When I got my '98 XJ8 VDP last November, the leather seats were in good but not great shape, with the driver seat in particular pretty worn (no surprise afer 120K miles!). No rips/tears/holes, but lotsa noticeable cracks and creases. At my first service with the local dealer I agreed to have their interior guy do his thing, and the seats came out looking like new. Really amazing.

Now, some six months later, the seats are looking pretty bad again. I purchased some Connolly Leather Cleaner and Hide Care, and spent last Saturday carefully detailing the interior. The leather is definitely cleaner and brighter and overall looks and feels better, but the cracks and creases remain.

So...do I need to get some matching color dye, or crack filler, or both? From some of the sites I've seen, it appears the dye will fill/hide the cracks; others indicate only the crack filler will do a proper job.

Also, sections of the leather wrap on the steering wheel have worn away to black, but the leather still seems fine. Can this be dyed back to match?

Photos attached, suggestions appreciated!

 

wow! talk about a kung fu grip on that steering wheel for 120k miles! I'm still breaking in my dye job on my seats, and I think I can see it fading a bit already, like you. My guy claims it is a lifetime warranty on the dye, but I may be testing that soon. Only thing that will kill the warranty he states, is using harsh cleaners on it. Can't tell you which way to go here, sorry.

 

I'm interested to see where this thread goes, because my seats are beginning to look similar. The selling dealer dyed the problem areas before the car was delivered, and they looked fine for a while. Now they are beginning to look bad again.

 

I have restored a 26 year old Volvo and also treated my 2000 XK8 with products from http://www.leatherique.com/

Could not believe the affect on that old Volvo. The leather was dry and hard as cardboard but not cracked and it completely came back to life. They have a complete line of dyes but I have not tried them.

 

our interior guy actually sprays them with an airbrush.. an makes them look brand new.. and the steering wheel too.. looks perfect .. can last a couple years..the leather is expensive to replace.. couple k's..

 

I think my local dealer's interior guy used an airbrush as well because:

1 - the seats came out looking amazing
2 - I found traces of seat-colored overspray on various wood trim when I detailed the interior a few weeks back.

Would anyone know what exactly is sprayed (dye alone, or some combo of dye and filler)?

Whatever was done, it only held up about six months. Seems odd since I'm the only one who drives the car, and have put only 4K miles on it since the job was done. Hmmm, maybe I should go back to the dealer and see what they can do for me?

 

i wud.. they may only just re spray it again.. but at least it will look good again

 

I'd invest the money into a quality set of sheepskin seatcovers ($200and up)if I were you andthen respray the steering wheel. A local body shop supplier who carries SEM brand interior paints in the rattle can would be just the ticket.

The oatmeal leather interior on my 01 with only 55K was pretty beat also but I ended up replacing it all with the black interior from my parts car.The black interior seemes to hold up waaay better than the lighter colors.

 

How much did it cost to have your seats sprayed? My seats are cracking and cleaning and detailing only goes so far....

 

I have had my seats done a couple times, and the first time it was $125 per seat, but has been going down since then. You would be suprised at the difference. Cracks and creases are barely noticable afterward. Find a mobile company, and it makes it more convenient for you.

 

On the steering wheel just buy one off ebay for about $150 - 250...That's what I did... On the seats.. asstated get it resprayed again or go toa supply house and buy the spray dye yourself for about $7 a can and DIY. It willlast as long. Be careful on cleaning dyed seats, because the cleaner will strip it. Remember it is just sprayed on dye not oem processed dye.