My 04 had bad creases on the drivers bolster where I got in and out and to have it repaired would have requried a new piece of "leather" not vinyl.

 

I believe this list is still accurate (except for the part about the shift knob being 02 only).

 

This is my understanding also and can be confirmed by searching through the archives.

The leather we have is a coated leather. If one is using a water-based cleaner (e.g., Leather Masters) on it, one doesn't need to "condition" the leather. Coated leather only needs to be hydrated.

Some people do like to apply a protectant to the leather seats for UV protection. 303 works okay for this, but perhaps even better is the Ultima Interior Guard Plus. CeeDog recently did a really good review of the product over at AutoGeek. If I was inclined to apply any any conditional/dressing/protectant to the leather in my car, this is probably the stuff I would choose.

 

Im pretty sure the whole seat is NOT leather just the center. Also i read somewhere that the door panles are not leather as well. A lot of leather seats are that way.

 

The guy who was going to replace the side bolster has been doing interiors for over 30 years and actually got in some leather that did not match in terms of texture, but since I dont have the car anymore it really doesnt matter to me. It just had the traditional wear look that most leather gets after time but I could be wrong.

 

I agree (right or wrong) that leather cleaners should only be used sparingly or maybe not at all. If your leather has been well maintained all its life, the wetness of the conditioner should be enough to keep your leather clean. I think I would also apply this logic to products that are promoted as cleaners with conditioners.

 

wait so im confused...so our year my07 the seats doesn't need to be conditioned with a leather conditioner?

 

Yes, that is what I am suggesting. According to what I have learned (and I may be wrong, as I no expert and am relying on the presumably knowledgeable sources I have read), our leather is a finished leather that is coated with a clear polyurethane or nitrocellulose finish.

During the tanning process, all oils and fats are removed. The leather is then put through another process where fat liquors are reintroduced and proper moisture level established. These fat liquors are stable and remain in the leather for decades. What does change in this processed leather, though, is the moisture content--hence the need to periodically re-hydrate the leather. This re-hydration can be achieved by the use of a water-based cleaner (I use Leather Masters) or just by wiping the seats down with a damp microfiber towel.

There is no need, therefore, to condition the leather by using an oil-based conditioner. The protective topcoat is porous to moisture but not to the larger oil and fat molecules, which will just sit on top of the protective coating and draw dirt to itself.

Anyway, this is my present understanding. I periodically clean my interior leather, but I do not apply a leather conditioner. I do sometimes apply 303 Protectant to my seats, particularly during the summer months when I have the top down a lot.

 

i see, and i was about to start conditioning my seats too, i havent conditioned my seats since 2 years but i guess i dont have to. but do you also have some wear marks on your seat as well? whiteish corners, butt print, shinny not matt like oem anymore etc? is there any way to get rid of those and back to the matt look?

 

What conditioner do you use?