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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
So I've been wanting to do something to give nourishment and preserve the seats in my 2000 G500. When I received the truck, the seats were just like new, however, the front seats are becoming a bit less supple than they once were. In the past I have used Leatherique on the leather in cars. Being a research junkie, I've discovered that Leatherique and products similar to it, such as Connolly Hide Food, are not recommended for coated leather. It can, in fact, break down the protective coatings on the leather as well as remove the dye from the seats. Does anyone know whether the leather used in the europa G500s is coated or non-coated?
Cheers! |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
Depends on the G500. Let me see a picture of the seat. The Designo leather that is in Dutch's model, for instance, is semi-aniline leather. It differs from factory standard MB G500 leather. The tannery that AMG/Designo was buying leather from during this time is no longer in business.
Edited by H1LM002G55 12/1/2014 12:09 PM
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
In general, my recommendations for cleaning and treating you leather is as follows:
1) Clean your leather with Griot's Garage Interior Cleaner.
This is an excellent cleaner. It is also clear and will not discolour surfaces.
I would use a microfiber towel on the surface.
2) I have had great success with Leatherique. After cleaning the leather with Griot's Garage Interior Cleaner:
a) Apply Leatherique Rejuvenator
***You will NEED to have heat involved. Get black plastic industrial garbage bags and wrap your surface up after coating liberally with Leatherique Rejuvenator. Park vehicle in the sun on a HOT day. Or use a hair dryer to warm the leather. Let the Leatherique Rejuvenator soak in overnight. You need TIME AND HEAT for it to work. Apply several coats. The leather does absorb the oils in the rejuvenator.
b) Apply pristine clean to wipe off the leather rejuvenator. I put pristine clean in a small spray bottle and wipe off again with a microfiber towel.
I have some leather in vehicles that are 20+ years old at this point and the interiors look NEW with NO WEAR or abrasion even on the driver's seat.
Take care of your leather and interior. I would use a leather rejuvenator like the Leatherique product on an annual or semi-annual basis. I would wipe the interior down with Pristine Clean on a monthly basis. Maybe with a little pristine clean and distilled water mixed together to dilute it. |
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AlanMcR
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, CA, Los Altos
Vehicle(s): G300DT E300DT 230SL
Posts: 3500
| RE: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
Leatherique worked well on my 1998. It is definitely time to do it again, though I usually try to do that in the heat of summer.
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
H1LM002G55 - 12/1/2014 9:08 AM
Depends on the G500. Let me see a picture of the seat. The Designo leather that is in Dutch's model, for instance, is semi-aniline leather. It differs from factory standard MB G500 leather. The tannery that AMG/Designo was buying leather from during this time is no longer in business.
Here are some photos from when I first bought the truck. Not at home right now so I can't get current photos.
 (DSCN1672.JPG)
 (DSCN1673.jpg)
Attachments
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 DSCN1672.JPG (170KB - 131 downloads)
DSCN1673.jpg (159KB - 133 downloads)
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
Typically I use Leatherique during the summer, unfortunately, it is currently not summer and I'm unwilling to wait. As an alternate, you can crank the heat and seat heaters for an hour to heat everything up, apply the product and use a blow dryer plus bags to heat up the leather.
Since I still have some of my Connolly Leather cleaner on-hand, how about using that in lieu of the Griots interior cleaner prior to using the Leatherigue? Typically, I use the Connoly leather cleaner with a large microfiber sponge and a bucket of 12-1 mixture.
Edited by Adoni 12/1/2014 12:37 PM
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
The last photo shows the passenger seat. The textured grain is a result of mechanical stamping of the leather. It looks like standard MB leather to me that was used during this period.
It is a "corrected grain" product. They stamp the leather with the grain pattern to produce higher yield from the hides.
To my knowledge, Connolly leather is tanned in a different manner from German and Austrian leather and that product was made for the English-produced Connolly leather of old.
After the demise of the original Connolly tannery, I believe the brand/name/trademark were sold. I also recall that Audi-VW-Bentley group and RR, for a time, transitioned to an Austrian tannery during this time.
I have not used the Connolly Leather Cleaner on Mercedes leather.
I would still use the Griot's Garage Interior Cleaner as it is one of their best products and it is an excellent cleaner. Advance Auto Parts now carries it in the stores and it is inexpensive to buy...About $10 USD per spray bottle. And it is an off the shelf product.
Edited by H1LM002G55 12/1/2014 12:55 PM
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
So other than using the Griot's in lieu of the Connolly, you would feel comfortable using the Leatherique on the seats? This is great news as AutoGeek has a 20% off coupon for Cyber Monday. I think I'll place an order for the 32oz package. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
Yes. I have had great success with that combination.
The Griot's Garage Leather Care and Leather Rejuvenator are also good.
But I prefer the Leatherique product when applied with the combination of heat and time, which you need.
I will post photos at some point showing the differences between standard Mercedes leather and the "special leather" AMG/Designo was using back about 10 years or so ago. I still have the samples in a drawer.
Edited by H1LM002G55 12/1/2014 1:01 PM
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DUTCH
Administrator Doppelgänger
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: US, GA, Atlanta
Vehicle(s): 2015 Audi Q7 3.0 TDI,2018 Sprinter
Posts: 9965
| RE: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
I don't know what kind of leather was used on the Europa Int'l Neiman Marcus Edition, but I've used Lexol with good results. No loss of color, no cracking and the leather seems to wear well. |
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WEBIII
Extreme Veteran
Date registered: Oct 2010
Location: Inlet Beach, FL
Vehicle(s): 461.318, 463.241
Posts: 318
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
Adoni - 12/1/2014 11:58 AM
So other than using the Griot's in lieu of the Connolly, you would feel comfortable using the Leatherique on the seats? This is great news as AutoGeek has a 20% off coupon for Cyber Monday. I think I'll place an order for the 32oz package.
I'm only seeing the 15% coupon code. Is there another one? |
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
Ooops, my bad, rechecked, only 15%. 20% was from my online cigar dealer. |
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H1LM002G55
Expert
Date registered: Mar 2010
Location: S Florida / Geneva / Jeddah
Vehicle(s): 500 GE, G55, LM002, H1
Posts: 1796
| RE: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
DUTCH - 12/1/2014 2:12 PM
I don't know what kind of leather was used on the Europa Int'l Neiman Marcus Edition, but I've used Lexol with good results. No loss of color, no cracking and the leather seems to wear well.
Designo executed the interior in your truck.
At the time, it was possible to order a Designo G-Class with special interior (and paint) without any of the AMG enhancements.
At the time, the Designo range was considered the "High Fashion" paint, leather, and wood upgrades and was totally independent from the performance enhancement options that AMG offered. |
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Adoni
Expert
Date registered: Apr 2006
Location: Sacramento, CA
Vehicle(s): '00 G500, '15 C300 4Matic, '06 L322 G4
Posts: 1283
| RE: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
I emailed Leatherique today prior to asking my question on the forum regarding leather type. Below is my email and the response I received from George, who I take to be George Pavlisko, the owner of Leatherique.
My email - In the past I have used your product on some friends vehicles with excellent results. However, I've been doing some research and there are mixed reviews as to Leatherique's effectiveness on leather which may or may not be coated. I have included a photo below of my leather seats when I purchased the truck but am curious as to whether you have any more info on the type of leather MB used for vehicles of this vintage and whether I should have any concerns using your product?
Leatherique Response - That is hogwash and illogical, and these folks are spewing incorrect information.
All leather that has a colored surface is coated. Since 1990 the EPA mandated that all leather manufacturers use a water based product. Our rejuvenator is perfectly safe to use as it can be absorbed through the water based finish, which is water resistant if cleaned right away, but NOT WATER PROOF. If the finish water water proof, they'd be using it for many applications including boats, rain coats etc.
The Rejuvenator will penetrate through the finish, as well as through stitch holes and migrate laterally to the hides to keep them nourished, plump, luxuriously supple and healthy, prevent cracking, shrinkage and degrading of the actual hides, just as it always has.
kind regards,
George |
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atg
Veteran
Date registered: Nov 2014
Location: Los Angeles
Vehicle(s): 2005 G55, 1985 300tdt
Posts: 129
| Re: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
I guess I'm wondering where your "coated vs uncoated" terminology comes from in the first place. They tan it and dye it using a variety of processes. Unless you know what process is being used, it is difficult to have an informed discussion about how it will interact with anything else you put on it.
Aniline dyes cause bladder cancer in humans. This is why the regulators moved away from them. They are very good leather dyes though.
Karl |
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Otiswesty
Administrator
Date registered: Jun 2007
Location: Portland, Oregon
Vehicle(s): 463.241, 461.213
Posts: 3053
| RE: Leather on Europa G500 - Coated or Un-Coated?
I got this info from the Leatherique website
https://leatherique.com/products/rejuvenator-oil?srsltid=AU7gw4VwJbM...
Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil
Leatherique Rejuvenator Oil is a leather conditioner that nourishes and softens automotive interiors, furniture, purses and handbags, leather accessories and apparel, saddles and tack, baseball gloves, and other fine leather for ongoing care, preservation, and restoration.
Part One of the Leatherique Two-Part System. Best used with Prestine Clean — available together as the Leather Care & Preservation Set or as part of a Leather Care & Preservation Kit.
Available in four sizes:
8 oz
16 oz
32 oz
128 oz (1 US gallon)
The two-part system from Leatherique — known for its ability to soften even cardboard-hard leather — is based on a natural and complex formulation with no petroleum-based fillers. Trusted by ultra-high-end vehicle owners and leather care professionals for over six decades.
Contrary to what one might guess, begin with Leatherique Rejuvenator. Test in an inconspicuous location before full application. Apply Rejuvenator oil liberally and massage it into the leather with your hands. Allow the product to be absorbed into the fibers. Rejuvenator has a unique capillary action that penetrates deep into the leather, nourishing and softening it while drawing out embedded dirt, grime, and contaminants. Let the Rejuvenator absorb for several hours, up to one full day. Using a clean cloth and Prestine Clean, remove the remaining Rejuvenator along with the impurities it has lifted. Finish by gently buffing your leather with a clean, dry cloth.
Repeated use will keep leather soft, pliable, and more resistant to wear. Use to condition and preserve car leather, saddles, tack, furniture, motorcycle leather, apparel, and more.
Ideal for:
Cleaning and moisturizing your leather
Softening dry and hard leather
Softening water-damaged leather
Maintaining your leather
Made weekly by and shipped daily from Leatherique LLC in Columbus, Indiana, USA. |
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