Leatherique: A rough how-to, my thoughts, and a few pics.

[JupiterBMW]

So, the X5 is a massive vehicle to detail, and that being said, I haven't done it at all yet. We have owned the thing over 7 months and I haven't done a thing other than take it to the local car wash (hand wash... I'm not THAT bad!). Well, I finally noticed the water would not bead at ALL, so I knew it was in need of some light correction and a good detail. Its time... Part of it was also to go through the interior with a fine tooth comb as my children are by no means EASY on the cars. Fingerprints all over the windows and trim, crumbs of ALL sorts in the seats, and milk spots as well. Not to mention white haze from my wife on the steering wheel and center console armrest... Damn lotions...

So, this leads me to my first experience with Leatherique. I actually purchased the set of products (Rejuvenate and Prestine Clean) over a year ago with intentions on doing my ZHP, but that never happened... So, the X5 was as good a candidate as any. I asked a few friends, watched a few Youtube videos and read a couple of DIY articles on how to use it. It seemed pretty basic.

1. Vacuum and wipe down the seats to get rid of loose dirt and oils.
2. Apply rejuvenator oil LIBERALLY and rub it all around, giving the seats a glazed donut look.
3. Park it outside in the sun to hotbox (windows up, sunroof shade open, hot day)
4. Using the prestine clean, remove excess rejuvenator and dirt/oils from leather surface, buffing to a beautiful, soft, supple feel.

Now, my thoughts on these steps... Step 1, no issue here. I did a thorough vacuum, making sure to get anything in the cracks and seams. Step 2, hmm. I wasn't sure the best way to apply, or how much. So, I sort of guessed. The method I used was a spray bottle (frequently recommended). I do NOT recommend this, unless you want the shit everywhere. I also wore one latex glove and used that hand to push the stuff around and make sure all surfaces were covered. Didn't seem to bad, and I felt I had a pretty good coating, although it is very messy. I definitely let it run a little heavy into the seams, as many people recommended. Step 3, Florida, 80 degrees by 8am, no problem. I actually got busy with family stuff so the leather soaked for a full 24 hours before I was able to remove it. LOTS OF bake time, which wouldn't hurt from what I was told. Step 4, the work. I wised up and put the product in an empty squirt bottle (think maple syrup bottle... don't put it on pancakes though). I also grabbed a small kitchen sponge, and the latex gloves again. This time, I squirted the sponge and soaked up as much of the cleaner as I could. I then rubbed the sponge around on an area at a time. Once I covered it and loosened the product, I grabbed a microfiber and wiped it clean and dry. Of course, the leftover from the rejuvenator soak is a sticky mess. The seats all kept that high gloss shine, which was excess product and dirt that had been pushed out from the seats (so the internet says anyway). Well, my seats were all VERY tacky and sticky afterward. As a result, I went through an easy 8-10 microfiber towels wiping the leather clean. It also took a considerable amount of elbow grease. I felt like I wasn't going to have enough of the cleaner to do the whole interior, but once I was completed, I poured the leftover back into the bottle, and it was still half full (16oz bottles).

Results. Well, its pretty hard to capture in pictures, but I can say this. The seats feel like a completely different leather. Now granted, we aren't talking old beat up leather either. The X has 40K miles on it, and its kept fairly clean. Overall, the leather has a more uniform look, no areas of discoloration, and zero shine. A nice matte look. But the feel is what is so drastic. Much softer and more "moist" feeling... If that makes sense without sounding too perverted... It was a shitload of work, especially being how I couldn't just do it all at once, but it was worth it. Will I do it often? Hell no... But once a year is probably sufficient.

Below are a few pics... And again, hard to really capture much, especially when the wife is jumping in and leaving while I'm trying to snap a few "after" pics. Hence the crap in the back seat...

BEFORE: Take note of the lines in the back seat bottoms. That is from the protective mats we lay down under our car seats.

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0107.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0107.jpg.html)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0105.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0105.jpg.html)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0106.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0106.jpg.html)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0108.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0108.jpg.html)

DURING:

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0114.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0114.jpg.html)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0109.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0109.jpg.html)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0112.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0112.jpg.html)

AFTER: Not much to see, but you might agree that the leather is more matte and a "smoother", more uniform finish to it. Definitely noticeable in person...

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0120.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0120.jpg.html)

http://i88.photobucket.com/albums/k166/jdinisio/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0121.jpg (http://s88.photobucket.com/user/jdinisio/media/2010%20X5%20M%20Pics/IMG_0121.jpg.html)

[ELCID86]

Nice write up. Glad you like the product.


Thumbs, iPhone, Tapatalk.

[JupiterBMW]

I like the results, I hate the work needed. Lol. Take that for what it's worth.. [emoji3]


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

[JupiterBMW]

A couple more pics I grabbed this morning...

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/18/b2a1a01b8b687db8ccce9be10f56b873.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/18/a2477f49353ce3aa4dcd28feed53f644.jpg

http://images.tapatalk-cdn.com/15/04/18/f3e6a0abbccfea1c7da93281e475d863.jpg


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

[johnrando]

Great writeup! Glad it worked out for you.

Sent from mobile

[BMWCurves]

It doesn't look like kids have ever sat in those back seats! :thumbup

[JupiterBMW]

It doesn't look like kids have ever sat in those back seats! :thumbup

Oh but they have... You should see the crumbs all over my garage floor!


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

[hcbeck2689]

I am planning to do this soon to my ZHP. I have seen people placing plastic bags over the seats while they soak. Have you heard of this?


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[JupiterBMW]

Yes, heard of it and have seen it in videos. Most people use black trash bags just because it helps absorb the heat and then the plastic holds in, further intensifying the steam room effect. We have pretty intense sunlight/heat down here in South Florida, so I didn't feel it was needed.

I did however use plastic bags to wrap the driver's seat when I pulled the truck back into the garage... No way was I going to sit on that stuff!

Good luck. :thumbsup

[fredo]

Nice. Can we say the products helped to remove the lines on the back seats ? My e90 has a similar line, due to my son's car seat.

[JupiterBMW]

Nice. Can we say the products helped to remove the lines on the back seats ? My e90 has a similar line, due to my son's car seat.

I'd like to think so.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

[Pip]

I want to come over and just sit in those seats. They look extremely comfortable.

[brettbimmer]

She looks great Jon! Thanks for the DIY tutorial too. Always helpful.

[cakM3]

I want to come over and just sit in those seats. They look extremely comfortable.

Leatherique does wonders for Nappa Leather Sean :thumbsup My seats get the treatment every year :)

[JupiterBMW]

I want to come over and just sit in those seats. They look extremely comfortable.

They aren't, I promise... My M3 Novilio leather on the other hand... Wow. That stuff is amazing.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

[Pip]

Leatherique does wonders for Nappa Leather Sean :thumbsup My seats get the treatment every year :)

Mine will be getting it sometime this year...I hope.


They aren't, I promise... My M3 Novilio leather on the other hand... Wow. That stuff is amazing.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

Oh I love my m3 Nappa leather and I'm sure yours are super comfy as well.

[rguti153]

I'm glad u did a write/opinion on this . I have the leatherique product sitting in my garage waiting for that Houston heat to come in . I'm ready to tackle this n improve by seats thanks

[NoVAphotog]

Jon, thanks for this writeup! I purchased the 32oz bottles awhile ago and am waiting for it to heat up a bit more before using them. The backseats of my ZHP are still matte so I'm not expecting much there, but the driver and passenger seat are starting to shine/wrinkle a bit.

So, just to recap, you don't recommend a spray bottle and direct application? Better to "squirt" it into a sponge/applicator pad and wipe/knead the rejuvenator oil into the seats? Let it bake, wipe it off with MF's and then repeat the same method for the pristine clean?

[az3579]

Jon, thanks for this writeup! I purchased the 32oz bottles awhile ago and am waiting for it to heat up a bit more before using them. The backseats of my ZHP are still matte so I'm not expecting much there, but the driver and passenger seat are starting to shine/wrinkle a bit.

You should still use Leatherique on the back seats especially. Since they don't get used, no oils get on to them and eventually they'll turn into rocks, like my rears have. Doing this will keep them supple.

[JupiterBMW]

I found the spray bottle way too messy. For the rejuvenator, I would use a squirt bottle (or the one it comes in) and just pour it into your hands a little at a time, and spread that way. That stuff is supposed to go on heavy, and it's somewhat thick so it will stay where you spread it (to an extent). I liked the squirt bottle and sponge method for the cleaner.

Good luck, and agree with BP. The feel of the leather will improve dramatically, even if the look doesn't change much.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

[Simmsled]

Awesome! Love hearing of solid results.
It has been my experience that this stuff kicks ass.

I use Pristine Clean all year to clean/protect the leather, and do a round of Rejuvenator once per year.

A friend of mine made the comment about the 'shine' once.
He said the binding agent of the 'shine' is fabric softener!
Made complete sense to me. We have cut back on the softener and have actually noticed my seats not getting as shiny.

[NoVAphotog]

You should still use Leatherique on the back seats especially. Since they don't get used, no oils get on to them and eventually they'll turn into rocks, like my rears have. Doing this will keep them supple.


I found the spray bottle way too messy. For the rejuvenator, I would use a squirt bottle (or the one it comes in) and just pour it into your hands a little at a time, and spread that way. That stuff is supposed to go on heavy, and it's somewhat thick so it will stay where you spread it (to an extent). I liked the squirt bottle and sponge method for the cleaner.

Good luck, and agree with BP. The feel of the leather will improve dramatically, even if the look doesn't change much.


Sent from my iPhone 6 Plus using two hands to hold the damn thing!

Sounds good, I plan to do both front and rear. I'll post some pictures and my thoughts on my application when I get to doing it soon.

[328ioc]

Wow....night and day difference....may have to do this to the Mini.

[rguti153]

Would start tonight n hopefully finish Sunday morning gonna let this sit all tomorrow in the heat