What product(s) do you folks use to condition the leather interior of a w123?

Which service manual do you prefer and where would you buy one (I couldn't find one at Schucks or Napa today)?
More to come, no doubt, but I'll start with that.
Thanks gang.

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1982 Silver 300DT

Lexol is sold in Mercedes dealerships ...
It is acknoledged as the product which will replace the oils which dry out with the least darkening of the leather long term. But it needs to be put on more often as a result.

The Haynes manual has good pictures... but lacks some detail ...many auto stores carry the generic 123 manual

The Factory Shop Manual S can't be beat for amount of knowledge...but are clearly translations which are hard to decipher many times... But they do include the specs...and the fact that most items on the engine have three iterations...from Ebay....
And they are good about safety warnings...

For conditioning leather you can Lexol. You can find this at any good auto parts store. The best way to do it is to park the car in the sun, close up the windows and soak the living daylights out of the seats with conditioner. The heat will make the leather pores open up and what ever the leather needs from the conditioner, it will take in. Let the stuff sit for a good long while, then wipe off the excess with a towel. I did this with my newly acquired SL and it softened up the leather.


As for a service manual goes. The easiest one to get is a Haynes manual. You can find this at any Pepboys, Autozone etc. It should run you about $15. Other than that your only choice is a factory service manual on CD. Generally it costs $115, but you find them on E-bay for less.

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1999 MB SL500 (110,000 mi)
2004 Volvo V70 2.5T (220,000 mi)
2014 Tesla Model S 85 (136,000 mi)
MBCA member

Thanks guys.

How about a brand name for the fuel filter? Should I get it and a prefilter from a normal auto store or is there a better place online?

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1982 Silver 300DT

You can use Fastlane listed at the top of the page for the filters.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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Great advice. Their prices were actually cheaper then some of the local places. Via another member's advice (junqueyardjim), I loaded up on some of the more regular maintenance items and was able to get free shipping since my order was over $100. Great place!
Thanks!!

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1982 Silver 300DT

With all due respect to lexol as a fine product, it can be beaten. I am using Leatherique's kit to rejuvenate and recolor my seats. The top of the rear seat had been baked by the sun to a cardboard-like consistency. The Leatherique oil has softened the leather considerably. It is recommended by ther Rolls Royce Club as simply the best.
It isn't cheap, but, if your seats are very dry, it may be the only thing that will save them. If your seats have not been seriously neglected, you may be able to use Lexol.

Thanks for the advice-my seats seem to be in pretty good shape-I simply want to start consistently applying the correct product to bring back a bit more softness and also to preserve their life as well.
My local Schucks did not have 'Lexol', so I'll have to hunt around.

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1982 Silver 300DT

Buy it on e-bay ( ) from the fellows that sell supplies for horses. I got the litre bottle for $11.00.

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=16239&item=7154766022

Thanks for the heads-up. Just bought a liter. Let the rubbing begin!

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1982 Silver 300DT

Lexol is available at saddle and tack stores, and places like TSC that carry leather stuff. I've never seen it at a parts store.

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1985 300D Turbo ~225k
2000 F350 (Powerstroke) 4X4, SWB, CC, SRW, 6spd ~148k
1999 International 4900, DT466e (250hp/660 ft/lbs), Allison MD3060 ~73k

Looks like the trunk leaks as well. The driver's side wheel well seems to have standing water in it after it rains. Is this simply a matter of changing out the rubber weatherstripping on the trunk?

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1982 Silver 300DT

Where can Leatherique be found. I went by no fewer than 8 places yesterday looking for it. I did see the Lexol. Seems like it was at O'Reilys and Pep Boys and Autozone.
Seems like I also heard of a product called Vinylique that I'm guessing is from the same folks.
When you say Leatherique is pricey, what exactly are we talking about?

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Jimmy L.
'05 Acura TL 6MT
2001 ML430 My Spare

Gone:
'95 E300 188K "Batmobile" Texas Unfriendly Black
'85 300TD 235K "The Wagon" Texas Friendly White
'80 240D 154K "China" Scar engine installed
'81 300TD 240K "Smash"
'80 240D 230K "The Squash"
'81 240D 293K"Scar" Rear ended harder than Elton John

Actually, a rear window gasket leak will put the water down into the trunk wells. I would think a trunk gasket would leak more say during a car wash when there is pressure applied directly to the gasket. Usually you need a trunk seal if it is torn somewhere. They don't generally need replacing on a car as new as yours unless it is torn. My bet is your rear window gasket is leaking.

Thanks
David

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2000 Honda Accord V6 137k miles

1972 300SEL 4.5 98k miles

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So, with that in mind, is there some sort of sealant I can apply to the rear window gasket?

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1982 Silver 300DT