I DO buy black interiors, because I LIKE them. I also like Lunar Grey exteriors so I BOUGHT one. I also take the proper care FOR my black interior. I don't understand why people buy LIGHT colored interiors as they are, in my opinion, "grody".

 

My 12 XK vert had a caramel interior. I found that the reflections off the dash would really hamper forward visibility when the sun was at the right (wrong) angle. Darker dash tops also cause reflections on the windshield but to a much lesser extent. No more light colored dashes for me.

 

While not leather, a piece of wood trim on the door of our 2010 MB E350 coupe started coming off. The MB dealer told me that I couldn't replace just one piece because it wouldn't match. They would have to replace it all the interior wood trim for a mere $2,800. I opted for Gorilla Glue at $3.42 (including tax), reattached the trim piece, then sold our first (and last) MB.

 

Q and C,
I opt for a black interior especially on Jaguars because a) they are easy to touch up on the bolsters and seats with simple black shoe polish when you have a scuff or slight wear. But also because I have a Jaguar XJ sport that has the light (I think biscuit) interior and every Jaguar I've ever seen with a light interior, has severe cracking, splitting, and peeling of the leather, and it's more difficult to easily repair. Black will look newer and fresher for far longer in both time and miles.

 

The gray "leather" on my 2011 XKR coupe dash was also lifting and pulling away from the joint with the defrost vents. It turned out to be vinyl rather than leather! The fix was a local upholstery shop that pulled the windshield and then reglued and restapled the dash covering and then glued in a "bead" to cover the joint. It cost $1,400 and looks great now. The reassembly of the under hood plastic parts left a little bit to be desired, (couldn't get the hood to latch closed!) but I was able to correct things fairly easily.

 

Just noticed that on my door cards, the leather is also bubbling! What a piece of ****!

 

My door leather came loose. I thought it was because I used a cover in the blazing Florida heat which steamed it loose. I only used a cover because my second top had gone bad around the window. Can't win with these convertibles? I got the door mid section reglued @$150 a side. But at least I can sell it looking good now. Another place had quoted @$100 replace with nice vinyl. Not the worst prices. The top was $1800 German canvas with lifetime warranty on window at least.

 

The window can be re-glued with Rhino Glue and special clamps, an easy DIY fix for around $50.
See: www.jaguarforums.com/forum/xk-xkr-x150-33/window-convertible-top-97478/page7/

 

I'm getting the "pull" as well, on the passenger side, near the windshield. Damn.
After everything I've read here... honestly, if it doesn't get any worse, I'm gonna live with it. And if it does, at least there are a couple of good LA referrals on this thread for a local guy to use for a professional stretch-n-staple. No way I'm going to the dealer for this. Also... when I was having my differential issues this summer, I saw an XK in their bays, and the service manager said it was having the dash replaced-- and I THINK (don't quote me) he said they've stopped manufacturing them? That the one they were putting in was one of the last ones? So you can't get a new-from-Jaguar replacement at any price? I remember thinking that that couldn't be true...

(Also, count me among those that understand conditioners and treatments to be of little effect on leather that's used in cars now, given the way it's coated and sealed. So if you're a person who's not used a lot of conditioners so far, no-- I don't think you've ruined anything. I use the Jag-Land Rover cleaner and conditioner every few months, which is stupidly overpriced, mostly because I like the way it smells. You do get that "new Jag smell" once you're done....)

 

Purchasing a new dash would only get you the same issue a few months or a couple of years later as the new ones didn't have staples in them either, so they are destined to fail as well. If you end up needing an L.A. referral, just p.m. me as I have successfully restretched mine and more than 3 years later, it still is nearly perfect.

 

At least the gray dash covering on my 2011 XKR turned out to be vinyl rather than the expected leather. I know, I saw it up close and personal.The car was leased in SoCal for the first 3 years of its life and I'm pretty sure it sustained all of its shrinkage in the Warm California Sun! I never even noticed the problem until at least a year after I acquired the car. Of course it's now in the Pacific Northwest, and always garaged like the queen that she really is.

 

Interesting as I didn't know there was a vinyl option. My 2012 XKR is leather so I must have an upgrade which is not on my window sticker. I do have the leather headliner option though.

 

I believe leather is unaffected by heat- UV, superficiality, and whatever LA can throw at it.
Humidity on the other hand- is crucial for leathers.
And lack-of is an incredibly difficult environment to recreate in the British Isles.

Did You Know? Humidity Can Affect Leather | LeatherCult

 

I have to say... elegance and looks-factor aside, a leather dash has always seemed a strange concept to me.

 

I dunno, leather seems like a viable alternative to vinyl, as I still remember seeing scores upon scored of vinyl dashes in miserable shape in my life:

 

Just bought an 09 XK Convertible and we also have a bubble mid dash that is lifted. My husbands first suggestion was a needle with adhesive. I had no idea this was such a huge issue. He builds hot rods and has some upholstery guys, and my father is an experienced upholsterer (50yrs) so maybe I will wait for him to come visit.

 

Check the Tberg posts on this thread and you will find a solution. As I recall he removed the dash and an upholsterer friend of his stapled the leather to the dash and no more problems.

 

Since I don't want to go through the hassle of replacement or a $1000 repair, I tried using Rhino glue focusing on the front edge of the leather (closest to the windshield). So far seems to be firmly stuck on there, and even if it's not how it's supposed to be at least it looks better than before and nothing is flapping in the wind!

 

How did you apply it and hold the leather flap in place long enough for it to grab hold?

 

It seems it only takes about 30 seconds for it to bond. The bottle instructions say to hold two items together for 60 seconds. So it's really not that bad to hold it with your hand for that amount of time. Not a perfect job by any means but I think it looks like I turned back the clock about 3 years.