Porcelain Nappa Leather advice please

[Slartibardfast1]

Just got a really nice SL400 with Porcelain Nappa Leather interior. I would like to get the seats as nice as I can but there are marks that won't come out with gentle cleaning. Any advice to get this back to "as new" would be appreciated (or maybe not possible?). Many thanks.

 

[Trev1964]

I think that's gonna need some colour back on to look new again.
I'll keep an eye on this thread I have same interior, although not showing wear yet, good to know for the future.

 

[mioba]

Thats a good scratch 2/3 way up. The rest are crease induced resulting from lack of leather maintenance - cleaning and nourishing to keep it supple.

as above.

 

[s5tuart]

You can try Woolite from the jungle company. Used neat it'll clean even grimy leather although I suspect you may need to recolour that bolster.

 

[peterws1957]

I use Autoglym leather cleaner and their leather barm on our porcelain seats. Works well but I'm sure there are many other similar products available. There are fillers available but I've no idea how effective they are.

 

[dry run]

Local detailer repaired a scratch on my beige leather seat (caused by a key in my back pocket), by repainting the panel. Cost was £60 and it's good as new.

 

[peterws1957]

^ This is probably the best way to achieve an "as new" finish. Worth every penny.

 

[Ivanhoo]

The colours come out you'll have to redye it it should tell you the colour in your hand book you can get colouring kits on ebay for around 20 pound I did my steering wheel and gear knob they look brand new once done it's easy to do

 

[Blobcat]

Nail brush and gentle soap will get all the grime out.
I also use the autoglym products on my nappa grey leather - 139k miles and still looking great

 

[SL63 Mark]

My 993 had similar light coloured leather and seat bolster wear. I took it to Southbound motor trimmers near Stockbridge Hants. They advised for a proper fix and colour match, the bolster needed re-covering, which they did perfectly, with the correct factory leather. Not cheap, but highly recommended. IIRC it was a few hundred £.

Yours is a very nice car, if you are contemplating keeping it long term, now is the time to do the fix properly, otherwise it will just niggle you every time you get in.

 

[Mr Greedy]

I would try in this order:

Clean with a soft bristle (tooth?) brush and some 10:1 all purpose cleaner diluted with warm water and also cleaning/drying with a micro fibre towel.

After the good cleaning above, if it needs recolouring, paying a pro what opinions would suggest might be sub-£100 for a recolour.

If that still doesn't meet your high standards (and considering some very discerning clean car fanatics on here have been very very pleased with the results of a recolour), then look for a retrim.

My personal view is that you will get back to something very closely approximated to new with the first two.

 

[Slartibardfast1]

I followed the video instructions below (but using Scratch Doctor All in one Colourant - Mercedes Porcelain). The effect is what I wanted but the shade is a little light. I just now need to get the correct colour to reapply and I'll be happy. I've ordered a colour chart from Colourlock to see if they have the right shade. Otherwise I'll just get a local pro detailer/leather specialist to do it for me.



Before and after:

 

[Slartibardfast1]

I think that's gonna need some colour back on to look new again.
I'll keep an eye on this thread I have same interior, although not showing wear yet, good to know for the future.

See my post above FYI

 

[Slartibardfast1]

Update
After lots of research I have found out that there are 3 different shades for porcelain leather: Leather, Nappa leather and Exclusive nappa leather.

I've ordered the Nappa leather dye and sealer from The Leather Colour Doctor. I'll update again when I've received it and tried it out.

 

[Trev1964]

How the hell are you supposed to know which one is fitted to the car..?

 

[Slartibardfast1]

How the hell are you supposed to know which one is fitted to the car..?

It will be on the data sheet (Oasis Report - get it from your dealer). Mine shows "815 Porcelain Nappa Leather"

 

[Trev1964]

Mine says 225a beige, what the hell is that?!

 

[AndySlade]

Mine says 225a beige, what the hell is that?!

Saga Beige?

 

[Trev1964]

I'm gonna have to get the book pack out. I was convinced it was porcelain.
It's very light.
Don't remember beige as an option.

 

[Slartibardfast1]

I'm gonna have to get the book pack out. I was convinced it was porcelain.
It's very light.
Don't remember beige as an option.

Have you put your VIN in a VIN decoder (eg lastvin)? That should give you the info you need