Leatherique question - how much of what is needed?

[BigKriss]

Santa says he's bringing along a leather reconditining kit from http://www.leatherique.com.au/

I've read Bruno's writeup. (http://www.bmwe34.net/E34main/Maintenance/Interior/Seats%20treatment.htm) I want to do a total treament on buffalo leather. I'm unsure how much Rejuvenator and Prestine Clean I need. Is the custom dye worthwile also? http://www.leatherique.com.au/products.php

Passenger front seat example

http://img207.imageshack.us/img207/4986/pict0179small4wn.jpg

[Jr ///M5]

You might also look at Color-Plus products. They have kits depending on what you are trying to accomplish. A kit that will soften the leather, clean it and color it will run about $115 US for a custom color match with 99.7% accuracy on matching the existing leather color. You will have to send at least a 1" square piece of your leather interior, usually from the underside of the back seat.

Bill R. has used this product and sprayed the color dye through an old paint sprayer with factory results. The instructions are very detailed on the Color Plus website, and if you follow them to the letter, you are assured excellent results.

I have used the Color Plus custom color match system and can honestly say they do an excellent job.

If you have an area that you can work in, and can do without the car for about 3 days, remove the seats and use the spray technique. They will look like brand new again. No kidding...

Good luck with the project Kriss, hope this helps some, Santa's going to bring you some seats that look like new!

[BigKriss]

I thought about Colourplus but there are no distributors in Australia. Thats my only worry and sending stuff the USA, paying for it, postage etc. Sometimes it can be a hassle. I'll look into it a bit more. Thanks Jr //M5.

[angrypancake]

I thought about Colourplus but there are no distributors in Australia. Thats my only worry and sending stuff the USA, paying for it, postage etc. Sometimes it can be a hassle. I'll look into it a bit more. Thanks Jr //M5.


Kriss,

I emailed the customer support at Leatherique, asking them what it would take to do a color change of my seats, and this was the response:

Hi Nat;
Considering the age of the leather, I'd first suggest starting with a quart
of Rejuvenator and Prestine Clean to get the leather healthy, supple,
restore tensile strength, and luxurious suppleness. Then prepping, then you
can redye it any color you choose.
The two tone look is very popular. Yes, you can redye any color once the
surface is prepped.
I'd suggest kit 4, it comes with a quart and a pint of dye, in black as
you'll be doing a color change and will need two coats, then a pint of the
red.
We look forward to assisting you,
Regards,
George


hope this helps

[wingman]

Let us know how you go with this bigkriss. My seats appear to be in better nick than yours but I'm a perfectionist.

[shogun]

kristian,
it is important that they know that you have buffalo leather and not cow hide.
I have a friend in Germany which is a pro on that and he send me the stuff he mixed for my Highline which has Thai water buffalo leather.
He says that this leather has to be treated different from other leather.
I do not know the details and I have not yet started with the seats in the Highline as I presently have half of the engine out from the V12, as I want to change a lot of parts to make the car completely redone. All fuel lines out, new injectors, new oxygene sensors, alternator out, intakes out, throlle vales and MAF's out etc.
Maybe end of summer 2006 the car will be on the road again in old glory. I am not in a hurry with this project, as I have the other 750iL as my daily driver. That Highline is my project car.

[BigKriss]

Thanks for that Shogun. I will inquire more, firstly I'll ring up the Australian supplier and then I'll email Leatherique from the USA. I hope I get similar answers.

[shogun]

Kris, maybe it helps you,
I just checked my papers, the leather is called
Siam Grey II Buffalo, option # is 0308
Here some pics of th untreated as is now leather
http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/shogun/DSC00006.JPG
http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/shogun/DSC00007.JPG
rear the center armrest, underneath is the cooler box
http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/shogun/DSC00008.JPG
http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/shogun/DSC00009.JPG
http://bmwe32.student.utwente.nl/shogun/DSC00010.JPG

on my other Highline the leather is the same, but the front seats also have lost a lot of paint, but no cracks
http://www.bimmerboard.com/members/take/original/CIMG3470.jpg

[BigKriss]

Thankyou once again Shogun. I just checked by VIN number and from the ETK catalogue came up with this;

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=HD22&mospid=47382&btnr=52_2495&hg=52&fg=60

How do I know what type of buffalo leather I have? and will it matter Shogun, or is all buffalo leather treated different from cow hide?

[shogun]

I went to the dealer and gave them my VIN and got a print out online of the cars specification and all options which were ordered.
That is why I know the option for the buffalo leather.

As I said, I have no knowledge about leather treatment. Ask the experts. If you do not know the leather type and color, the cut off a small piece of the original color (from under the rear seat is best) and send it to them. Then they know exactly what you have and what the color is.
My friend in Germany asked me for the same sample.
He said for the black leather seats of my dolphin grey Highline he does not need a sample, but for any other color and leather type.

In Germany most of the people with older cars or oldtimers order from Lederzentrum, they are said to be very good. They have also an agent/distributor in New Zealand but not in AUS. Here is something from their website about leather care.
http://www.lederzentrum.de/international.html

So what I got is this:
Friction damages and fading (mostly driver seat) can be renewed with our Leather Fresh. The colour of the leather will be restored and the original protection coat will be renewed.
------------
The NZ page
http://www.leathertec.co.nz/index.htm

[Gayle]

Kristen

I used leatherique on the 525 before selling it. I was less than thrilled with the results. When you first put it on you think wow this looks fabulous. But what happens is it lifts the dirt from deep in the leather and the leather looks dirtier than before. I have a lot left and can't decide whether I want to use it on my 535 or not. I just did the cleaner and rejuvenator, not the re color. Whit did the recolor on his seats. They looked great at first and a year later the color was peeling off. Scary.

Whit's leatherique experience (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=12198&highlight=leatherique)

Our favorite former member UKM5 recommended liquid leather. The links to the pictures of his seats are broken in the thread that he and I discussed it, but his seats did look great. I hate to spend money money on another product, I may get this and give it a try. The main thing holding me back is that it is a UK product.

liquid leather (http://www.liquidleather.com/liquidl.htm)

[632 Regal]

that liquid leather conditioner looks to be the whip!

I need more conditioner, the leaterique cleaner took all the old dye off my seat and I had to treat, soak, remove ALL the dye with laquor thinner and then redye and now im back to a cracked looking seat.

[McWatters]

if i do recall in a previous discussion about this, someone mentioned buying Lanolin Cream and massaging it into your leather, Apparently it works wonders. I dunno just thought id bring that up, anyone else tried this??

cheers

J.McWatters

[Gayle]

if i do recall in a previous discussion about this, someone mentioned buying Lanolin Cream and massaging it into your leather, Apparently it works wonders. I dunno just thought id bring that up, anyone else tried this??

cheers

J.McWatters


I have used a lanolin product called Hide Food that I bought at a Volvo dealership on my e30 convertible. Was also unimpressed with it, but I had those seats professionally redyed, and they were always very dry after that. I think I would prefer it over leatherique though cause it didn't lift the deep dirt or color.

[Russell]

Removed the imbedded dirt with rejuvinator, then used the Prestine clean to remove the crud that came to the surface. Then wiped the leather down with distilled water and buffed. Seats were clean with no shine and felt like new. I did the treatment twice or three times on top of the back seats as the leather was harder in that area.

Just my experience



Kristen

I used leatherique on the 525 before selling it. I was less than thrilled with the results. When you first put it on you think wow this looks fabulous. But what happens is it lifts the dirt from deep in the leather and the leather looks dirtier than before. I have a lot left and can't decide whether I want to use it on my 535 or not. I just did the cleaner and rejuvenator, not the re color. Whit did the recolor on his seats. They looked great at first and a year later the color was peeling off. Scary.

Whit's leatherique experience (http://www.bimmer.info/forum/showthread.php?t=12198&highlight=leatherique)

Our favorite former member UKM5 recommended liquid leather. The links to the pictures of his seats are broken in the thread that he and I discussed it, but his seats did look great. I hate to spend money money on another product, I may get this and give it a try. The main thing holding me back is that it is a UK product.

liquid leather (http://www.liquidleather.com/liquidl.htm)

[632 Regal]

what about rubbing a few big gobs of petrolium jelly? Shouldnt that soften up the leather? I mean it softens and smoothes all kinds of things. any oppinions?

[2fast]

My car seat looked like yours.
I got some Blue shoe polish and a rag and went to work the first try looked good but keap coming of no matter how much you buffed it.

2nd seat I used only a very small amount and used a shoe brush to brush it in and it worked well.
Still rubbed off if you rubbed it hard enouth,but settled down in a few weeks,baked on with the heat inside the car.
I cleaned the seats before and after.
cost me $7 for the poilsh:D
Done the whole car with some left over.

If your broke give it ago in a small area.

I think they look great.

[Alexlind123]

I used some leather protectant/waterproofing stuff that is sold for shoe leather treatment (doc martins brand from nordstrom probably 5 years ago, i found it in the cupboard and decided it couldnt hurt anything to give it a try). It is a mixture of beeswax and canola oil among other things i think, no chemicals, all natural. It did the same thing to my seats as lotion does to dry, cracked hands. I only did my front seats, as the rear didnt need it but its probably best to clean the leather a bit first so that the oils can permeate the leather more fully to rejuvinate the leather. imo, old leather doesnt need anything but a good cleaning and replacement of the natural oils that it has lost over the years.

[mattyb]

maaaaaaaaaaate. What ever happened to Mr Sheen! thats all ive ever used on mine. does bloody everything. just make sure that whatever u use that u use a non abrasive cloth to put it on. Im fkn serious about mr sheen,3 bucks a can and takes 2 minutes to apply. Ive used other **** before and quite honestly unless ur seats are realy fingered u dont need a 10 bloody part treatment that sells for $50+. as jeff said get alf a kilo of ky jelly on there and give it a good rubbin, leave it for a day then mr sheen tha bastard. If its no good i'll shout u a fat chick for xmas! and not fkn lemon scented Mr Sheen just normal bloody Mr Sheen.

[mattyb]

dont use it, throw the **** away and get some baby oil and mr sheen

[BigKriss]

maaaaaaaaaaate. What ever happened to Mr Sheen! thats all ive ever used on mine. does bloody everything. just make sure that whatever u use that u use a non abrasive cloth to put it on. Im fkn serious about mr sheen,3 bucks a can and takes 2 minutes to apply. Ive used other **** before and quite honestly unless ur seats are realy fingered u dont need a 10 bloody part treatment that sells for $50+. as jeff said get alf a kilo of ky jelly on there and give it a good rubbin, leave it for a day then mr sheen tha bastard. If its no good i'll shout u a fat chick for xmas! and not fkn lemon scented Mr Sheen just normal bloody Mr Sheen.
I don't think Mr Sheen will work. The seats are 17 years old and never been done before. The leather needs to be reconditioned and part of this is using the rejunivator to remove all the dirt and other foriegn particles that have accumulated over the years like in Bruno's writeup. I'm waiting for my fat chick :)