Reconditoning Leather - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

Inter911 · #1 11-26-2002, 05:30 PM

I recently bought a Scuff Master kit from Liquid Leather in jolly old England. The kit cost about $70 Cdn delivered. You first clean the leather with their cleaner then wipe on the colour. It fills in all the cracks and will even re-colour areas that have gone totally colourless. 48 hours later finish with the Liquid Leather product.

This kit was easy to use and brought my rear back to as new condition. Even the arm rest was totally devoid of colour but not anymore. And the Liquid Leather really makes the hide subtle with the aroma of fine, new leather.

All in all I would rate this as one of the most satisfying jobs I have done on my Benz. The product was first rate...just as described in the Brit mag "Popular Classics" where they tested it and gave it 5 stars. They do have a website and I ordered on-line using their form indicating my year and model and the colour of the leather. The match, after application, was perfect!

omegabenz · #2 11-26-2002, 07:42 PM

This weekend I used simple green and saddle soap on my whole interior. I stripped the whole interior of the car, and used the above. It works pretty good, however it doesnt bring back the faded color, but it does clean it and make it softer, I should try what you did. Thanks for the tip.

Fanatic · #3 11-30-2002, 01:56 AM

Austin,
I heard that saddle soap dries out the leather. Do you find this to be true? What do you use to condition the leather?

omegabenz · #4 11-30-2002, 02:17 AM

the saddle soap made it really soft, it looks brand new. I talked to a detail shop and they said that simple green is a little harsh, but they said that since I used saddle soap it should be fine.

Lou K · #5 12-03-2002, 05:32 PM

Saddle soap is exactly what it says---soap. While the surface feels softer, under the surface it is drying out the leather. Take it from one who knows through experience--- a bad one. I had a new XKE in 1967 and religiously saddle soaped the seats. After about 2 years they had the feel of a saddle--- hard as a rock.

stephenson · #6 12-03-2002, 05:52 PM

How does Lexol rate? I have used it over the years and seems to work OK.

I have sheep skins on the fronts on my MB and on all four main seats in wife's Suburban. Not only is it, IMO, more comfortable (cooler in summer, warmer in winter), they seem to be quite effective at protecting.

The sheepskins do, however, degrade the Teutonic look of clean lines et al.

Inter911 · #7 12-03-2002, 06:02 PM

I used to use Lexol and it seemed to work real well. But it only conditions the leather (couse the leather needs to stay conditioned)...the cracks and scuff marks from normal wear and tear are still there.

The Liquid Leather Scuff Master kit contains a water based dye that you wipe on then wipe off. The dye stays in the cracks. For spots where the colour has worn right off you dilute the dye and wipe/spray/brush on building up colour. What you end up with is leather that is not only contioned (comes with a quality conditioner) but is also renewed in areas that have lost their colour.

They also claim that the conditoner leave a smell of quality, connolly leather. (they claim that leather used to be tanned with a variety of substances including urine and that this product imparts that old world fragrance....???) It does have a unique smell that does remind me of walking into a quality leather store and not a men's room!!

Flash Gordon · #8 01-06-2003, 02:46 PM

Try leatherique.com I tried it and it did a wonderful job. The Rolls Royce Club endorse it

#9 01-06-2003, 04:46 PM

Both products perform well, the only drawback using the scuffmaster kit is that you must order from UK. The Leatherique products can be purchased in the USA. check them both out at:

www.leatherique.com and www.liquidleather.com

JimmyBenzo · #10 01-08-2003, 09:28 AM

Is Meguiar's products good for leather?
And if so, what Meguir's products is worth getting and which should be avoided?

anthonyb · #11 01-08-2003, 05:25 PM

Can anyone tell me what sort of results are realistic with Leatherique? I've tried it a couple of different times on my car, I've let it sit for days, I've covered it with Saran Wrap, I've tried it in the summer heat and winter cold, and it doesn't really seem to do all that much.

Right now, I'm not all that concerned with color, or nicks or scratches, but I would like to recondition the leather to the point where it's reasonably soft again. Some panels are (e.g. backs of seatbacks), some are stiff as cardboard (rear headrests, passenger seat).

-anthony

Flash Gordon · #12 01-09-2003, 02:32 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by anthonyb
Can anyone tell me what sort of results are realistic with Leatherique? I've tried it a couple of different times on my car, I've let it sit for days, I've covered it with Saran Wrap, I've tried it in the summer heat and winter cold, and it doesn't really seem to do all that much.

Right now, I'm not all that concerned with color, or nicks or scratches, but I would like to recondition the leather to the point where it's reasonably soft again. Some panels are (e.g. backs of seatbacks), some are stiff as cardboard (rear headrests, passenger seat).

-anthony

I don't know the condition of your seats and I don't have the exact instruction of leatherique in front of me, but as I recall, you need to apply liberally over the leather and let it bake in the sun for several hours with the windows closed so the conditioner will penetrate into the leather. Wipe it clean afterwards. Go to their website at www.leathrique.com. It should the application instructions in there

#13 01-09-2003, 02:35 PM

The correct url is: http://www.leatherique.com/

zeb · #14 01-09-2003, 09:51 PM

I have a friend who is a vehicle upholsterer, he told me not to use any of the crap on the market to clean leather. He said the best thing to use is white spirit. Sounds strange but it doesn't strip the goodness from the seats, but keeps it nice and soft. it also gets all the crap from in the creases. you will need a little patience though!!

hawkpfc2 · #15 01-10-2003, 09:07 AM

Meguiar's is pretty lousy for leather imo. Best to stick with lexol, Hide Food, Leatherique, etc. Pinnacle is also good as is 303 for protecting but not cleaning.
Ben