Cleaning leather

[Mr. 305]

I recently received my '21 X5 and have a question on the OEM BMW Leather Care wipes. Does anyone have any experience with them? I dont want to use them if they leave the leather looking shiny/oily. I prefer to have the 100% original leather look.

Thank you.

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by Mr. 305

I recently received my '21 X5 and have a question on the OEM BMW Leather Care wipes. Does anyone have any experience with them? I dont want to use them if they leave the leather looking shiny/oily. I prefer to have the 100% original leather look.

Thank you.

I have a carton of these and no they don't leave your leather shiny/oily looking - they preserve the matte finish quite nicely.

I use them on the leather dashboard, steering wheel, and quick seat wipes. Just don't use them on non-leather surfaces.

[vkxkswk_xxxk]

Originally Posted by Auricom

I have a carton of these and no they don't leave your leather shiny/oily looking - they preserve the matte finish quite nicely.

I use them on the leather dashboard, steering wheel, and quick seat wipes. Just don't use them on non-leather surfaces.

Do you know if this works for sensatec dashboard?

[Auricom]

Originally Posted by Dan_xxxk

Do you know if this works for sensatec dashboard?

Don't use leather cleaning wipes on SensaTec, it will leave a shine on them.

You can use BMW interior cleaner:

https://www.shopbmwusa.com/product/4...TERIOR-CLEANER

Or something like Lexol Vinylex Protectant:

https://www.pepboys.com/lexol-vinyle...roduct/8892409

And Sonax dashboard cleaner matte:

https://www.autogeek.net/sonax-dashboard-cleaner.html

[todd92]

All car leather is sealed/coated. There is zero need for any special leather car products. Clean with mild soap and water. Wipe with Pledge. No shine, no stick. Any overpriced car leather care product that claims it 'nourishes' or 'conditions' the leather is just marketing BS.

[alabesky]

Originally Posted by todd92

All car leather is sealed/coated. There is zero need for any special leather car products. Clean with mild soap and water. Wipe with Pledge. No shine, no stick. Any overpriced car leather care product that claims it 'nourishes' or 'conditions' the leather is just marketing BS.

Don't pledge leave a shiny surface?

[todd92]

No

[IftiBashir]

Originally Posted by todd92

All car leather is sealed/coated. There is zero need for any special leather car products. Clean with mild soap and water. Wipe with Pledge. No shine, no stick. Any overpriced car leather care product that claims it 'nourishes' or 'conditions' the leather is just marketing BS.

Thank you!! Was about to order some leather care stuff as well!!

Is it still recommended to use a conditioner though, to keep the leather soft/supple and prevent cracking - especially since its subject to strong sunlight/heat in the summer?

[UpstateCP]

Originally Posted by todd92

All car leather is sealed/coated. There is zero need for any special leather car products. Clean with mild soap and water. Wipe with Pledge. No shine, no stick. Any overpriced car leather care product that claims it 'nourishes' or 'conditions' the leather is just marketing BS.

I've been under the impression that BMW Merino is uncoated and requires periodic cleaning/conditioning. Vernasca and previously Dakota is coated.

[todd92]

Correct, Dakota/Vernasca and Nappa are coated. Merino is not. Which makes it a bad choice for a car that you actually use.

[BobsM3Coupe]

Originally Posted by todd92

Correct, Dakota/Vernasca and Nappa are coated. Merino is not. Which makes it a bad choice for a car that you actually use.

Ahhh, but merino is so nice, smooth and soft. Any luxury vehicle deserves it. The others feel like sand paper.

[JimVR4]

My son recommended Car Guys Super Cleaner for the dashboard and seats. Anyone here have any experience with this product on their X5?

https://www.amazon.com/CarGuys-Super.../dp/B071XB18BF

[GermanG05]

Anyone use ArmorAll leathers wipes?

[Akw614]

I use armorall leather care with beeswax

[GrussGott]

Originally Posted by UpstateCP

I've been under the impression that BMW Merino is uncoated and requires periodic cleaning/conditioning. Vernasca and previously Dakota is coated.

Originally Posted by todd92

Correct, Dakota/Vernasca and Nappa are coated. Merino is not. Which makes it a bad choice for a car that you actually use.

MERINO IS COATED!

The "uncoated merino" rumor got started because people misread BMW marketing collateral:

not dyed with any artificial colors or coatings

The key word is "artificial", i.e., Merino is coated, just with NATURAL coatings.

There's no way uncoated leather could be put into a vehicle, especially, say, a convertible. Or really used anywhere with humans and not get destroyed. Merino is fine and plenty durable - I've had individual merino for 10 years including Opal white in a convertible that I jumped into full of sweat & dirt from hiking. Cleans right off. I wouldn't use Merino on a farm's shit truck, but for a BMW it's fine.

Sorry for the tone, but the "merino isn't coated" urban legend drives me nuts

OP: Colourlock mild cleaner + leather shield.


My X5's Individual "lite" Ivory & Navy Blue Merino (coated w. colourlock's leather shield, no dye transfer or chaffing yet)



My M4's Individual Manufaktur Opal merino, 3 years old, not babied by any stretch (I routinely sat on the head rest with my feet on the seat to watch ocean stuff)

[GrussGott]

For fun, here's 2015 Sakhir Merino that's filthy (the shine means filth)



And this is after a first pass cleaning, it's getting more matte (i.e., clean)



Point is, merino is plenty durable, coated, and therefore fairly easy to clean even when flithy unless you spilled paint or something.

[amc42]

Originally Posted by GrussGott

The "uncoated merino" rumor got started because people misread BMW marketing collateral:

not dyed with any artificial colors or coatings

The key word is "artificial", i.e., Merino is coated, just with NATURAL coatings.

Exactly - I usually explain it by saying it has way less surface treatment. The coating is really thin and more like a thin layer of color (simplified) whereas on others you have a thick layer that is then imprinted (see Vernasca). That's one reason why Vernasca is much cheaper, you can use imperfect leather for Vernasca, but not for Merino where even small scars from insect stings will be noticeable.

Originally Posted by GrussGott

Merino is fine and plenty durable - I've had individual merino for 10 years including Opal white in a convertible that I jumped into full of sweat & dirt from hiking. Cleans right off. I wouldn't use Merino on a farm's shit truck, but for a BMW it's fine.

I have now had red merino in my M5 for 10 years and I agree. However, without putting some leather shield at least on the front seats the risk of transferring stuff permanently from clothes is always there - but that applies to all car leathers! It is just that since the coating is so thin for Merino, the leeway for mechanically removing it is minimal.

Not initially putting leather shield on my M5 was a mistake I am not going to repeat.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by todd92

All car leather is sealed/coated. There is zero need for any special leather car products. Clean with mild soap and water. Wipe with Pledge. No shine, no stick. Any overpriced car leather care product that claims it 'nourishes' or 'conditions' the leather is just marketing BS.

In the M2C I would agree. In the X6 have Merino leather and I'm not convinced this is true for all BMW leather. My son got mud (light smears here an there) on the seats after practice and even wiping with water multiple times didn't get it out of the fine grain very easily. I ended up removing the mud w/a damp (water and couple drops of dawn) microfiber, cleaned the seat with Gyeon mild leather cleaner and sealed the seats w/Gyeon Leather coat. We'll see how well it works or not next practice.

[DrPartagas]

What type of brush works best if you use the colourlock tandem for cleaning coffee merino leather? Or, is a microfiber a better route?

[sharkymcpeterson]

I'm using chemical guys leather cleaner. Good stuff. No smell afterwards, cleans well and leaves no residue. I think it was $10…..it does the job.

[Growlyr04]

In all honesty, LEATHERIQUE is far and away the best leather cleaner, restorer and refinsher..

One your leather is 15 + years old it NEEDS deep cleaning and reconditioning

[M4Tejas]

Gas Monkey detailer uses Swisswax. Best stuff on the market I have ever used bar none...........