I have just bought a 2003 XK8 convertable and it had the usual worn and cracked arm rest and seats. Out came a can of Valspar satin spray paint I happen to have on the shelf, and sure enough, it matched the light tan color. Sprayed the bad area with several heavy coats and it looks a whole lot better. Not perfit, but passable at 4ft. It was Valspar premium enamel, interior/exterior, ideal for wood medal & more. hope this helps someone

 

Interested to see how long that paint stays on.

 

Can you post a picture?

 

Now that's got to be a first, please do let us know how it holds up.

 

Go online, get leather filler, rub the seat covers(and armrest) down with rubbing alcohol and clean cloths until dull and semi rough, apply the filler and let dry, thin layers, sanding in between until you can no longer feel the crack with your fingernail.

Careful to watch for the threading, as sanding it will cause it to tear and stick up lol.

Then get leather primer/prep, lightly wetsand the seat,clean up, apply several thin coat of the primer, allowing to dry, then spray the leather colorant of your choice, several coats, thin, allowing each coat to dry.

I removed my seats to do this. Materials was like $50, compared to $450 seat covers, that you instal yourself or pay $1,300 for both seats at most auto upholstery shops to replace the materials.

 

This reminds me of a owner of a used car lot that I knew quite a few years ago. He would use Dupli-Color spray can paint. He would pull the seats and carpeting out and spray both. The painted seats were questionable, but the carpets would look new. I don't know how long this would last, but I think the paint might come off of the seats on your clothing after a while.

 

Here is a pic of the seat paint job. Wife this car daily and no complaints of paint coming off or getting on her clothes. [believe me, I would hear.] Hopes this helps.

 

I re-painted my badly worn & cracked seats year ago using proper Jag color coded leather paint (same stuff as original leather paints) which I got from uk company named furnitureclinic.

Coarse procedure, detailed instructions available from furnitureclinic:
1. Strip off old leather paint basically using using thinner, let paint remover evaporate at least 12hrs
2. Slightly sand surfaces if needed
3. Fill in cracks using special leather filler & sand excess off if needed
4. Add paint adhesive (optional but recommended)
5. Paint several layers using real leather color (polyurethane paint if I recall right) using low pressure paint gun
6. After dry, add surface lacquer sealer w/suitable gloss using paint gun
7. Apply leather balm regular

Picture of my front seats after re-paint. No problems noticed yet regarding paint.




Here is also Finnish car care forum link thread of guy who got me inspired first time. He re-paints BMW seats (don't mind language, pictures tell more)
Nahkasisustan kunnostaminen - DIY - Part I & II

 

And here is my job,the color is light camel. For some reason digital cameras do not like like sun light,sorry