BootieNH

Searched and searched but still have to ask... The owner's manual for the W211 series says not to use any cleaning products on the E55 leather because it's nubuck. By all definitions I've seen, nubuck is a soft suede-like leather with a nap. The only thing with a nap in my car is the headliner (or my 2-year old in her car seat). The leather seats, door panel, etc. all appear to be traditional smooth leather. The seat inserts appear perforated(?) but my car doesn't have the ventilated seats option. I used Lexol on them prior to reading the manual, now I'm hesitant to use it again. The seats are clean, I really just want them to be smooth and soft and restore the natural "oils", with no shine to them. Product recommendations? Leather Master has a huge assortment of products. But which ones? http://www.leatherworldtech.com/Depa...-Products.aspx

TheVazha

Meguiars has a new Leather Detailer. It is non greasy and makes the leather look and feel suppple. Smells like a million $ also!

FASN8N

I have been using Adams polishes leather cleaner and conditioner with no problems

Worth the wait

Anybody used Leatherique on their seats or door inserts?
I have heard great things, I just haven't tried it yet.

AMGV855

Not on my E55, but on a couple other vehicles. Fantastic stuff, extremely tedious and time consuming, but really produces great results. It's not something you use regularly. Good to revive your leather. up keep with something else. Read the directions carefully.
you pretty much have to bake it in the sun.

Benz-O-Rama

I use this in all my cars:

http://www.detailedimage.com/Optimum...281/128-oz-S2/

Rhaunschild1980

Meguiars all the way!

lkirchner

I have been using leatherique for over 15 years. Nothing else that I have used works as well as this product. Someone said it is tedious to use but the correct word is time consuming. You first apply the rejuvinator oil let it do its thing, then wipe off the residue with the cleaner and finally clean with water. I have used it on coated and uncoated leather and it works tremendously. I have also used it on leather furniture and the results are mind boggling. Try it --- you'll like it

rondocap

Leatherique is definitely great! If you follow the right steps it is not hard to use.

sack5000

McGuairs ///FTW

Boywonda

Lexol cleaner if dirty. I use the conditioner for upkeep. Great products! I've used it on my previous two BMW's with napa leather and now on the E63.

GarageShinyKyle

Use the zymol kit with conditioner and cleaner its a little expensive compares to the meguirs but its not greasy and cleans super super well.

keith954

Adam's

milepostnate

I use Leatherique. It is awesome. Check this out. http://www.detailedimage.com/Ask-a-P...r-care-how-to/

Benz-o-rama, I am surprised that you don't use it also, since DJ uses it pretty exclusively.

Nathan

guysandiego

too many good products -- Just dont forget to wipe the excess off.... and Try to do your car's interior as often as you do the exterior. Dont let that leather get all dry and nasty

BootieNH

I'm going a different route. I think the leather is nubuck after all (nubuck side out, suede side in). MB seems to recommend nubuck cleaners/conditioners, so I'm going to try this. Will post my results.
http://www.leathermagic.com/Pages/NuBuckcarekit.htm

pullejo

Lexol brown almost weekly. I use it on my furniture and other leather items as well.

I've got a friend who works with leather (makes high end belts) and it's the only product he'll use. I figure if it's good enough for his $700 belts...well...it should be pretty good. ;-)

Benz-O-Rama

Yeah, it's on my list to get. I purchased a big *** container of the Optimum stuff, when it was on sale. Now that it's warming up, I'll start back doing weekly leather conditioning on all the cars. When I run out, I'll try the Leatherique stuff.

I just talked to DJ. I think I'm gonna have him do the SL600, right before Timmayfest.

BootieNH

Update on the application of Leather Magic: Wow! My seats were already in great condition, but they now look, feel and smell new again. Highly recommended to use the Leather Magic Nubuck cleaner and conditioner on the E55 leather. Goes on real easy and a smooth streakless finish.

taurran

My seats look great, it's just the leather on the door panels that's a bit dry. I've been trying to find something worth my time to rehydrate them.

220S

fwiw, a while back I spoke with someone who's a colleague of the owner of a traditional tanning company in Britain and seems to know all about leather. Napa leather is used as a semi-aniline automotive leather and it's apparently best to use a water based product without any oils and solvents, etc.. They said they use Leather Master only. You can get it in the US here: http://www.leatherworldtech.com/Depa...-Products.aspx

"Leather Master is the leather care ‘bench-mark product, its pH balanced; water-based formula gently cleans without drying leather upholstery. Leather Master Products are used as a ‘benchmark’ by other leather care product vendors. All water-based cleaners will remove any body oil or salts, dirt and grime and wash them from the leather surface. Leather Master leads the industry with over 350 different leather products. All Leather Master Products are manufactured in Montecchio Maggiore, Italy. The world's largest tannery, located nearby, keeps them up to date on the latest changes within the industry."

I always wondered why they call it Napa leather (or sometimes incorrectly called Nappa.) I found out that the tanning process was originally invented by a guy named Emanuel Manasse who worked for the Sawyer Tanning Company in 1875 in Napa, CA http://nvmarketplace.wordpress.com/2...le-april-2006/

EDIT: I see the OP already found Leather Master..... the E63 is a semi-aniline Napa leather (so use the aniline versions of Leather Master), not sure about the E55 leather (?) I assumed it was also Napa. The S Class has Napa, too.

BootieNH

taurran: Are you sure the door panel inserts are leather? I assumed they are vinyl replicas. Look closely and you'll see that the stitching is decorative and fake.

220S: yes, I found another post from somebody at AMG who thought that the owner's manual reference to Nubuck was a mis-translation from the original German (!). She indicated that the leather is most likely Napa. But it does seem to absorb moisture, so be careful with cleaners/conditioners, and use only those specifically designed for "naked" leathers. The Leather Magic Nubuck did the trick for me and it's safe.

220S

That's exactly why I said to use the proper Leather Master product since the Napa is aniline... or realistically semi-aniline since there is a protective top coat from the factory on auto leather (unlike Napa bags and coats, etc, which are full aniline without the top coat. The top coat will wear off in time in the cars. There's also something called 'pull up aniline' which has a wax coat.) Aniline are dyed (soluble) and not top painted (insoluble.)

I know for certain the E63 has Napa tanned aniline (semi-aniline) leather...

I've been through all this before with leather experts..... Leather Master is the industry choice for aniline and semi-aniline Napa leathers.

Lycan

I've used Meguiars. It's ok. My first choice is Zanio "Leather in a Bottle". It gives the car a really good new car smell as well as cleaning. The Zanio smells kind of medicinal, but makes the cabin smell good. Meguairs smells kind of like apples or something. Can't put my finger on it. Both are good choices.

Luke_M

Leatherique is amazing stuff. I love putting it on my leather. More work then most leather cleaner/conditioners and it takes 24-48 hours making it impractical for detailers but the results are amazing. I've used it on my shifter which was stiff like construction paper and after 2-3 treatments it's like new. Amazing. I've used zaino, lexol and some meguiars stuff. No comparision whatsoever.

Best part is how it brings back the softness and suppleness of old leather. It pushes out the old dirt which is nice for cleaning but the softness it leaves behind is ridiculous. Just had great experiences with leatherique. Any car I get with leather gets a few leatherique treatments as soon as the weather warms up.

Never tried leather master so I can't comment on that but from what I read it's good as well.