Another Leatherique thread...

[mo2vation]

So upon the rave reviews of the h8'ers, I called L-ique. They hooked me up.

The goop arrived earlier in the week, and I've been gone. I got home today at about 2:00 and dug into it.

I have a 2000 100 series with the light oak interior (or whatever color they call it.)

The Rejuvenating oil is pretty intense. Its, well, OIL. Not sure what I expected, but its oil. I busted out the rubber gloves and applied liberally with my hands. I recommend this highly, as I was able to get it into the folds and seams much better than with a cloth or spray bottle, I'm sure.

Be sure you have laid out a trash bag or something on the carpet of your rig. Did I mention, this stuff is oil?

After getting the two front seats lubed up, as well as the top of the console box, I covered them with trash bags to let them bake in the sun.

I'll pull off the bags tomorrow and start with the cream rinse ("Pristine Clean") and see how much yuck comes off the seats.

My initial impressions:

- Its oil. Be careful, as it gets all over. Wear old clothes or work clothes, as when you're crawling around the truck, you're gonna get some on you.

- I probably could have made this easier by taking out the seats, but I wanted to get a good broil-in-bag thing going, so I left them in. Plus, I wasn't sure if I'd need the truck tonight.

- SO glad I wore gloves.

- The stuff penetrates. I could tell by the time I got to the second seat, the first seat had sucked up most of the oil. My seats are by no means in bad shape, but I park outside and it it SoCal, so I want to keep them looking good.


I'll put up some pics and some additional info after part 2 tomorrow. Many thanks to the mudders for the tip on Leatherique.


---
Ken

 

[fish2live]

Mo2 - I did this last fall and couldn't be happier... I don't know why I did the faux leather on the sides and back - wasn't really thinking. The leather came out great - even some really decent cracking was reduced to "just barely noticeable" when I was done. The faux leather on the seats came out looking, well, exactly like it did prior ..

 

[dclee]

You just have to use the cleaner on the vinyl parts. Also, the cleaner is great for rubber/plastic trim, dashes, etc. Don't let Armor-All get near your car, ever!

I love Leatherique. They give club discounts, so I use my Mercedes-Benz Club of America membership, but they never ask for proof, so anyone could probably order and claim the discount. Who knows, they might give a discount for TLCA membership, never tried that!

 

[1loudLX]

what is this stuff you speak of?

 

[fish2live]

search is your friend loud isn't is past your bedtime??

it's 'da bomb...

PRODUCTS

 

[1loudLX]

sorry, I'm young and energetic unlike you old folk. Besides what am I going to do tomorrow, classes are over I might go shooting or mtn biking but nothing I need to wake up early for!


So you guys just ordered it from that website?

 

[hoser]

I have used Leatherique once on my 100 and I am going to say that it didn't take as well as it has done with my other vehicles. I am guessing because the leather is coated/sprayed and not as porous. Maybe I'll give it another try.

 

[Crain]

As I am scared of the oil I used Mothers Leather Conditioner/Cleaner on mine. Easy to use wipes. Two applications and it looks great.

Just a thought!

 

[mo2vation]

Update #1 on Leatherique process

I've oiled the back seats now.

I have liberally, sumptuously lavished this stuff on my seats, with the drivers seat getting second coat this morning.

The thing is: I have TONS left. I bought the 32 Oz as they told me when I called, "there's alot of seating area in a Land Cruiser - you should get the 32 ouncer..."

Even if I do this 4 times a year (not likely) I'll probably just be getting through the bottle of oil. Don't know how much of the Prestine cleaner I'll use - but it surprised me to see that I have so much left.

So hint to 100 owners: if the costs seem prohibitive, you can get less. I could have done this job with half as much and still have a lot left.

In a few hours I'll go out and do the front seats. An 18 hour bake should be fine, as my seats we not dry, chapped, peeling, or too worn to begin with.


---
Ken

 

[gaylon]

any word on the results?

 

[2000 LX 470]

any word on the results?

Yes, anyword? I'm about to do mine...

 

[Jim_Chow]

I seem to go through twice the pristine clean as the oil.

 

[Kigiin]

Why would you use gloves!

 

[gaylon]

Still waiting on word on the results...

 

[2000 LX 470]

Still waiting on word on the results...

I'm not the OP, but I've just been through it as well. On my 2000 LX, I don't think there had been a whole lot of care. Some decent creasing/close to cracking going on. I applied a coat, rolled up the windows, and let it bake in the sun (I wouldn't worry about trash bags--at least during the summer). Took it off with pristine clean. Waited a few days, and applied another coat, and left it on for 18 hours or so (overnight, and then pulled it backout in the sun). Removed with PC. Bottom line: I'm pretty amazed/impressed. It's not yet back to new, but there is a marked improvedment. And in a week or two, will probably add another coat. I'm thinking 3-4 to get it back to where it should be for 8 year old leather. I also called Leatherique, and they were extremely friendly and helpful. I ordered the product directly from them as there was/is a special on a 32 oz bottle of each. Think about $70 total shipped. After those two coats on all 3 rows, plus a coat on the maxima, I have half a bottle of oil left, and about 1/3 of the PC. I think normally I'll apply a few times a year for maintenance....

Got the scangauge in yesterday. Hope to get it in tonight.

 

[citizenpaul]

Anyone know if the leatheriqe standard dark gray dye is a good match for 100?

In an effort to keep my 100 series seats in better condition than the 80 seats I'm getting ready to place an order with leatherique. I'm going to get one of their kits which includes 16oz of dye. My '99 has the gray interior and I'm wondering if the standard dark gray dye is a good match or should I pony up the extra $30 for a perfect color match? If anyone has been down this road please advise.

FWIW I tried searching for this answer and didn't have any luck so I hope I'm not repeating a question that's been asked...and answered.

Paul

 

[dclee]

IMHO send them a swatch do the color match. On one of our other vehicles, I tried doing it by manufacturer color code (which you'd think would be just as good), but even that wasn't an exact match. I think a color match is the only way to go (unless you just want to patch it and don't care what it looks like, but then, in that case, why bother with something high-end like Leatherique in the first place?).

 

[hoser]

Leatherique didn't work so well on my LX. Maybe has to do with how the leather was treated/sprayed/dyed. Worked well on my VW though where the leather feels more porous.

 

[dnp]

I couldn't tell just a tremendous difference on my previous LX ('99), but I just put some on my '95 LC with cardboard-hard leather.......we'll see how that turns out. I'm definitely a believer, because it made my Ferrari feel like I had changed the leather! No kidding, the Conolly hides were about as stiff as you can imagine, but after a Leatherique treatment (I literally left the Rejuvenating Oil on for a full week), they became almost as soft as the leather in the newer Ferraris...........VERY impressive stuff!

I hope to report that it makes as much difference on the LC seats!

 

[citizenpaul]

Thanks Ddee! My 80 seats got really bad and I'm going to try hard to keep the 100 seats as nice as I can.