible and softer. Just make sure to apply it properly. Wait for a very hot day (30C +), soak all the leather in the morning, and park the car in the sun. Top up during the day if it starts to dry out. At the end of the day wipe it all clean/off with large old damp and warm towels, and then final wipe with a softer cloth and preferably Leatherique presitine clean. Might need a second application, and also the longer you let it soak for the better.

Ollie

[I CU2]

http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/7428555-Leatherique-A-Tale-of-Woe-(long (http://forum.roadfly.com/threads/7428555-Leatherique-A-Tale-of-Woe-%28long))
http://www.bimmerfest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=140324

just be careful about what you are doing....

The comments from everyone else in that first thread had a good experience with Leatherique, all the way back in 03!

The second thread just said that he tried all leather conditioners including Leatherique and there was dye transfer onto his cloth, it wasn't specific to one product nor was it caused by a product :l.

If anyone wants to know, I'm currently using Final Inspections (Melbourne based detailer) Leather Cleaner and Leather Feed (google it) due to people reporting it working well with Honda leather.

Next brand I'm gonna try after it runs out is Zainos Z9 + Z10.

[Type R Positive]

Next brand I'm gonna try after it runs out is Zainos Z9 + Z10.They are well liked products on the detailing forums I'm on! Haven't used them myself though.

[antony]

I ended up with a black Euro, with a black leather interior. The leather in the car I purchased was in better condition than the original in this thread, but could still do with some conditioning.

Congratulations on the Euro,I am sure you will have many years of safe,trouble free,and happy motoring in it.

[richard_k]

who prefers black leather to the beige and vice versa? i'm growing used to the beige haha who wants to trade seats? LOL jks

[ryaan]

hey guys,
just bought zaino z9+z10 the other day and ive put it on today and the results are amazing.
my seats looked similar to those of the pics but now all the cracks are much much smaller and unnoticeable. its not oily or anything, its just plain matte black just like its fresh from the factory! highly recommended :D

[I CU2]

That's great to hear :)

Where did you end up buying it from?

[richard_k]

looks like the zaino is worth the money

[ryaan]

That's great to hear :)

Where did you end up buying it from?

ended up buying it from waxit.com.au cus that was the cheapest i can find from australia as i cant find any from us/overseas that would ship to aus, otherwise it wudve been much cheaper.


looks like the zaino is worth the money

to make such a dry leather close to new.. definitely is :)

[Bludger]

hey guys,
just bought zaino z9+z10 the other day and ive put it on today and the results are amazing.
my seats looked similar to those of the pics but now all the cracks are much much smaller and unnoticeable. its not oily or anything, its just plain matte black just like its fresh from the factory! highly recommended :D
link please, where to buy from....

[I CU2]

http://www.waxit.com.au/index.php?page=shop.product_details&flypage=flypage.tpl&product_id=237&category_id=3&manufacturer_id=28&option=com_virtuemart&Itemid=1

[Bakks]

I was going to buy Zaino, but was told that Duragloss is the same product (even the same smell). Anyways, I used the Duragloss Shampoo and Conditioner and like ryaan's experience the leather has come up pretty much perfect and as new. Brilliant result.

[richard_k]

I was going to buy Zaino, but was told that Duragloss is the same product (even the same smell). Anyways, I used the Duragloss Shampoo and Conditioner and like ryaan's experience the leather has come up pretty much perfect and as new. Brilliant result.

Who told you that and how much is it?

[Bludger]

and link too

thanks:)

[richard_k]

Nice b00bs bludger :)

[Bakks]

The product was recommended and purchased from http://www.carcareproducts.com.au/

[I CU2]

Make sure you get the area where the headrests are in the back seats as they are most prone to sun damage. Once the leather goes dry and hard, you can't bring it back to life with these products.

[Bludger]

yeah I have a suzuki, its only 22k atm, wanna apply before it gets too late,....

[ryaan]

mm if you take into account delivery charges of $12 from both sites, the duragloss is $10 cheaper :)

[I CU2]

Lol

Zaino Z-9 is only $8.95 in America:

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Z-9&Category_Code=Zaino&Product_Count=14

Zaino Z-10 is $10.95:

http://www.zainostore.com/Merchant2/merchant.mvc?Screen=PROD&Product_Code=Z-10&Category_Code=Zaino&Product_Count=15

[ryaan]

yeah.. why do we get ripped off so much here . oh wait, its australia

[richard_k]

Must have a leather tax much like cigarettes lol