I have read a lot of complaints about the leather seats and I would like to offer my opinion. I happen to be in the furniture industry and the fact that there is only leather on the seating surface and vinyl on the sides is fine with me. In furniture we call this leather mate. The theory is you put leather where the body touches and vinyl where it doesn't. This reduces costs quite a bit. As far as the leather quality, the leather in the TL is actually really good compared to other vehicles. I have a 2000 Tahoe and the leather in that car is crap. Maybe you guys just need to use a little lexol on your seats.

 

i was thinking, are there any negative effects by using lexol "too often"?

 

I have a couple questions. Say if your leather seats is starting to crack and you now just started to use a Lexol or Meguiars leather product, will the cracks on my seats go away or is it too late? Another question, Which is better Lexol or Meguairs leather conditioning product? Is there any brand better than these two? Imma go buy me some this weekend or so. And my last question. I have a 2001 and my seats is starting to crack, should i get the products or just take it to the dealer since its still under warranty and its a 2001 TL? Hopefully i can take it to the dealer but what do you guys think?


Thanks

 

well i think those stuff are just for maintaining the leather, not repairing. so i suppose you can't repair the cracks on the leather. both lexol and Meguiars are good stuff, and i think people here in the forum will have different opinions on them. i personally go with lexol and it's been great.

i use it every 1 or 2 weeks so i was thinking if that's too much or just right.

last of all, i don't know if you can get your leather seats changed at the dealer though. the car is still under warranty but by "theory" they replace stuff under manufacturer defect. leather cracking might not fall under the category. but then i have heard cases where people did get their leather replaced under warranty. good luck

 

my dealer just ordered new leather for my TL and he said if it happens again before the warrrenty runs out they will replace again.

 

I have been using 303 protectant on my leather seats. The problem with leather is that in most cases, ours included, the leather has a clearcoat-like coating to protect it from spills, scuffs, etc.

Lexol is good, but I've seen what Lexol can do to clearcoated leather. Not good. The key is that whatever you do, don't do it too often. Too much conditioning/cleaning is just as bad if not worse than none.

I've found something that works well.

Coat your seats with a good amount of Lexol or 303. Let it soak in well. Leave the car in the sun with the windows up. The "greenhouse" effect with help warm the leather and soak the product into the leather. I've even on cold days turned the heated seats on for a while and get them nice and hot to help too.

Once it dries, buff off with a clean soft 100% cotton towel.

 

You're talking about the conditioner, right?

 

Yeah the conditioner.

 

You should look at this web site. www.leatherique.com The site is a bit odd, but the stuff that they sell is fantastic. They are involved with the restoration of older leather in exotic cars. I have used their stuff and the results are extremely good.

 

You should look at this web site. www.leatherique.com The site is a bit odd, but the stuff that they sell is fantastic. They are involved with the restoration of older leather in exotic cars. I have used their stuff and the results are extremely good.

 

Lexol is the best stuff you can buy at the car parts store. If you really want good leather conditioner go down to your local furniture store and see what they have. I know in my family's store we sell a leather care kit that includes some shampoo, and two types of conditioner. Lexol and the leather care products are great on the vinyl trim too. As far as using lexol too often, I do my seats about once a month now, but when I lived in Arizona I did them twice a month. Another method of protection for the seats is to have them treated with stainsafe. This will help protect them from UV rays. I had the whole car stain safed, seats, carpets, and the trunk.

 

Aepiua,

Thanks for your great input into this leather. You say the leather in our car is good quality, i know nothing about leather except if it feels "soft", then it's good. How can we judge if it's good leather? IE, Tahoe leather is harder so it's not as good?

Educate us lay people. I know that once i Lexol the TL leather it is softer to to feel.

thanks, man

 

When it comes to cars, there really is no "good" leather unless you end up in a Bentley or a Rolls Royce. You can only find ok leather, and the stuff in are cars isn't bad. When it comes to finding ok leather in cars, the softer isn't necessarily the better. Mercedes perforated leather is good stuff. The perforation helps keep it from cracking. When you look at leather on a car, the tighter the leather the better, it won't be likely to crack and develop wear spots. The stuff in our car is pretty tight, and is already pre-folded. Leather seating surfaces come in all different types. My guess is that the leather in our TL's is not from a cow, but from a water buffalo. The quality also depends on the animal and how the skin was treated and dyed. If you want to more let me know. I could probably write you a book on picking out a leather sofa.

 

What about the Type S seats? are they any good?

 

I love the Type-S seats. They respond well to Lexol treatment--they become really supple and comfy after a good cleaning and treatment.
And it helps that the water buffaloes in question has spent much of their lives in Water Buffalo Spas getting facials, mud baths and Retin-A treatments.