Vipershade

Agreed, I have seen dealerships fix just about 100% of problems for free, just to avoid negative reviews back to Mercedes. Definitely worth a try.

Yidney

Other than dying, I think the only option is a new lower cover. They probably cannot get that exact leather to sew in just that panel. I'd probably buy one and take it to an upholstery shop. The dealer can probably do it, but they don't do it often, so I'd rather take my chances with somebody who has done it 500 times. The real question is how far on back order a cover like that might be. I think you have covered up any evidence of premature seat wear, which I do not see even with your "improvement", so I don't think you want to try a warranty claim. Between this and the hood I can tell you are a perfectionist who probably picks up tiny dirt pieces from your floor mats and tosses them out the window before starting the car. I know the type because I own a mirror. I hate it when there are shoe scuffs on my nearly-white door sills. But as Mike said, you need to learn what you can fix and what you can't and learn to love the word "patina."

tmoneyC450amg

I agree...I always tell myself don't FYourself when you DIY

vic viper

You mean it is possible to buy leather materials from MB or the entire seat cover?

Quickburn7

I actually have the saddle brown leather on the amg sport seats and the side bolster is now turning blue from my jeans. Only 2000 miles!
My dealership told me they wouldn't repair that under warranty and that it was the jeans fault!

SEBZX79

That should be fairly easy. They will dye it no problem.

Mike5215

Yeah you can buy just the leather skin from Mercedes. There's a guy on the 221 forum who changed his black interior to Porciline using just skins. They're not cheap but they can be had.

alexasa

iTrader: (1)

Dude, just clean them, it will come right off.

-_-

Quickburn7

What should I use? Didn't come off with water and a towel.

vic viper

Must be a US thing, this is not possible in EU unless you have very close contacts to subcontractors or similar.

Mike5215

Not sure. The guy I was referring to is in Sweden, but he may have industry contacts.

lbowroom

cenzo86

Murphy's Oil Soap. Cheap. Available at your hardware store, and safe for seat leather.

Quickburn7

Great I'll try that

Yidney

I do not recommend that you try that. With all the leather-specific products out there, why use a product that is principally intended to clean wood? I realize it is recommended for leather all the time, but you have to mix it with water and it sorta stinks. I have the cleaner from Leatherique (online) and it easily removes blue jeans stains from the nearly white seats of my wife's XC90. But any leather cleaner will work and is better than risking a product not specifically designed for leather. Just my 3 cents worth (inflation adjusted).

Gungaslow

Ok so I went to see the dealer today.. He said he wanted to show it to the detail guy maybe he could touch it up to look better.. I said no cause the texture and grain was effected and just knowing paint or putty was on my leather would drive me nuts in my mind... I asked him to get a price for the factory skin....he's gonna get back to me with a price for the bottom seat skin and they will install it.. Waiting to see the prices for this.. Any guesses??

Mike5215

Put me down for $700

Mikey53

You already said price was no object. Just have it replaced and be done with it already.

cenzo86

Ranchers have used it on saddles for years. Do a quick search to fact check me and you'll find plenty of talk about it. Much cheaper, and less abrasive than other specific leather cleaners. My dad swore by it and used it on his saffron interior Bentley. We got the tip from Ferrari restoration specialist.

Mr. J

Kinda silly not to let the detailer try. If option B is replacing the seat cover then what do you have to lose?

lbowroom

Putty? I have no idea what you're talking about. Paint/Dye that is formulated for leather, yes. How do you think Mercedes makes the leather in different colors to begin with, different colored cows? They will spray the affected area of leather with a detail gun with the appropriate paint for leather and the results should be good enough to be indistinguishable.

jester4

When my daughter was 3 years old, she used a gel pen and made some fantastic artwork on my white couches. Called a guy in and he said it wasn't cleanable with the chemicals available, so he spray painted them (which I thought was odd), but turned out perfect and has lasted almost 4 years now.......

lbowroom

The seat covers are leather in the same way that the car panels are made of steel. The layer of paint on them is what you see and touch. What he did was damage the paint on the surface of the leather. Repaint it and it will be fine.

Mr. J

Yep^^^

Unless he damaged the exterior by using isopropyl alcohol on it. I doubt that he did any damage since vehicle leather usually has a poly coat over the leather surface, but it's possible if he got too OCD with it.

Alcohol will soften leathers. A long time ago when I worked as a Wildland Firefighter, I would use alcohol to help break in new boots. You apply it along the eyelets in the areas where they flex inward and pinch your ankle (boot bite). The alcohol softens the leather and makes it more pliable. Once molded and broken in properly, you apply boot grease and the leather hardens up again.

Gungaslow

The leather is destroyed.. It looks like suede.. There is no coating anymore