RS246.com Forum :: The World's #1 Audi R, S and RS Enthusiast Community

OK guys (& Amanda), I've decided to post up my frustrations about keeping the leather in the plus, tip top.

So after treating my previous car to the Gliptone products, I carried on using them with the RS6, especially as most people on here recommend it as well. I follow Gliptone's instructions carefully and try to treat the leather in the warmest of conditions.

Now once I've finished the process I leave the leather to settle in overnight but as soon as someone sits on the seats or drags an object across them, the seats become marked. This obviously just gets worse once the seats have been used a few times.

Does anyone else have this problem and if so, how do you overcome it as it's really frustrating.

Any help or advice would be brilliant.

No idea about natural leather. The ''normal'' leather is easy to keep clean and looking healthy, I just use Gliptone the same as you. Might be worth getting in touch with Russ on here (reflectology) to see what he recommends.

Hello
I get exacttly the same and also use the liquid leather conditioner. Good thing is the marks do not stay forever but I see what you mean, it can look messy.
If you find a solution please let us all with natural leather know. Much appreciated.

At the risk of being called stupid or lazy for not searching - what is the difference and should they be looked after differently?

I have the same with the natural leather - also using gliptone - it cleans up nicely but easily gets marked, although the marks do clean out nicely. Even kids scuffing it!

I think it's just part of the 'natural leather' look - like faded jeans... it's lovely and soft and I'll miss it when I change cars. But I won't miss maintaining it. If I recall the natural leather is basically a better quality (minimal blemishes and markings), tanned but not coated - which makes it more vulnerable but softer. Most leathers have imperfections repaired, dyed and have a degree of coating. Sometimes even with faux leather backing to cut the cost.

I have seen pics of mine with swissvax, look up the Polished Bliss MTM RS6 link i once sent you - pics there show it deep black on a 50/50 shot. Not sure how long it lasted, but its damn expensive.

Natural leather is not finished in the same way - it is not painted/sealed and in effect it acts like blotting paper and is not used in cars much as its very sensitive to sunlight and has not got a protective layer - it is used in high end interior furniture. Natural leather is nearly impossible to clean - what the gliptone is doing is "staining" the leather as such

It can however take a dye/colour - and it will take it well becaused the way it acts eg like a sponge! I took my car along to a leather specialist and after much debate I took their advice and re-dyed on seats - the result were brilliant - more than happy - the colour was matched to the orginal colour - eg when you pull the armrest down you can see what it was when new - I was shocked by the colour change. I done the colur change myself - about £70 and a about 6 hours work.

I will see if I can post some pics up.

I use zymol leather cleaner on my natural leather. It's the best stuff and will tighten up the leather too.

dave6 wrote:I use zymol leather cleaner on my natural leather. It's the best stuff and will tighten up the leather too.

Thanks mate. Do you have any pictures please?

Also, do you use a conditioner after? If so, which one?

Thanks again for the recommendation.

I've used zymol treat to follow - smells like bananas - it's pretty expensive but is really good stuff. I find the leather cleaner on it own does a good job and leaves no marks if you spray it onto a micro fibre first then apply.It's the tightening up of the leather that makes the difference for me.

Will post some pics after weekend as I've put it aside to detail her!

Well I popped into my local Halfrauds and picked up a bottle for just under a tender which isn't bad really. I'll try and take some photos when I put the stuff into action. Thanks for the tip.

Here u go - should leave it smelling great too!

Looks good.

*you

dave6 wrote:Here u go - should leave it smelling great too!

Looks very nice indeed. Thanks for the photos.

I've had a bit of a play with the front passenger seat and initial impressions are good.

I'll try and take some before and after photos when I tackle my drivers seat which is the worst of the 2.

OK so I had a bit of a play with the Zymol cleaner last night and I'm well chuffed with the results. I can't believe how easy it is to apply.

This is the before shot; [attachment=-1]20140623_171643.jpg[/attachment]

And these are a couple after applying;[attachment=-1]20140623_173525.jpg[/attachment]

Apologies for the poor photos but they were taken on the mobile. [attachment=-1]20140623_173456.jpg[/attachment]

Did you find it firmed up the leather.