I own an 04 TL redondo red pearl and am getting ready to trade it, maybe for a new or newer TL. Have not had a moments trouble out of it and it has 112k miles on it (wife's car), much of it highway. The only thing that looks bad is the leather on the steering wheel. It has the tan interior with the dark brown (my wife swears it's black, so if I am the colorblind one please correct me). I want to re-stain the leather on the steering wheel so it doesn't look worn. THe leather itself is fine, but it looks like there has beenenough wear to affect the color. Can you buy the stain to match anywhere? Anyone else ever fixed this? ALl the rest of the leather is fine, no cracks in the dash, and the car runs beautifuly. Heck, all I've ever done is change the crank case oil and the tranny oil. Engine still uses no oil, etc. On,ly on the second battery. My wife loves the darn thing!

 

have you tried woolite+water solution?

 

. I think the woolite solution will work. That is what I use to clean my leather.

 

Honestly, its not going to make much of a difference. Dealers aren't going to pay more than wholesale for the car anyway. If you are trading it, then trade it as is. If you can make it look better for no money, then go for it, otherwise I wouldn't spend any money to fix it for something so minor. It won't make a difference in the trade value.

 

I understand about the trade in value. This is not a cleaning problem so the woolite solutions won't work. This is more like a scuffed shoe only it's not rough. Heck, I'd use brown shoe polish if I thought it wouldn't come off on my wife's hands and then there'd be you-know-what to pay! Except for the steering wheel the car looks great. I have a Mercedes and a Corvette and the steering wheel leather didn't do this. Must be a wifey thing! Whatever the solution it can't be expensive. Perhaps some Ritz dye...

 

Try shoe polish...lol.