What leather products leave factory matte finish?

[CARVER]

Was wondering what leather cleaners/conditioners leave the leather with a flat non-shiny matte factory like finish for black nappa? Definitely am trying to avoid anything that leaves the seats glossy. Am leaning toward Leatherique as I've heard it looks unchanged after treatment.
Any experiences appreciated.

[Bmw Rollin']

meguiar's gold class cleaner/conditioner does not leave leather glossy. I use it on my parent's cars since they don't like em shiny.

[Eric Giles]

Leatherique does what you want-its not glossy at all. It just makes the leather cleaner and softer.

[CARVER]

Thanks

[MGRMLN]

Connolly Hide Food or Spinneybeck.
Both are the only products to use on the Nappa leather in ///M cars.

[CARVER]

Can you explain why those two are the "only" products to use on Nappa leather and how Leatherique or the BMW recommended and carried product for Nappa leather is not?

[MGRMLN]

Sorry. Should have clarified. Leatherique is definitely ok for nappa too although, I've always had the impression that it was for more neglected leather. Perhaps that's wrong, but that's how I've understood it to be used.

As far as BMW's leather threatment, I don't know. I've never used it. All the BMW branded products in the parts department are actually made by other companies and I don't know who makes the BMW brand leather product, so I don't use it. BTW, my service dept also sells Lexol, which they claim is fine for Nappa leather. WRONG!

Lexol ends up clogging up the pores of Nappa leather, making it shiney and sticky.

Spinneyback and Connolly, which I have both, do not do this.
Spinneybeck is a synthetic cleaner and treatment. I like it to clean the leather.

Connolly is organic, actually has fat and stuff in it. I like it best, but it will go racid after a few years, especially if it's stored somewhere warm. And I understand that the company has gone belly up so I don't know if they'll keep making this or not.

[CARVER]

Thanks.
I guess the problem I have with the Spinneybeck is that it is a cleaner and conditioner in one. I have a hard time understanding how one product can remove my perspiration/oils, dirt, salts etc. and apply conditioners all in one step with one formula. Maybe it can, it just seems like a compromise vs. cleaning then treating the leather like Leatherique or Connolly recommend.

[MGRMLN]

yup.
I understand.

When I need to clean-Spinneybeck
When i just want to condition-Connolly

Are we a picky, neurotic group of fanatics or what?:)

[MWhip]

What is Nappa Leather??? I have the lux package in my 96...what should i be using and what should I not be. I would like to use something that makes the leather a lil softer. THe leather seems kinda hard in the car not sure what the previous owner did or what but I just picked up this car a few months ago. Been using Gold Class which does not leave any shine to it at all but seems to condition the leather pretty good. However it does not soften up the leather any.

[MGRMLN]

<b>nappa leather</b>
"A soft, full grain leather made from an unsplit sheepskin, lambskin, or kidskin, usually tanned with alum and chromium salts and dyed throughout."

Nappa leather *should* be unbelieveably soft. If it's not, chances are it's been neglected and dried out or it's been treated with incorrect cleaners/conditioners.

I believe Leatherique is wonderful for reviving neglected leather, restoring the softness and alleviating cracking. See above for maintaining it.

[MWhip]

So do all M's come w/ Nappa leather? Both The sport and the lux package interior ///M's??? If so let me know i'm gonna go out and get me some of that stuff to get her back to the stock feel and finish of the leather.

[marzen]

Leatherique works well for me. I use it to maintain my leather seats with very good results. Just buff off excess Rejuvinating Oil with soft cotton towel until you get a matte finish.

The softest leather I have come accross are the ones used for the new Lexus SC and LS. Anybody knows what kind/type of leather this is?

[MGRMLN]

So do all M's come w/ Nappa leather? Both The sport and the lux package interior ///M's??? If so let me know i'm gonna go out and get me some of that stuff to get her back to the stock feel and finish of the leather.

I believe all M Coupes came with Nappa leather. The very rare exception are the cars delivered with the "dot leather" seats. The center section of the seats look sort of like Osctrich hide with little raised dots. I've only ever seen biege/tan seats like this. They are a bit "harder" than Nappa but probably will wear better as a result.
Nappa is VERY EASILY scuffed of damaged. Just look on any M car's driver's bolster for proof.

I'm not sure about dot leather, but the M Car leather comes from a German company called Bader. Lexus also buys it's "Comfort Nappa" leather from them. it's beautiful stuff.

http://www.bader-leather.de/

[MWhip]

So i may not have Nappa In my 96 ///M3 w/ Lux package?

[sben]

A soft, full grain leather made from an unsplit sheepskin, lambskin, or kidskin
:confused:

heheh, just kidding, er joking...I know what it means



p.s. sorry bout the horrible pun, sadly enough it really was an accident

[Garrett M]

Any new input on this?

[TOGWT]

Any new input on this?

Before using a leather care product a detailer needs to know the material they are working on, and wither the product chosen is compatible with the material and will not damage it. Diagnosis is the key, not guess work. Before deciding on what products to use you need to ascertain what type of leather finish you have and wither the pigmented leather has a polyurethane covering, or is (un-coated) finished natural leather, as the cleaning / maintenance varies as to type; although they all require a water-based product to maintain hydration (a suede type leather like Nubuck is the exception).

Automotive leather care is a subject surrounded with misinformation and myth, products such as leather (Saddle) soaps, oil-based Conditioners, Neats-foot oil, and Hide Food still prevails as top sellers, albeit most are made for equestrian tack or material that is no longer used for automotive upholstery. In a market that is dominated by pigmented leather with an acrylic polythene protective covering; which are very different leathers with completely differing care requirements. The exact reason why this is the case is unclear. It’s possible that there is an association with old world quality (i.e. leather upholstery and burl wood interiors) with these types of products, despite the fact that the automotive industry has been using pigmented and/or polyurethane covered leather for many years.

Many of the newer vehicles do not use natural leather hides anymore Approximately 80% of vehicle manufacturers are using (thermoplastic) polyurethane covered pigmented leather for their interior upholstery. Pigmented leather simply means that the finished leather or polyurethane covering has been coloured (you’ve never seen grey cows have you?) Are we to take care of the leather or the protective covering? The answer is to take care of the protective topcoat and the leather will take care of itself.

As materials and production methods change; we need to adapt the products used and application methodologies to change with them

Compare automobile upholstery [finished pigmented leather] to a vehicles paint surface with a clear coat;
1. A base material (metal) with a colour coat of water-based polymer paint
[Leather hide pigmented with a water-based polymer resin]

2. A water-based polymer clear coat to provide protection
[Water-based polyethylene clear coating to provide protection]

3. Paint doesn’t need oils to feed it (whatever Zymol says); it’s not a living thing.
[Leather was removed from a dead animal, it’s then fat-liquored to preserve its oils and then sealed and pigmented(water-based paint) so it doesn’t need oils to feed or condition it, even if they could permeate the various coverings]

Basic Leather care - http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/...ther-care.html (http://www.autogeekonline.net/forum/auto-detailing-university/11376-basic-leather-care.html)

[jmillet]

Was wondering what leather cleaners/conditioners leave the leather with a flat non-shiny matte factory like finish for black nappa? Definitely am trying to avoid anything that leaves the seats glossy. Am leaning toward Leatherique as I've heard it looks unchanged after treatment.
Any experiences appreciated.

I have matte black Nappa leather in my Z4MC and find that Leather Master products http://us.multimastershop.com/index.php do a great job of cleaning and conditioning this leather while maintaining the matte finish. I've also used Connelly Hide Care with good results.
Usual disclaimers apply. Just a satisfied user.

[Woob]

Leather Master, Leatherique, or Optimum Protectant

[nick325xit 5spd]

I've used leatherique and spinneybeck. IMHO, spinneybeck had better results on seats in good condition - the leather looked clean, but otherwise unchanged, and the softness difference was huge.