I'm trying to figure out what's what in my new TL so that I can take proper care of it.

1) I know the seats are all leather, but there's a section on the doors that looks like the middle part of the seats...it has lots of little holes in it. Is this leather too?

2) I assume the armrests are leather? I'm not clear about the steering wheel/shifter knob...I don't believe it's leather, what do you think?

3) There's a rubbery surface on parts of the dash (mostly above the steering wheel)...is it safe to you vinyl/dash cleaner like Armor All wipes on this surface as well as on the other non-leather surfaces?

I'm planning to get a good leather cleaner and conditioner but just want to make sure I'm putting it on the proper surfaces (and not using vinyl/dash cleaner on the leather )

Thanks guys.

 

If it's the same as my 04 TL, then the perforated sections are leather (both on the seats and the door), the shift knob and steering wheel are both leather. All the rest is vinyl. On top of the dash, I would use Protectant 303, which you can get in most marine stores and some auto shops. I wouldn't use Armorall for anything. Do a search for other ideas.

 

Yah, the 303 is my next purchase. I have the Armor All wipes because they are convenient and I can stick them in my trunk for emergency skuff removal. In addition to the 303, I'm planning on getting Meguiars (clean & conditioner) for the leather.

But I'm still confounded by what's leather and what's not. I could swear the steering wheel and door handles (black in my car) are NOT leather. It's just hard to tell...

 

Welcome to Acurazine.
Your leather should be OK if the 303 Aerospace gets on it. I have the 303 for the dash and seals, but use the Meguiars Leather wipes for all my ebony/black seating and leather-like surfaces (like the console arm rest and rear fold-out arm rest). The steering wheel cover is leather; the door pulls are not. Just don't use the regular Armor-all or anything with an alcohol base-- they'll dry out both the leather and vinyl.

 

Most car leather has plastic coating, 303 works fine on leather because it's surface is plastic coated, from what I've read.

 

As a general rule, if you push your thumb down on a soft surface and wrinkles radiate out from the center you have leather. If the depression is smooth out from the center, then you have vinyl or some other plastic substance.

 

I use Lexol cleaner and conditioner for my leather. 303 Aerospace for everything else.

 

Thanks guys, very helpful advice.