It's been about 2 weeks since I got my 05 TL and must admit...I am LOVING IT!!!

Now the time has come for me to start doing some long term preventive maintence.

What can I do to prevent the leather cracking, hardening, fading, etc in the years to come??

I plan on getting tints soon, so I know that will help.

I've heard that if I condtion my leather every month for the first year that my leather would be like new for many years. Is this true??

Any info on this topic would be helpful!!

Thanks~~

P.S. What other stuff can I do besides leather??

 

Lexol leather cleaner

 

lexol - i hear zaino makes some good stuff... i havnt used it though (www.zainobros.com)

tints: make sure you get moleskin - do a search lots of scratched tints

lexol makes good stuff to clean the dash also - a vinyl cleaner - it works great.

 

yep, been very happy with the zaino leather cleaner and leather conditioners. heard nothing but good stuff about lexol.

 

The Zaino leather has the best scent...makes everything smell new again. I highly recommend it.

 

werd. If you do not like smell of leather. Do not get Zaino. I love Zaino leather in a bottle. After 15 moth and 19K miles, I have my leather like new.

 

Thanks for the recommendations!!

How often do you condition it??
Should I do it every month for the first year??

 

i do it twice a month

 

Me too...

 

where you guys get zaino from? any particular stores?

 

In another post, someone said online only. http://www.zainostore.com

I'm thinking of getting it too. How long to the bottles last for:
Z-9 Leather Soft Spray Cleaner
Z-10 Leather in a Bottle

?? I'm wondering if I should just order two sets for now.

 

Twice a month? I think thats overkill. I read on Autopia that you can over-condition your leather. I do it once every 2 months and my leather looks great.

 

Vote for Zaino

 

I do it once in two three months. I still have 3/4th of bottle left after 15 months. I'll say order one set and see for yourself how you consum it. Zaino leather in a bottle needs to be applied with a pad and you do not need to buff. It lasts a long time.

 

Zaino is the best i've used. I recommend using their entire line of products. I only use Zaino for car care

 

i use lexol cleaner and conditioner.. 2 seperate bottle sprays and i love it leather feels nice and soft

 

How about a leather spot cleaner, maybe like a container of wipies, to throw in the glove box or something like that? Any products out there?

Tks,

 

Any suggestions for perforated leather? I haven't done mine yet and have heard some people speak of issues getting the conditioner out of the perforations.

 

not sure if this will get me laughed at, but I used the original armor all on my 2000 TL (parchment interior) for 4 years...never had any problems with it...other than the parchment showed dirt pretty easily and I didn't try anything to actually clean the leather...

Is there something I don't about it that should cause me not to use it???

 

I heard that Armor All drys out leather and vinyl, not completly sure.

What does everybody use on the dash??

 

On the dash and vinyl, use 303 Aerospace Protectant. Restores back to new.

 

The best stuff IMHO for the dash is 303 Protectant. That stuff has a nice matte finish and looks like it came out from the showroom floor. Very simple to use...just apply and wipe off.

 

it dries out everything over time. i use lexol for the vinyl - and i love it.

 

what store sells 303 protectant or is it only available online?

 

To clean the leather: 6-to-1 mixture of water and Woolite.

To condition: Lexol.

 

Ace Hardware can order it in for you. They don't stock it, but that's what I did.

 

I buy 303 at West Marine in Phoenix - most likely also available at other boating/airplane supply.

West Marine is a national chain.

 

I've been busy with work and finally have time to take of the leather.
I went to Pep Boys to purchase the Lexol, unfortunately they only had the Conditioner and not the cleaner.
I also wanted to purchase the 303 Protectant but the sales rep and manager says they never heard of it.

Does anybody know where I can get one in the SoCal area?? If not where to order it??

I guess it worked out for me, wait a few more days to detail the interior.

 

$$ for zaino?50$$ or smthing right? ouch thats expensive and it is only available online....

 

Using Mothers conditioner because I can't find Zaino products here.

I am curious if you guys are also using conditioner on the steering wheel ?

 

Steering wheel... YES... Definately.

 

People sell it on ebay. About 3 weeks ago when I went to purchase a bottle, I went to my local R&S Strauss Discount Auto (the 303 site said they carry it). I couldn't find it at all in the store where the other cleaning products were, for I went and found an employee. The kid had no clue what I was talking about and looked it up in the computer; luckily for me it was being discontinued by the store (don't know if its the whole chain or not) and there was a special area for those products. I picked up a 16oz bottle with normally sells for like 17 bucks for only 2!.

 

This is where I get it. You can print an order form and fax or phone it it. Fast delivery too. Also their tire polish, waxes and spray enhancers are the best I have ever used.

http://www.zaino.ca/

 

Hey folks ... a few days ago I received my two Zaino leather products, the cleaner and conditioner. Since my leather was clean I did not use the cleaner and only applied the leather in a bottle as directed. It went on great ... looked and smelled fantastic!

Until I got in my car the next day and noticed that the leather looked dull and dried out ... what happed?!?

It actually looks pretty crappy, I know something must be wrong, since I heard nothing but good things about this stuff ... the 303 Aerospace rocks ... now if I can just get the leather right.

I think I shall try the Zaino again ... I did use a sponge as an applicator?!?

TIA~!

 

For 303...ACE is the place

 

Ok guys i have a couple questions in regards to the conditioning of the leather and also cleaning the dash. Well i guess i'll do the dash aspect first.... for my 05TL i just wipe it off with a cloth to get the dust off, etc... I'm hesitant about putting liquids on there to clean it due to the fact of it possibly drying out. So does the 303 Protectant work well for this?

Also in regards to cleaning the leather, i don't know about anyone else, but i simply love the fact of being able to get into my car and being able to smell that NEW 05 car smell. So i would think that any type of cleaner that you put on the seats or even on the dash, that it would take that new car smell away. What do you guys think about that? Oh and btw... it's not the leather that brings the "new car smell".. .it's actually the GLUE they use!!!

 

Get the Lexol Conditioner and it will only enhance your new car smell. Also, unless you have brats with popsicles or slobbering rot wilers in the back, you don't need the Lexol Cleaner very ofter, just get the conditioner.

 

Ok great. Thanks JackSprat01. Isn't there another product by Lexol to get for the leather. It's the conditioner and something else right? Or are you saying that i just need the conditioner?

BTW.... THERE IS NO EATING IN MY CAR!!!! DRINKING IS FINE... AS LONG AS IT'S WATER! :-)

 

lexol makes a conditioner and a cleaner, you only need to use the cleaner if you have stains on the leather. most of us have very clean seats as the 3rd gen TL is still relatively new. just get the conditioner for now and it will keep the leather nice and supple. meguiars also makes both as well as a cleaner/conditioner. i have never care too much for all in one solutions. also make sure you get the spray and not that liquid paste cause it will get stuck in the little holes in the leather.

 

Cool. Thanks for the heads up caball88!

Would anyone like to comment on whether or not Meguiars is better than the Lexol or vice versa?