I've got the light colored (biscuit?) interior in my '00 XJ8.

It's got some worn in dirt and grime from prior owner. Looking for suggestions to give me the best shot at getting it most clean. Also there's a bit of early cracking on the forward part of the seat of the passenger seat. Anything I can apply to forestall further damage.

Thanks

 

I have had superb results with this stuff (no affiliation, etc)
http://www.leatherique.com/

Cheers!

 

Try using a nail brush and some soap on the cracks. I tried it on the cracks on my leather and it got the muck right out if there.

 

Did you rinse it off with the damp cloth! try this stuff, the cleaner - conditioner and scuffmaster, they use Gliptone in the trim shop at the Jag factory

http://www.liquidleather.com/scuffs.htm

I recommend it mate

 

I've been through at least a gallon of the Leatherique products in restoring an old car where the seats were not only 28 year old filthy but hard as cardboard. Worked wonders but needs to be used a reasonable temperatures like a warm car in the sun.

 

@ SeanB: Yeah I wiped it off. I have a vast stock of leather treatment products in my garage but sometimes need the brush to get right into where the muck is. It is only my seat that gets particularly mucky, I think it is the diesel fumes from the buses & coaches sticking to my clothes then rubbing off onto my interior. About twice a year I'll spend a good couple of hours treating and cleaning the leather.

 

I've noticed that new blue jeans tend to leave color behind also. It's frustrating... Just get it off asap or it becomes hard to deal with later. I have black interior, buy my wife's car is Light Grey and it happens easily. Plus, she's always wearing NEW jeans. Go figure.