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So on the advice of a member (Queen and Country? not sure), I went ahead and sent for this Auto Leather Guard. Didn't pay attention that the $14 bottle would cost $20 or so to air ship from the UK. Whoops. (Pretty small bottle, put a ten-er in the shot to give you a feel for size.)
Anyway, it arrives... and the damned sprayer is broken. Not gonna return it, obviously, so I remove it.... and keep removing it.... and removing it...
That stem was coiled in there like a snake. Cut about six inches off, good to go.
My hunch: since they also sell a larger size, they ran out of the sprayers for the smaller one. Thought "to hell with it," and just jammed in the larger one.
Funny thing: heard a piece on NPR a few months ago about how the choke in the supply chain for hand sanitizer was not the product itself, but the bottles - and particularly the spray stems. Worldwide shortage.
OH, AND: haven't used it yet but it looks and smells EXACTLY like the pricey Jaguar Leather Conditioner that you buy at a JLR dealership.
(On recommendation of another member, I'd tried the Griott's stuff. Overpowering fake-leather smell, like a "Leather Scent" Lil Tree air freshener. Pass.)
The leather conditioner supplied from the factory with my XKR has a thin viscosity like water. That's why I use the Griot's Garage leather care spray from Amazon - it's the closest thing I've found to the OEM Jaguar conditioner.
The OEM Jaguar leather cleaner and conditioner, as supplied in the left side of the trunk. That's what the elastic strap is for, in case you didn't know.
Below is a link to a lengthy article that, although it is an advertisement for their detailing products, includes a thorough explanation of the various types of automotive leather and their recommended care. Here's an excerpt: "I will forewarn you, the topic of leather care is very confusing and, as such, is one of the most hotly contested areas of automotive detailing just go to any detailing forum and do a search on “leather”, then sit back and get confused."
I started using Griot's around 4-5 years ago. That's what the local Aston dealer uses in their detail shop. For the little time my car is outside or driven; twice a year has been plenty. It's hard to put it on light.
On my XE which was leased I decided to not put anything on the leather since it's coated not supposed to need anything... 3 years later seats were like new with just wiping down with moist towel and occasional leather cleaner to get out jean dye and dirt.
Below is a link to a lengthy article that, although it is an advertisement for their detailing products, includes a thorough explanation of the various types of automotive leather and their recommended care. Here's an excerpt: "I will forewarn you, the topic of leather care is very confusing and, as such, is one of the most hotly contested areas of automotive detailing just go to any detailing forum and do a search on “leather”, then sit back and get confused."
Stuart, my main dealer has no idea of the little Jaguar silver spray bottle (that I had in my x100), do you perchance have the part number?
Sorry, Marky, I don't know the part number. Even if I did, I doubt that it would still be available from a main dealer. It was apparently superceded by a different design bottle, but I don't know when or if the product is the same. Trying to find one like mine would be like looking for a needle in a haystack.
The closest thing to a part number is on the label on the back of the bottle: GJE 4761 AA. That might help you find the identity of the supplier who provided it to Jaguar. I suspect it was a commercial product relabeled for sale by Jaguar, much like the Jaguar accessory battery maintainer made by CTEK and labeled with the Leaper logo.
Oh, no... I'm not gonna go down this rabbit hole. Last I checked, there were 23,454,109 threads on "Leather Care" on this forum ALONE.
Also, unfortunately I can offer no assistance in your search for that 20-year-old spray bottle from an XJ8, or whatever. Godspeed with that.
All I'm saying is I've bought the recommended Jaguar Leather Care from a JLR dealer recently. And I'm telling you that the product I posted about (which was recommended by another member) looks, feels, and smells exactly like the JLR product which I've pictured, and it's the only product that has met that criteria. If you've used the JLR product and have found something else similar, by all means share it.
(But,for sure: if you want that car-wash-leather scent, buy Griotts. It's cheaper.)
New lotion adventure
