hyperion667

hello once again fellers.....

when I got my 550 back in October of 2010 the thing smelled amazing.
Just like that rich leather scent you'd wanna have you know? Like a nice suede coat or a rich leather bomber jacket you know?
Now, there is a faint smell still lingering; and no doubt my senses have become used to being inside the car, BUT my other car smells WAAY-HEY-HEY better. I'm thinking it's because of the alcantara?
I just don't have that 'damn it smells good in here' sensation anymore inside DEADBEAT...

Any thoughts you leather-heads wanna share?

acr2001

Alcantara is not leather, it's synthetic - just like MB-Tex.

CEB

While most leather cleaners leave their own smell behind, there are two that I've used that generally restore the leather smell - at least a bit.

Leather Masters is great stuff and cleans well too.

Leatherique does well with maintained surfaces but works better than Leather Masters on leathers with deferred maintenance. It is a bit of a pain to apply and takes a full weekend (preferrably with sunshine) to get the best results.

Both products will restore that matte luster to your leather (assuming it isn't too worn) and after a few days the product smell will be replaced by the smell of leather.

CEB

Correct. Here is the proper alcantara care

ImInPA

Leatherique is a great product. Griot's also makes good leather products. Their leather Rejuvenator is great.

hyperion667

huh, I did some reading.......
and yes, while I love polyester so much, guess it isn't a suprise.....
why do dealers and everyone make such a big deal about it?
it's soft to the touch and everything......maybe it holds the leather scent
in it's fibers? but that may be a weak therory

always reading and learning more about the eternal world of detailing....
thanx!

ImInPA

Alcantara can't hold a scent it never had. It gets good press and people think it is some magical high-end leather material. It is probably not as good as MB-Tex. Alcantara would not be as popular as it is if it went by it's real name....fake vinyl suede. MB should have called MB-Tex "Vinylian Leather", then offer it only as a Designo option. Marketing rules. Remember, Pizza Hut was invented so that folks in the mid-west could claim they've tried Italian food.

CEB

Alcantara is most often paired with leather and you're smelling the leather - not the alcantara. In automotive interiors, alcantara is most frequently used as headliner, steering wheel covers and seat and door panel inserts.

As alcantara is generally considered an upscale fabric, it is almost always combined with leather seat bolsters - hence the impression of a leather smell.

YYZ-E55

Zymol Leather Conditioner has a great leatherish smell.

stemags

Did you ever hear of Connely's Hide Food..Its an English coach wax,,smells like Dickens himself,,no really its highly touted,smells like leather and it nourishes nicely,,,leathery smells lingers too.

hyperion667

thanx man!
love the leathery smell!!



anyone worry about the perforated seats holding too much moisture?

thanx for the comments gents!

stemags

Even if you overdose a nice clean MF clothe sucks it up well,,,shine on

CEB

Except with the Leatherique where you drown it the first time you use it, very little is usually too much.

Use cleaners and conditioners sparingly. If you find that some parts (usually the top of the rear seats) soak it up much faster than other areas, then you can always reapply, but don't slather the stuff on - it will get sucked into all the nooks and crannies and it'll take forever to get dry - it will also attract more dirt.

Apply the cleaner or conditioner to a clean cloth and just get it damp. This is especially important for conditioner.

K-A

Actually, MB Tex is called "Artico Leather" in Canada.

You know what, screw it, if people are gonna say "Alcantara" like it's some premium feast, then from now on I am ignorant to the name "MB Tex", I am officially referring to it as "Artico Leather"!

CEB

And to keep it from being called MB-Taxi, it is referred to Artico (without the leather) everywhere else.

hyperion667

well, it's just that I've been in some cars before, and I'm sure many can relate, that just smelled sooo good you know?
love that rich leather smell........

thekurgan

A lot of the smell comes from the carpet, pad and the plastics. When was the last time you had your carpet extracted? You can try the leatherique in the summer, but unless it's dyed through leather, it won't make much difference. Zaino leather conditioner has a GREAT scent, it's worth a try as well, but again, I wait until the leather is warm to condition.

For the plastic, I usually use the 1Z Einszett Plastic Vinyl Deep Cleaner (Plastik Reiniger) to really deep clean, and their cockpit premium to keep it clean. Both products leave 100% matte finish, smell really good as well.

mnje350

The company that comes up with a new, vinyl, plastic, poly, leather smell like all new cars have, will become rich. Truth be told, the out gassing from all of the man made materials and chemicals in the leather is probably harmful to our health.

Sorry to put a negative spin on this.

acr2001

Studies have been done. It does indeed cause cancer. There are scents available that mimmic the "new car smell" as well as the leather scent VERY well. Sorry I don't have any in specific I can link to...

MCF

Can someone please tell me how block posts from Dikperion667 so I don't see them??

thekurgan

Waking up in the morning causes cancer, I'm sure of it ...

hyperion667

interesting

no harm done!

oh well, I'm a smoker anyway

LOL

reckrab

Try <Control> <Alt> <Delete>?

golfster

Although the connotation of MB Tex is its common use in taxis, it was the marketing name for MB's textured, perforated vinyl. Alcantara is likewise a man-made material, with it's own website:

http://int.alcantara.com/#/en/menu/t...t_is_alcantara

Fake is fake in either case, but each with it's own unique benefits and charm.

CEB

Except that alcantara works in places (seat inserts) where suede would never work. The cleaning instructions I posted came directly from the alcantara site.