Leather Restoration, BMW e46

Mattitude · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:01

I have a e46 coupe with sports seats (half leather) the sides are cracking and in general needs a touch up. Can anyone recommend me a kit to sort it out? cheers!

iaind · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:02

Gliptone liquid leather

mejinks · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:02

I bought a kit ages ago called gliptone I think. The website I bought it from had a kit for doing just what you need. Personally, I would take it to a leather restorer and pay £50 if its just a panel.

Joe T · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:07

Can i be the first to mention that I hear that gliptone is rather good?

iaind · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:11

Joe T said:
Can i be the first to mention that I hear that gliptone is rather good?

You're 5 minutes too late for that.

Smells lovely too (gliptone that is, not you)

Lashout_UK · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:26

Yea, it is good. I will post some comparison shots and the 'process' (although it's quite simple) tomorrow, if you'd like

Made a world of difference!

mjt · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:28

i read somewhere (on a Z4 forum?) that you can use black liquid shoe polish on black leather and it works quite well. can't find the link tho, but i've been wanting to try this

NeverWinter · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:30

Surely the polish will rub off on to clothes and the sort?

iaind · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:30

There is specific stuff for restaining leather - it's a bit more like ink in it's consistency

mjt · 1 Oct 2009 at 20:32

NeverWinter said:
Surely the polish will rub off on to clothes and the sort?

it was treated with something else afterwards, the polish was just to colour the cracked and worn leather and stitching iirc

benneh · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:05

I tried Meguiar's gold class rich leather cleaner/conditioner and had no joy whatsoever really, well, no noticeable difference (white leather in an e36), same with the aloe conditioner. I'll give Gliptone liquid leather a whirl

.

paradigm · 1 Oct 2009 at 21:55

mjt said:
i read somewhere (on a Z4 forum?) that you can use black liquid shoe polish on black leather and it works quite well. can't find the link tho, but i've been wanting to try this

I did the seats in my old Volvo 850 estate with black shoe polish. Worked wonders!

iaind · 1 Oct 2009 at 22:01

paradigm said:
I did the seats in my old Volvo 850 estate with black shoe polish. Worked wonders!

Disclaimer : only for black leather.

Wicksta · 1 Oct 2009 at 22:24

Doesn't shoe polish leave a rather... polished finish? Can't say I like that look on black leather really.