Kennyr44

My beise leather in my 07 looks new. I also have no sticky door panels or dash.

mattchk

I had alabaster leather in my 2008 that didn't hold up at all. Looked terrible when I traded it at 76,000. My 2013 has the semi-aniline and I've bee much more impressed, but it is newer and only has 35,000 on the clock.

superdenso

That's very nice work!

sdwtchlvr

iTrader: (1)

You can have your seats re-painted and they'll look like new. And you can have the cushions re-done too. Bought a 2001 LX 470 last week and the previous owners had the front seat bottoms re-stuffed and re-covered at a shop up in LA. They did a very nice job, they look better than original and are holding up beautifully.

I had the driver's seat painted in my 2010 RX350 and it looked great.

mckellyb

I know people will hate me for saying this, but the best automotive leather I've found is in older Mercedes machines, like the W126 and W124. The R129 and W140 may also qualify.

I've owned both a 124 & 126, both were commuter cars, and even after 15 years and 205K miles, the leather in my '95 E320 looked new when I gave it to a family member. Well, on the seats, it looked new. A previous owner really screwed up the leather on the top 1/3 of the steering wheel.

Actually, the leather in my '98 Grand Cherokee 5.9L is wearing quite well, too. 175K miles, and while not a DD, it's not babied, either.

Junglequac

If people hate you for stating the Mercedes (especially pre Daimler-Chrysler era) made cars that were practically heirloom quality are far too biased. Ironically it was the LS400 which sent MB (and many others) down a dark rabbit hole where for almost a decade Mercedes really had lost their way in trying to stay cost competitive with Lexus.

What many folks don't realize in regards to most automotive leather interiors is that they are coated with plastic and that super expensive leather conditioners are a waste.
That does not mean it does not require protectants, rather just ones that won't eat at the vinyl covering of the leather interior.

That said, the semi aniline leather in many LS models does require different treatment and is more delicate.

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

I just found out I also have the semi aniline leather as well, what treatment are you using for it ?

And yes Mercedes was a well built car up until the early 90's

Junglequac

My 460 has the standard leather. With my 430 UL I often used Bick Leather Products. They make cleaners and conditioners and are used on saddles and many other fine leathers. Great stuff with a tremendous following. I had this stuff due to having a number of stupid expensive leather shoes, jackets, et al, back when I spent way too much money at Barneys.

Currently I am just using Lexol and truthfully, I would most likely be good for semi aniline as well.

SW17LS

I've had both types of leather, the semi aniline is really the same to care for.

Junglequac

As semi aniline leather traditionally does not have a polyurethane coating, I do not see how this could be the case. Then again, most with a P/U coating use expensive leather conditioner designed for non coated leather so I can see how that might be the case.
I know in my 430 UL, the leather felt completely different and far more delicate than the standard leather in my 460.

SW17LS

My GS with semi aniline leather had a polyurethane coat...it definately feels different but it's still coated.

Junglequac

I will defer to you on this. Just from past experience with both semi aniline and aniline leathers, it was/is a completely different ballgame. That said, it makes sense in an automotive application not to make such a delicate interior when so many will get upset when it starts to show signs of wear.

SW17LS

Yeah the only cars I've seen with noncoated leather, mainstream cars, are King Ranch F150s...

1WILLY1

iTrader: (9)

Currently I'm just using VLR, its a common retail product found anywhere, works decently from what I can tell and leaves a good smell

It seems to leave the leather satin looking but with a slippery surface, which I like

Gbp

I'm pretty sure no modern cars use aniline leather, due to the lack of a protective coating, resulting in excessive wear and less color stability.