A buddy of mine had problems where the leather came off a bit on his dash in a used Aston Martin vantage he bought. From what I gather he was able to fix it himself without too much issue.

I've seen lots of references out there for various cars where similar things seem to be happening, and then recently saw such references in regards to the F-type in particular.

Right now I'm considering going with the full extended leather option for an F-type build. That, of course, involves having a full leather dash.

Is leather on dashes separating a thing in general for a lot of high end sports cars? Never really had a car with true leather on the dash before, so I just don't really have any idea.

Is this a reasonably wide spread issue with F-types, or is the sense that it is reasonably isolated? Searching a bit didn't really seem to allow me to arrive at anything concrete.

Thanks in advance for any thoughts/inputs you might on this.

Cheers

 

Haven't noticed any issues with my MY18 dash so far. Maybe if you park it in direct hot sunlight it may have a detrimental effect (no problem in the UK!).

 

It's not going to be an issue if you buy it new, and keep it conditioned. Also keep in mind that the majority of dashes that you think are leather are just vinyl with a fancy name (also stitched). My issue with leather dashes, which I found out the hard way, is they're literally paper thin. I accidentally hit the dash on my brand new Porsche when moving my right hand over to mess with the stereo, and lifted the leather right off. And yes, I had my nails clipped. And I didn't even hit it hard at all. Was surprised how susceptible it is to damage. So besides keeping it conditioned, be super careful too. I assume it's the same with all vehicles with dash leathers, but since Porsche doesn't offer vinyl-covered dashes just plastic or leather, it has to be ultra thin. Since Jaguar uses either vinyl or leather covering the dash, it's possible leather could be thicker than Porsche. Anyway, I'm looking for a P450 with full extended leather too, and Meridian surround as well. Good luck.

 

I remember when the XK first came out, my mechanic at my then local Jaguar dealership told me that they were having a large number of leather dash issues and failures. That said, I personally had no issues with the dash on my 2012 XKR. I recently purchased a 2018 F-Type R with only 9000 mi on the odometer and I have noticed that the leather on the pop-up A/C vent area is starting to curl around the speaker grill. While saddles are made of leather and don't seem to be affected by the sun, I am quite certain that the leather used on the dash area of out cars is thin and not nearly as robust. Sun is brutal and I suspect proper care and conditioning is important. for my part, I keep her in the garage and only take her out under good conditions. Congrats and good luck with the new car!

 

Yes this is and was a huge problem on the XF models. If your interested there are dozens of threads on the XF forum with pictures showing dash leather pulling away from the edges. Usually up in the front center of the dashboard around the center dash speaker cover. There are several ways people have had this fixed. From Jaguar covering it and giving you a new dash (Pretty rare!) to just a stretch and re-glue. Many suggestions to add staples around the edge as it appears Jaguar did that later on to help prevent this problem.

Why so bad on the XF only? Don't know and it does happen on other models of Jaguar but it's not common.

While true that some so-called leather dashes are vinyl my 2014 XJR dash is all real leather. But as posted above there are so many levels of leather quality that we really can't just say leather anymore. They even sell one type of "leather" that's made up of scrap pieces all ground up and reformed kind of like chicken tenders!

The best thing you can do for the dash and the rest of the car is to park inside out of the sun if possible.
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Wow, it seems crazy that something like that could have damaged your dash. So weird.

I thought that these leathers were coated leathers in modern cars, and that "conditioning" it was a waste of time? If there is a coating the conditioner ends up just building up. That sorta what I read...

Good luck on your car search. As I mentioned to you in another thread, it looks like I lucked out for my 2024 build and will be able to add the Meridian surround after all.

 

When I searched the forum I saw tons of references to the XKR having the issue I believe. Interesting to see your comments about your 2018 F-type. Will have to keep an eye I guess.

 

This car will definitely not be parked in the sun.

Funny enough I read somewhere that using a lot of air conditioning in your car can contribute to such problem...lol...Not sure how true it is, but I did read that...Causes leather to shrink or something...

 

This is untrue. Yes, modern leathers have a colour coat but they still need conditioning with a good, non-silicone leather conditioner to maintain the suppleness of the surface, and yes, the good conditioners DO penetrate. No matter how many times you read or hear that conditioning is a “waste of time”, don’t believe it. Regular use of a good conditioner will prevent drying and shrinkage of the leather. This is particularly important in cars regularly exposed for long periods to sun and heat.

 

It’s so hard to know what the deal is. There are some pretty reputable detailers on YouTube swearing up and down that conditioners cannot penetrate the plastic coating that is over top modern leather.

 

I've always used Connolly Hide Care or generic Saddle Soap on our leather-covered cars. But that was just as prevention and care. Has worked well on our 35 year old English car. Yearly application has been the key.

Other marque owners swear by Leatherique products to restore damaged leather and prevent shrinkage.

LRP PRODUCTS | Leatherique Restoration Preservation LTD

 

Well, they are wrong. Over the last 30 years, I have restored and maintained many Jaguars, most from the age of “coated leathers” (that is from the early 80’s onward) and I know very well the difference between leather interiors that have not been maintained with regular conditioning and those that have. Those that have not been maintained have shrunken leather, wibbly seat piping because of that shrinkage, cracking of the colour surface and often of the leather itself, dry and hard surfaces and stitching that has broken because the leather has shrunk and pulled at the stitching. In other words, in the worst cases the leather is irretrievably damaged.

In distinct contrast, leather that has been regularly conditioned generally needs only a proper cleaning, sometimes a dye/colour touch up in places of constant wear (the driver’s seat bolster being the most common wear spot) using the same water-based polymer colourants as originally applied, and another application of a good, non-silicone conditioner. The interior thus treated can and will look and feel virtually as new after 15 or 25 years or longer. A properly maintained leather surface will remain soft and smooth and supple. This is not opinion, but my actual experience. Good leather conditioners: Leatherique, Lexol, Autoglym Leather Balm…and there are others.

But those who want to abstain from the use of non-silicone conditioners are entirely free to do so.

 

Really appreciate you taking the time to give us the benefit of your experience. That’s what makes this stuff challenging. If you’ve watched that first video I posted that guy speaks with as much conviction, and he does this stuff for a living.

Doing nothing at all is a 3rd option, which is what I’ve done for years, but for this F-type purchase I would like to stay ahead of things and keep things looking good. It will be a labour of love as they say ;-0

No issues with perforated leather with your approach I gather?
Are you able to maintain the original matte finish?

 

Lots of discussion about leather care over on the Pommy forum and the general consensus is that a good quality product does penetrate the modern PVC protective coating and protect and nourish the underlying leather.
I use Autoglym Leather Balm on the seats and door panels and Aerospace 303 Protectant on the dash and door tops, roughly once every three months, and my leather is still like new after nearly 10 years.

 

Sov211's recommendation to stay away from silicone based conditioners is a good one. Silicone can do odd things in a vehicle interior and be difficult to remedy once it is there. One time I made the mistake of having a "professional" detailer detail my car. They used a silicone conditioner on the dashboard and probably the leather seats as well.

I'm sure most of us are aware of the phenomenon of "off gassing" that occurs when vehicles are parked in the sun and the chemicals from the interior and dash form a film on the inside of the windshield.
Well, the silicone from the dash treatment created a film on the inside of my windshield that I was never able to completely remove, even after wiping it down with things like acetone. (the glass, not the dashboard) A few days later the film returned and was particularly noticeable at night. Silicone is the devil's juice when it comes to vehicle interiors.

For more than 20 years I have been using Aerospace 303 for the plastic and rubber interior parts of my vehicles with excellent results and Lexol, Zaino and lately Autoglym on the leather. I also was a daily user of a car cover when I was still working and my cars sat in the Sou. Cal sun all day. My cars always looked great both inside and out and I received regular compliments on how "new" they looked.
Minimizing direct sun exposure along with regular application of quality auto care products was the key.

 

Absolutely stay away from anything with silicone! Another line of non-silicone leather cleaners, softeners/conditioners, custom leather dyes, etc. based in Pennsyvania is a firm called "ColorPlus" Leather Restoration Systems (colorplus.com). I've used it for over ten years and is held in high regard by many Porsche owners (I have a Porsche 928 also). The softener works excellent and trully penetrates contemporary leathers, keeping it nourished and flexible. Check it out!

 

Regards protecting the seat bolsters from abrasion:

Get in the habit of covering them with a hand, as you enter and exit.

 

For those who do not believe in the value of conditioning leather, examples from two Series III V12 Vanden Plas interiors: Look at the effect of allowing the leather to age without conditioners: note the distorted piping on the seats, both driver's and passenger seats, caused by the leather drying and shrinking:
In contrast, seats that have been regularly treated with a non-silicone conditioner: note the straight edges, and what cannot be seen so clearly is the soft and supple surface of the leather - and yes, the leather in both cars has the surface colour coat which supposedly does not accept conditioners: The leather is Connolly Autolux (their highest grade) in both cars:





Pictures are worth more than 1000 words, no?

 

This is a very well known issue on JLR cars especially from warranty standpoint during my time with JLRNA. The adhesive used to the leather down on the dash and the headliner (if equipped) is prone to failing in high heat/high humidity areas. Most warranty claims related to leather pulling/bubbling came from California, Arizona, New Mexico, Texas and Florida.

 

Does seem a tad convincing ;-0

I had asked above, but I’ll ask again: Is your regiment keeping the original matte finish of the leather or does it end up shining up a bit?

Coating or no coating, I guess the realities of potential shrinkage still remains. Half these detailers are probably not thinking or caring about long term realities. Just cleaning and then protecting the leather can’t really address the shrinkage thing. The best you could almost hope for is that the conditioner does eventually break down and get through the coating so it can give the leather a drink to prevent dash and other shrinkage…I suppose…