I have a 2002 E39 Touring with the tan interior looking for a good cleaner and protectant for the leather. Thanks
BMW actually makes a really good conditioner for the leather. I use it on my cars about every other month. They also have a quick leather cleaner as well. Other wise some others are zymol car care products, griots garage. Those would be my main choices.
Everything I tried always left the leather sticky or slick and shiny. I tried Leatherique, Griot's, Lexol, Mother's, etc., and then I read on this forum about Bick 4 (I think it was a post of Satch's). I tried it, and it really worked well for me. The leather was not really dirty (see "I tried..." above), but Bick 4 made it soft and smooth, without making it sticky, slick, or shiny. So I can't really vouch for the cleaning action, but it is labeled as a cleaner too. As a conditioner, it is my favorite.
You're welcome. I got mine here: http://bickmore.mybigcommerce.com/, but I have since seen it on Amazon and a couple of other places.
I get my Bick 4 out of a one-gallon jug in the garage. Party A is partial to custom boots, and she introduced me to this stuff. I figure I'm probably preserving my skin as well, since the best way I've found to apply it is to slather it on and massage it in with my bare hands...
I've begun using Leatherique Rejuvinator and Prestine Clean (their spelling; not mine). The Rejuvinator is horribly sticky, but the Prestine Clean removes the surface goop and removes the stick. The products are like nothing I've ever used: they soften much more than anything else I've used (Lexol, Zymol, Leather Care, etc). I first gave the Leatherique products a try based on the recommendation of the automobile interior specialist who renovated the tan leather interior of my non-BMW sports car. The only problem is that the stuff is spectacularly expensive ($40 / quart).
Hell, if I'd known it was that good, I'd've been using the quart of Leatherique I've had on the shelf for ten years...
Yeah, I never had much luck with Leatherique, except that I too shelled-out way too much money. I followed all the directions to a "T" and even did the whole sun-bake routine and multiple treatments, but all I ever got was more stickiness, even with multiple attempts with Pristine Clean. The goop and gunk they refer to never did rise to the surface, and my leather was not all that dirty anyway. I just wanted to soften it up some and preserve it well. I don't know - maybe I got a bad batch, but I have heard from just as many detractors as proponents, so perhaps it has something to do with the leather it is used on ? (OK - or maybe the user?). Anyway, once I was able to clean the Leatherique off and use Bick 4, I ceased sticking to my seats and began enjoying the softness. I guess everybody has their favorites. I have to say that I refinished my steering wheel with the Leatherique kit with great results, and it is holding-up well after over a year.
I hate people like me who post a recommendation based on what other people tell them. Dumb. Dumb. Sorry. (Maybe wiping clean with Lexol Leather Cleaner or a wet towel would work.) Its probably good now as bio diesel.
Ammo lather to clean and Ammo mousse to condition. Both available at www.ammonyc.com both excellent products.
I agree. BMW does make a rather good conditioner. To the OP - I would avoid cheap leather conditioners. Brands such as Meguiars, Mothers, Zymol, and Lexol come to mind. Essentially any brand you find at PepBoys, Autozone, or the like is going to be a cheaper item. If you're looking for conditioners that detailers use then try Zaino Bros conditioner - link below. (Zaino Bros Leather in a bottle) - $10.95/8oz. Alternatively, Pinnacle has a leather conditioner that is also excellent and can be found at the link below. (Pinnacle Leather Cleaner and Conditioner at Autogeek.net) $27.95/16oz. Sometimes what you find is that a cheap leather cleaner/conditioner can be full of harsh chemicals that can deteriorate the surface quickly with regular use and causing premature cracking or dulling. Lack of UV protectants. Slick surfaces or sheens left behind after application. Strange odors, not a natural leather smell. good luck!
I have always suspected that Bick's is, like, 100% lanolin. Dead sheep in a bottle! Oh, they make a leather cleaner, too. I suppose I should at least try it....
I have oyster leather in my 328i and have scuffed the bolster getting in and out. Has anyone used a color die to bring back the color, and if so what products have you used and the results?
I'm a big fan of the Leatherique products myself__and I'm hard to please; they have turned leather seats that were nearly like cardboard back to extremely soft and supple. I have to agree with Satch on the application, and it not only softens the hands, the Leatherique smells way better than hypoid oil... I get cars in here that seem like the shift boots are so stiff that it's like they're trying to keep the gears from staying engaged. Softening them with the rejuvenator and then the cleaner afterwards is almost like performing a miracle. I believe it's BMW's Nappa Leather that's used in all the M Coupes and Rdstrs I work on, and for them, the Leatherique products only do what the producers claim; I've never experienced the stickiness referenced above. For the record, I only recently repurchased quart bottles of the two (2), the first quarts lasted from 2005 through 2016. So perhaps the cost of admission is high, but it's a long-running show.
