Question about my leather
09-29-2010, 06:31 PM
#31
09-29-2010, 06:45 PM
#32
I am surprised that all this talk about leather has never once brought up saddle soap. Good old fashion saddle soap. It is the only cleaner I have EVER used on any leather. My boots were 8 years old when I finally broke down and bought new ones because the 2 set of soles were shot but the leather was still new. Jackets, chaps, even the cream colored leather in my Dodge magnum. My wife's expedition has leather and I use it there too. I use the hard paste stuff in the can not liquid. Use a damp cloth to apply, another damp cloth to wipe off, and a dry cloth to rub down. Takes about 4 minutes per seat. Then if you so choose, to soften and protect I use mink oil. I personally use the all natural stuff but many don't like the smell. You can get "watered down" versions that have no odor. The stuff is clear and you apply it sparingly and wipe off excess with a soft dry cloth. It will REALLY help protect from sun. Which is leather's #1 enemy.
09-29-2010, 06:47 PM
#33
You're not leaving it on long enough... I rub it onto the seats with my hand(s), then remove the excess about 2 hours later (after the wash and detail work is done).
The wife is very persnikity about this car of hers!
I don't know what type of leather the bimmer has; it has improved though; her old 2000 3 series showed cracking on the sides after about a year and a half. We had the drivers seat bottom replaced under warrantee twice. Her newer BMW does not have this problem. I suspect BMW went with a different leather, as the service advisor told us they were replacing quite a few seats due to this.
The wife is very persnikity about this car of hers!
I don't know what type of leather the bimmer has; it has improved though; her old 2000 3 series showed cracking on the sides after about a year and a half. We had the drivers seat bottom replaced under warrantee twice. Her newer BMW does not have this problem. I suspect BMW went with a different leather, as the service advisor told us they were replacing quite a few seats due to this.
09-29-2010, 06:49 PM
#34
09-30-2010, 03:22 AM
#35
To you guys with leather interiors- you need to spend some time getting educated on leathers. There was a day when they put top quality leather in American cars (but then that was probably before most of you were born) 
The King Ranch SHOULD have good leather but the Lariat has cheap Chinese leather and no matter how good it looks when new, it's not gonna hold up very well. Read up on the leather the steering wheel is covered with. You're not looking at the leather at all, you're looking at the plastic coating they put on the outside of the leather (they have a name for it, but that's what it is). That's why it peels and flakes off in time. I personally would rather have a high quality vinyl, that looks EXACTLY like leather and even feels like leather, but the difference is, the leather will end up cracking , and the vinyl won't. It will still be going long after the leather is in pieces. I love leather, but not most of what you get today, and yes, I have had cars with leather.
The King Ranch SHOULD have good leather but the Lariat has cheap Chinese leather and no matter how good it looks when new, it's not gonna hold up very well. Read up on the leather the steering wheel is covered with. You're not looking at the leather at all, you're looking at the plastic coating they put on the outside of the leather (they have a name for it, but that's what it is). That's why it peels and flakes off in time. I personally would rather have a high quality vinyl, that looks EXACTLY like leather and even feels like leather, but the difference is, the leather will end up cracking , and the vinyl won't. It will still be going long after the leather is in pieces. I love leather, but not most of what you get today, and yes, I have had cars with leather.
09-30-2010, 01:37 PM
#36
In a VAN! Down by RIVER!
Join Date: Sep 2010
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That's kinda what I've been saying, is that the leather in the KRs is different than the other models. And being so, it requires different attention. But yeah, as much as I love the look and feel of the leather in my KR, it's almost not worth it due to all the constant up keep on it and always having to watch what I wear and how I move in the truck to keep from gashing up the leather. 
10-04-2010, 08:50 AM
#37
I just tried Leather CPR on my interior yesterday, and I think I've found the conditioner I'm gonna be usin' from now on. I don't think my seats have ever felt this good. The driver's seat feels like sittin' on a pillow of silk. The leather is so smooth and soft it's unbelievable. I can really feel a difference when sittin' in the truck. It's also very easy to apply, no scent, and doesn't change the color of the leather (other than make it look healthy, which in some cases/areas can darken the leather back to what it should be). I picked up a bottle of it at Bed Bath & Beyond for $11.99. I'm gonna be pickin' up some more too. I want my leather to feel like this all the time!