seat care?

[billsord]

I am sure this has been covered (maybe several time) but I am a new member so please forgive me.

My older 300SD's 240D's and 300-e have all had seat wear and cracking. I now have a 99 ml320 and would like to keep the seats from this fate. What can I do to help this?

thanks.

[Gary]

I use the Meguires sold by the dealer and it coats the seats fine.

[Allen]

I was introduced to a product called Leatherique this fall as they came to the Porsche club Octoberfest and gave demo's on their product. I have used in on all of my cars, it is an easy process and gives good results. Visit Leatherique.com. They will be at Star Tech in April.

[dolebludger]

Another product that helps prevent deterioration of vinyl, MB Tex, rubber, and leather is "303". It offers UV ray protection of SP 40. I use it on my leather seats, then I use one of the leather conditioners described above. 303 is especially recommended on dashboards and interior door sills to help prevent cracking.

Thanks,
Richard:) :) :)

[Ferdman]

Bill, the key to preventing leather from drying out and cracking is regular care (at least once, better yet twice a year) with a high quality leather conditioner. There are many fine products available. A lot depends on personal preference. As already mentioned Meguiar's products are first rate. Griot's Garage sells a Leather Care which is easy to use. If you've never treated your ML seats yet you may want to give Leatherique a try. It's a 2-step process and quite time-consuming, but cleans and softens leather superbly ... it's time well spent.

[billsord]

thanks for the input. I checked out the web site of the leatherque stuff and am going to give a try. There IS so many options out there that it is hard to know what is good and what is just cr__.


Thanks again.

[dolebludger]

billsord:

I think that ALL the products mentioned above are first rate. There, in fact, are many good leather conditioners on the market. The only BAD idea in this regard that comes to mind is using Armorall, or any other of that silicone based stuff. Armorall will actually dry out your leather and vinyl and MB Tex.

Thanks,
Richard:) :) :)

[Allen]

Since you are considering using Leatherique, I'll share my method.
Plan not to drive the car for a night / day.
First I put a little bit of dish detergent in warm water and wipe the entire interior down, then wipe with clean water and dry. If you have any seams in your seats vaccum any dirt out of them before wiping down.
Rejuvenator oil: I apply with spray bottle on mist setting then rub it in ( I wear surgical gloves)
Let the car sit overnight then the next day out in the sun with windows up so it gets warm in car.(steamroom effect)
Pristine Clean: Also applied with spray bottle. Have lots of clean cloths on hand to wipe the goo off of the seats and you're fininshed.
However, recently I did an abbreviated process. Cleaned seats, applied oil, put a hair dryer in car for an hour or so and then let sit for another couple of hours, then applied cleaner and it worked just as well. I know that the hairdryer sounds kooky, but it was a 65 degree December day and I just wanted to generate a little extra heat to help get the job done.

[ALUEB]

makes one of the best leather care products. www.griotsgarage.com and do a search for leather care. I have used their leather car for years and have no complaint, easy on, easy off also. Also they live the slightless smell of leather on the seats.

[dolebludger]

billsord:

Not to be argumentative, but Allen's suggesion to use dishwashing detergent to clean leather seats scares me a bit. On the "Wax Stripping" thread I started on this page, I was strongly warned against using dishwashing detergent to clean my wheels (on which it did a great job --- once!). If dishwashing detergent can ruin clearcoat (as many said it would), I wonder what damage it might do to leather. Good automotive leather cleaners are widely available ---- what I've got right now is Zymol. Perhaps Leatherique sells one to go along with its treatment. In any event, from what I know right now, I'd use one of these instead of a diswashing solution.

Hope this helps,
Richard:) :) :)

[ALUEB]

detergent is cleaning a really dirty engine, and that ALL. using it on leather of paint is asking for trouble IMHO. I have read that if you want to strip the old wax off you car. This product is a one time good for that product, ONE time only. Another good product is 303 aerspace protectorant. I bought my at a cool supply company. I is not a polymar and it doesn't leave any "shine" just a deep semi gloss on the dash and leaher. It has very strong UV protectors, as it is use don outdoors material and is safe to use even on metal. On metal it is suppose to protec the finish from UV rates better than wax.

[Allen]

In response to the dishwash detergent situation, I use just a tiny bit, just enough to make suds and clean a tad. I have had concerns about possible drying that the detergent may cause, even in miniscule amounts, but when you use leatherique behind the cleaning, it re-moisturizes as it cleans, so I guess it'll be ok. I didn't ruin the hydes in pops Spur. I understand the power of this stuff and have not ruined anything yet. I'm not perfect, but I am peculiar and take good sensible care of my cars, drive the puddin out of them. Most importantly, I enjoy and don't take anything too seriously:) Its nice that we have this forum so that we can all learn from one another and further enjoy our cars:)

[ALUEB]

detergent on anything but a dirty engine is a good idea, even if the product you use to condition the leather moisturizes the leather. A body shop I know, told me the same thing never use diswasher detergent. Their car cleaner, detailing person worked for Turtle Wax for 20 years and did demo's of car detailing all over the country and he told me this. So he being the expert and I'm not I got to go along with him. Buy the way he doesn't use turtle wax on this shops cars. He uses products froma detail suppy house. I asked him about washing the car to get the old wax off with dishwasher soap, he nixed that also and said to be a commercial dewax'r ( my words not his) to do this job. then apply polish, wax and glaze. But we all have different opinions, that's what the freedom of speech is about.

[dolebludger]

billsord:

As you can see, there are legitimate conflicting opinions in the area of detailing. Here is a suggestion that ties them all together. I have always been told to tackle any detailing job first with the gentlest product, tool, or whatever first. If that works, fine. If that does not work, then go to a harsher product. To clean leather seats, I'd recommend a good automotive leather cleaner be used first. Meguiars would be a good choice, as I've never seen a bad word about their products, and they are available everywhere --- even at Wal-Mart! It's gentle. If there are any areas that this does not clean, then go to the dishwashing detergent and water solution, which is harsher. If that doesn't work, some professional help may be in order.

Hope this helps,
Richard:) :) :)

[ALUEB]

easy and work up if you have too.

[D.L. SWINFORD]

billsord;
Pay heed to all of the above in spades.
One last item that I've always given attention to are those blankidy blank seams.
Always clean deep and treak generously!
Until Then JOY
Happy Trails Beep Beep from The Spiderman on The Gulf Coast, Chairman of The Board, Your Moderator, Don:p :p :p

'85 300DT 284Kmiles DonkaII

Filled today 3Feb Citco Prem $1.819/gal 21.7mpg city

[A Perfect Shine]

A very good product for cleaning leather is Meguiars #40 - Vinyl and rubber cleaner and conditioner. It cleans very well and is also good for leather but does take some scrubbing with a soft cloth or microfiber. I usually apply lexol leather conditioner afterward.

[ALUEB]

with the snow and etc, I finally got around to cleaning it up today. I did wipe up as much as could, I carry microfiber cloths in my car. I used some Griot's interior cleaner, spot all gone.

I also tried some on my wife's new car, which the dealer didn't clean well inside. There was some hard crusty stuff on the rear leather seat, sprayed on interior cleaner waiting about 30 seconds, wipe off, some crusty stuff still there. Spray'd a 2nd time waited all gone. Then treated both places cleaned with Griot's leather care. Looks good!

[tiggerfink]

I am sure this has been covered (maybe several time) but I am a new member so please forgive me.

My older 300SD's 240D's and 300-e have all had seat wear and cracking. I now have a 99 ml320 and would like to keep the seats from this fate. What can I do to help this?

thanks.

Go to Star Tech in April. They will have a leather repair clinic.

[marlinspike]

I'm a fan of the lexol products, though I've never tried leatherique and it does come highly recommended. I recommend against Connolly Hide Food (I think nowadays they call it Connolly Hide Care, not sure). Something about it, it only works well on Conolly leathers. Turned the leather in my Benz to mush.
Richard

[ALUEB]

work very well, but it is difficult, for me, to apply and buff off. Lexol is also very good, leatherique is excellent on vinyl. But 303 Protectant has outlasted them all. It is safe on most any material. Airlines use it to clean and protect cockpit windows. I tried in on my leather seats last fall and the coffee I spilled the other day beaded up! www.303products.com or any pool supply store. Yes, it was originally made to protect plastics around pools. About $15 for a bottle.

[dolebludger]

For what it is worth, I think 303 is just about magic! I was introduced to it six years ago when it was recommended for my vinyl truck bed cover. I used it for this and the cover is just like new, even now. 303 is good for vinyl, leather, plastic, and rubber. It gives a nice satin black finish on tires. A coating of 303, followed by Plexus, keeps the plastic rear window on my S 2000 just like new after almost four years.

www.performanceproducts.com have a special on a one gallon size of 303 at $44.95. You bet, I bought one!

Thanks,
Richard :) :) :)

[Rey]

Thanks for the good info. Now it's the end of June and eBay is carrying sales of 303 Protectant for $47/gallon, $20 a quart.

[ALUEB]

bottle for the $12.95 but locally, no shipping. I've never saw it in a auto parts store. I get it at a local pool company's cleaning supplies dept.

[Allen]

Where the "dish soap" is concerned, it only takes a TINY bit and some warm water to make some nice, mild suds. Then, nourish them properly, this is the best time of the year to use Leatherique, apply one evening, then let the car sit out in the hot sun all of the next day with the windows up, this creates a steamroom effect helping to permeate the leather, then clean with Pristine Clean solution. The results are worth the time. :D

[Allen]

Hi Al,
I noticed that you listed Ram Air Induction on your hood.........
I've never seen it on a Benz. I have a 71 Boss 351 Mustang with factory Ram Air Induction / Hood, when I saw that on the list, it caught my eye..
You obviously have a nice car. Was hoping to you would come to Star Tech and could have met you as I did some of the other folks here on the forum. Post a picture of your ride.
:)

[ALUEB]

son had from a old ram intake. Had the pipe cut and mandrel bent at a customer muffler shop and bought the rest, the rubber attachment and the K&N at a local auto parts. Attached is the pic of the ram air, Since this was taken I relocated the filter more toward the intake horn in the grille area. As far as performance? Seat of the pants, tell me it workds. I cannot attend Star Tech as I am partially handicapped and live with chronic pain in my back and leg and travel is a option. I can't fly either as the routine at airports these days, is too much for my body to handle, as my stanima has gone down the tubes in the last 4 1/2 since my probelms started. But I would love to go.

[ALUEB]

son had from a old ram intake. Had the pipe cut and mandrel bent at a customer muffler shop and bought the rest, the rubber attachment and the K&N at a local auto parts. Attached is the pic of the ram air, Since this was taken I relocated the filter more toward the intake horn in the grille area. As far as performance? Seat of the pants, tell me it workds. I cannot attend Star Tech as I am partially handicapped and live with chronic pain in my back and leg and travel is a option. I can't fly either as the routine at airports these days, is too much for my body to handle, as my stanima has gone down the tubes in the last 4 1/2 since my probelms started. But I would love to go. I can't upload a pic of my car, oddly it took the car pic the other day, but now I get a message back saying it it too bid, Look at some of my other post, one saying Here is Benzmiester, the pic of the car is there.

[gatekey]

It seems the majority of the submittals all reference some form of leather cleaning or conditioning. Just what is MB Tex made of? Is it a form of leather? I just bought my first MB, a 240d, and am lucky enough to have a pristine interior and want to keep it that way here in HOT So. California.

[Ferdman]

Gatekey, MB Tex is a fancy name for vinyl ... wears like steel.

[dolebludger]

And 303 is the best stuff for it --- for preservation and light cleaning.

Thanks,
Richard

[clavos]

I've tried them all, and the best results I've found come from a product with the brand name of einzetz or 1Z. It's availible on line at detailersparadise.com

[ALUEB]

I've tried them all, and the best results I've found come from a product with the brand name of einzetz or 1Z. It's availible on line at detailersparadise.com


better product for me car!

[sl3204me]

I use MaGuire's Gold products on my SL and my leather looks and feels like new.I use it on the dash board also.It leaves a nice clean satiny shine on everything.MB has MaGuire's make their whole line of products and charges you more.Some of the better auto parts stores carry the whole line of MaGuire's at a reasonable price.The plastic window cleaner does a miraculous job on the SL convertible back windows.I am very happy with all of their products.The spray mist product keeps a mirror shine on your car in between waxings.

[ALUEB]

your OK. I like Griot's leather products, and 303 for MB Tex, but I tried Mcguires, also very good. Same for the outside, I really like Griot's Car Wash and it is biodegradeable, very important in this town. I also like Speed Shine for detailing after or getting off bird droppings etc. I also have a liquid spray wax which you can put on a wet car or dry after it is clean, it is by Mcguires and it works very well. Old Barry Mcguire makes good stuff and his TV show is interesting. Whe will Griot's have a TV show?