Success with Leatherique (1 Viewer)

[turbocruiser]

[quote author=TLCObsession link=board=2;threadid=13183;start=msg122824#msg122824 date=1079558351]
Has anyone done a full seat restore on the early 80 Series leather (crappy/dry/cracks)

One of the BMW forums I visit has a good write up, and I have thought about doing both 5er and the 80...

Jim
[/quote]

I've done full seat restorations for several vehicles but not for an 80 series (thank god; lots o leather!). The first time I did it, it scared the snot out of me cause to do it properly, it is important to sand the old finish so that the new finish is smooth and so that the new finish can adhere to the leather! I've always associated sanding with woodworking not with working with leather!!! Anyway, the process works but it is precise, super slow, and super time consuming. This is one of those things that if the leather is cracked and crappy it may make more sense to simply purchase replacement covers depending on hour for hour what your time is worth. When I restored the leather that was restored, it was a matter of it not being available or not being affordable so I had no option to replace as such. Leatherique is an awesome product to preserve the leather so that it is immune from cracking and crappiness of that sort but it will not 'heal' leather that is 'injured', nothing can do that, other than the live cow that the leather was once attached too. I love it for conditioning, preserving, and also for re-dyeing but it has its limit and that limit is healing injured leather. As much as I love this stuff, I would not use the products to repair an area where there will be lots of flex; I would think that this would exceed the working limits of the crack repair product. If the crack in the leather were in the middle of a leather wrapped dash or a leather wrapped rear deck then yes, but on a seat, probably, no. HTH

 

[turbocruiser]

[quote author=LT link=board=2;threadid=13183;start=msg127577#msg127577 date=1080332645]

To really make your Cruiser seats noticably softer and more supple you'll have to apply and reapply leather treatment of some kind every 30 to 60 days
8)
[/quote]

Twice a year will work almost anywhere, places such as AZ an exception where several times a year may make more sense. The cleaner has mild conditioners in it so if you condition twice a year and clean as needed, you should be set.

For, 98LX, I was wondering three things: 1 - what color leather, 2 - what climate, what temperature, 3 - how harsh was the leather prior to process of leatherique, what if any improvement was there? I'm surprised, and somewhat embarrassed that you were not absolutely amazed with this stuff; I would not want to exagerate the effectiveness of anything so I apologize if this product was not adequate. :-[

 

[ELLTEE]

[quote author=e9999 link=board=2;threadid=13183;start=msg127641#msg127641 date=1080339868]
well, LT, what do you use and well is it working, then?
[/quote]

I use the conditioner and cleaner from Lexus. My old dealership in Dalllas used to send me a discount coupon now and then that was good for 15% off.

Living in Texas and parking in an open lot (out in the sun) at work, I conditioned every 60 to 90 days in summer to keep the seats from drying out. (every 30 days when I first got the Cruiser, until the leather gained some suppleness and the lines on the left side of the driver's seat were softer and more like wrinkles than incipient cracks!) The cleaner is only needed a couple times a year, maybe less, unless you haul a bunch of kids around and need to clean up mud/sweat/spills more often.
Now in Western NC, I'll probably condition every 90-120 days and see how that goes. If it needs less, I'll do less - I'm not manic about this stuff, I just want to keep the leather clean and comfortable.
As I said, it takes about 10 or 15 minutes to condition the drivers and front passenger seat. If I have a fairly clean pair of work gloves, I wear those to work the conditioner into the seat leather - it helps the gloves, too.


LT
8)

 

[Boom7750]

OK, I give this stuff high marks! I did my first application today on my '96, and it made a big difference. Now, my leather was/is in excellent shape anyway, with really no cracking at all. I have been pretty religious with Lexol, to which I attribute the leather staying supple. But today, using the Leatherique, not only does the leather feel softer (after only one application), but it is SO clean! I hadn't noticed how dirty the seats had become. I think the Lexol acted as an attractant to grime...each little fold in the leather was brown, which is not the color of my interior. After following their instructions completely, I was very surprised to see the dirt disappear and the OEM color return. Good stuff..I recommend it, and I will continue using it.
John

 

[98LXand99LC]

[quote author=turbocruiser link=board=2;threadid=13183;start=msg127771#msg127771 date=1080361659]
For, 98LX, I was wondering three things: 1 - what color leather, 2 - what climate, what temperature, 3 - how harsh was the leather prior to process of leatherique, what if any improvement was there? :-[
[/quote]

1. It's tan leather. 2. Central Florida, which I know is bad on cars. It's garaged at home, but it's in the sun while I'm at work. I usually try to find a shade tree, but can't always. 3. The front seats were clean, but somewhat hard. The leatherique made them a little softer. But in back, the leather was already pretty soft, just dirty. The Leatherique did clean about 60% of the dirt. I'm guessing that I should do a few more applications. Which means I have to buy some more restoration oil.

 

[Brentbba]

Wow! Did my first application this weekend. I couldn't believe the dirt that came out of the terry cloth towel I used to apply the pristine cleaner after the oil. Never, I repeat, never saw that kind of dirt removal using Lexol.

I only did the front seats. Applied by hand the oil after golf Saturday afternoon (for CDan - shot an ugly 86) and covered the seats with large plastic bags. As I didn't get to this until mid afternoon on Sat. I let it sit overnight and moved the LC out into the sun to sit for Sunday morning while playing golf with wife (for CDan - shot another 86, but had to birdie the last hole to do it). Sunday in Socal was a beautiful sunny day in the 80's so the oil really had a chance to soak in well. Basically the oil sat on the seats for a good 24 hours. Applied the cleaner and couldn't believe what came off, and my seats didn't really look that bad to begin with. What I notice now is a much softer much cleaner looking leather. No more of that harsh shiny look or feel. I'm a believer. I used to use Lexol once or twice a year, but those two bottles now reside in the garbage can.

Will tackle the middle and rear seats next weekend - ugg! There's a lot of leather in these beasts.

 

[turbocruiser]

Happy to hear the happy testimonials; I was worried when someone wrote about mediocre results but it seems like he took exceptionally good care of the leather already and it seems like he did see some improvement despite that fact that he took exceptionally good care of the leather so that seems to make sense. Anyway, I know I would never want to work the leather with any other product or with any other process available and I am happy some share similar feelings . Take care folks.

 

[hoser]

Just to add, you will get less than mediocre results if the oil isn't penetrating the leather. Especially on parts where there is a layer of gunk, wax or silicone sealer. Leatherique suggests that you lightly sand the surface with 400 grit paper. I did that and my results improved. Be careful to only LIGHTLY sand.

Edit: The light sanding I did was on my other vehicle. I have not tried this stuff on my cruiser yet.

 

[tiorio]

Didn't we do a leather write up somewhere? Maybe I'll search for it but do yourself a favor and don't sand the seats in your LC. There are two ways to dye leather, spray on and dye and the LC has sprayed on and therefore if you sand you'll be sanding the dye off the leather...not the best idea...

Anyhow, Leatherique will not work miracles after one application on LC leather for the same reason. You need quite a few applications to penetrate the dyed layer on top...

Light sanding may be ok but it's kinda like clearcoat, don't polish too hard or you won't have any clearcoat left!

 

[mtycruiser]

Question to 100 series owners:
What part of the seat is leather and what is vynil?
I can see two diferent textures on mine, but would like to hear your toughts.

 

[bernefj60]

I personally have used this stuff on my old Benz and my 80. It's great stuff, it really does restore the suppleness of the leather and takes out a tremendous amount of buildup - if you do it right.

Also, they have a crack filler and application technique that really turns out well if you follow the driections.

good stuff, but once again, follow the directions.

Rob

 

[98LXand99LC]

[quote author=mtycruiser link=board=2;threadid=13183;start=msg128917#msg128917 date=1080593927]
Question to 100 series owners:
What part of the seat is leather and what is vynil?
[/quote]

All the parts you sit on or touch while sitting. The sides and backs are vinyl, which is pretty typical.

 

[e9999]

OK, folks, so now that 3 months went by, what's the verdict from those of you who used the stuff?
still happy or did the effect "dissipate"? (fwiw looks like the stuff I used Lexol on only showed an improvement for a month or 2...)
Still recommended?
thanks
E

 

[erics_bruisers]

I have used the stuff for over a year on my new seats and they are like a baby's butt -- love it -- use it on the plastics too --

e

 

[T Y L E R]

Well it is summer ...... tis the season to give it a whirl .

T

PS : Wow , lotsa views , eh ?

 

[erics_bruisers]

PS : Wow , lotsa views , eh ?

TIM-MAY!

 

[Brentbba]

Got some and used back when this thread started. Very happy with the results still today. IMHO much better than the results with Lexol.

 

[acf]

FYI, a 5:1 mix of Woolite and water will work as well as the Lexol and Leatherique cleaners. Of course, the conditioners are up to you...

 

[acf]

Anyone have any success with crack repair? What did you use and how?

 

[erics_bruisers]

Anyone have any success with crack repair? What did you use and how?

leatherique has a crack-repair kit on their website -- haven't used it tho --

e

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