I have around 55K on my 2012. I typically drive with my hands at 3 & 9 since I use the paddle shifters all the time.

Over the last few months, the leather on the wheel is developing some fine cracks at the 9 position. I'm starting to see them at the 3 as well.

Obviously, this must be wear from holding the wheel.

Is there any dressing or leather conditioner I could apply to the wheel to minimize the cracking?

 

My friend who owns an m-coupe and is really anal about his cleaning told me if there's any dry leather. Use a leather cream solution and put it on, then wrap it with saran wrap and leave it overnight to absorb into the leather then wipe it with a micro fibre the next day. It's suppose to make the leather feel alive again...

Have yet to do that... but apparently it's a BMW owner kinda thing.

 

I treat the steering wheel the same as the seats - Fiebing Saddle Soap to clean, followed by Lexol Leather Conditioner.

I buy Fiebing SS at a shoe repair shop - the one in the WHITE can - the YELLOW can contains alcohol (minor amount). Use moderate amount of *suds*, minimal water, wipe off, repeat, allow to dry (about 10-minutes), buff. Usually that is all I do. There are essential oils in the saddle soap, and it needs to dry overnight (or longer) after used. And its the suds that clean, not the heavy mechanical *scrubbing*, which just wears the leather. I use a clean/ new sponge to apply, and a clean white terry cloth to wipe/ dry.

Then if needed, I use the Lexol the next day, or sometimes a couple of weeks later. Unless really dry, the saddle soap (alone) will keep the leather conditioned when used every 3-4 months.

So typically, I use the saddle soap every 6 months, and Lexol every 2-3 months in between.