leatherique - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

TN-W124 Diesel · #1 08-10-2003, 11:27 AM

On my 83 300D: I would like to change my interior color if I decide to keep her. It has the palamino MB tex interior. I would like to go to red, whay do you think? or should I just re-dye the seats the same color?? The seats are in good shape, but faded. I have read the post and some members have done a great job with this product. Thanks!

bodyart27 · #2 08-10-2003, 11:59 AM

When I was replacing the fuel sender in my 300SD, I removed the back seats (super easy to do), and applied the cleaner and the conditioner in my living room where I could really go after it. I spent a *lot* of time working the leather over a couple of evenings. I did the conditioner process twice including wrapping the seats in plastic wrap as their web sites suggests and "baking them" in the car in the sun and in the garage (in Texas, the garage gets plenty hot).

Though it did remove a lot of old crud and soften the leather, I'm not sure if I'd call it an amazing transformation like some of the testimoneals I have read. I did not bother with the front seats after seeing the results with the back. At some point I'll just bite the bullet and replace the leather and seat pads up front as I expect to get another 10 years and 100K out of this car.

Unfortunately 19 year old leather that was not properly cared for is not going to rejuvinate that much. It is definately better than before, but I don't think anyone sitting in the back is going to notice all the effort. I'm glad I did it as the rear seats are not torn or damaged so they will probably never be replaced, unlike the fronts.

I purchased my stuff from http://www.goodspeedmotoring.com/ which is where I buy most of my high-end detailing stuff (like the pads for my porter cable buffer). You do *NOT* need the monster bottles of leatherique. I had enough left over for another 10 cars!

On my CLK55 I use Meguiars Leather conditioner using microfiber towels and so far so good. I do all the leather maybe once a year and then the driver's seat gets hit about three times a year as it gets the most seat time. Of course it still does not get THAT much seat time as it was bought in Jan '01 and has only 6,800 miles on the ODO. But we are starting that car off right!

TN-W124 Diesel · #3 08-10-2003, 01:35 PM

Thanks for the reply, yes I have cleaned the "simulated" leather in my 300D, they are nice but faded. I still have not decided to keep the car or sell it. I would like a low mile 300SDL, but those are hard to find..

dmorrison · #4 08-10-2003, 02:11 PM

Your "simulated" leather is called MB tex. It is stronger than the leather in the other Mercedes cars and, with proper care will last longer that the leather. Use 303 protectant on the MBtex to provide UV protection. And keep it clean.

If your considering changing the interior color it will cost you some bucks. New seat covers. About $700 per seat. Plus headrest, plus seat back panel, plus center consol, plus carpet, plus trunk carpet, plus rear seat shelf, plus door handle trim, plus door arm rests, plus headliner, plus floor mats. Your talking $3000 for new stuff AT LEAST. I have not added it up to the penny, but I am interested in new carpet for the wagon and it runs into $$$$.
Consider keeping the Palimino, It was a very popular color and that makes prices lower.

Additionally you can't die the MBTex it is a man made vinyl. I would suggest sheepskin covers as a way of getting around faded seat covers.

Just my 2 cents

Dave

TN-W124 Diesel · #5 08-10-2003, 02:49 PM

Thanks for the reply, if I keep it I would just re-dye the seats, I guess

sokoloff · #6 08-10-2003, 07:43 PM

If you decide to redye the MB tex, I wouldn't use the Leatherique product. It is designed for leather and is wonderful on it. But I tried it on vinyl and the results were not that great and I didn't even try changing the color. The Leatherique folks were great and helpful trying to solve my problem. They said that if the vinyl is sealed very well, then a leather dye won't be able to do its job. I have heard good reports of the products that Colorplus carries. They have a dye specificly for vinyl.

Len

300SDog · #7 08-10-2003, 09:19 PM

"Duplicolor Vinyl and Fabric Color" spray paint...... off the shelf at nearby auto parts shop.

Very good product, have used it on center armrest attachment going from blue to black, also recently on 116 discolored tan sunvisors matching original color perfect.

Pulling seats and door panels, laying em out on drop cloths in garage and applying several thin coats should do the trick - making interior color whatever you want it to be.

You might even mask off the carpeting with newspaper and tape to protect center console, changing carpet color too.

leathermang · #8 08-10-2003, 10:39 PM

"Duplicolor Vinyl and Fabric Color" or Marhyde vinyl spray.... are really great for changing the color of plastic upholstered cars.....
I changed out the ENTIRE interior of my KarmanGhia once... and I was truely amazed at how well it looked... AND HOW IT LASTED... the seat bolster where most of our cars get worn and torn.. was not torn on my KG... and it was three years before the color wore off that spot... and it DID NOT FLAKE OFF.. it worn evenly... I was nothing short of thrilled with the stuff... it really ' melds' into the plastic if you prep right.. but be sure to use a tack coat, then spray to gloss on the final spray a few minutes later...
Also.. you can take really ugly old carpet.. and clean it thoroughly and spray it with the same stuff... and make it look like new...
The trick , as with most painting, is to be sure it is prepped well... clean it with alcohol and take the shine off with 100 grit flint sandpaper... You need the " grip"... and cleanlyness...
One thing might help when going into stores and asking for stuff or information...
You can not dye finished leather, as is used as upholstery, ... you can paint it ( but not well that I have ever seen)... but the problem long range is the same as with finished leather... you are not penetrating the surface so as to replace the natural oils which would be being produced by the animal ( when it still had it attached )... so it WILL DRY OUT...
That is why even people who use oils and such regularly have 25 year old leather cracking and tearing.. it is not their fault..
The only way to change that situation would be to take out the seat and apply oils to the underside of the leather.. pretty much impossible to do... that would mean taking it totally apart to access the leather from that side...

samiam4 · #9 08-10-2003, 11:09 PM

He has MB tex which is not leather- it's vinyl. Hence, some sort of plasticized paint product for vinyl. Just got to a proffessional automotive paint supplier. YOu can order up any color you want and spray it on with paint gun. On some of my restoration stuff, I choose a mixing color so color matching in the future is hopefully not a problem.

Leatherque is for leather products.

Michael

jcd · #10 08-12-2003, 01:11 PM

Try this link.

http://www.worlduph.com/semdye.htm

Their vinyl dye works great.

JCD