Eric Van Sciver

I was wondering if I should be taking care of the leather or if it is pretty much care free?
Does anyone do anything to their leather seats (lotion,lubes,cleaning)? I have seen seats look worse after applying leather care products.

Thanks,

Eric.

muhammadc

I clean it, and condition with a good leather cleaner/conditioner... works really well. I hate anything that makes the leather shiny, though. Many good conditioners out there...

derfA8L

...with an occasional treatment with Mothers Leather Conditioner. If the leather is exceptionally dirty, you can use saddle soap (but follow the directions).

If your car sits in the hot sun alot, you should use the conditioner more often to avoid drying/cracking of the leather. This has worked for me over the years.

Good luck!

DWC_2.7T

Leather upholstery is a re-discovered luxury item that deteriorates badly without care. If you park in the sun, the leather will take a really beating over time. My nieghbor's '89 Volvo leather was not cared for and it has utterly disintegrated; his seats look like a rat's nest. Leather looks, feels, and smells great but if I planned to keep the car a long time, I'd rather have the vinyl leatherette. (But I've never seen an A6 without leather.)

On the plus side, Audi seat leather seems to be heavier and coarser, and ought to last a lot longer than the thin "glove" leather most cars use. A liberal wipe down with Lexol conditioner (been around for generations) every couple months will help keep it pliable, but nothing will stop it from gradually, er, gaining character. The wipe-on kind is much richer than richer the spray-on. There are other conditioners, but since leather is a natural material, I prefer the traditional stuff.

DWC_2.7T

Saddle soap removes the oils from leather and dries it; thats OK if you're going to re-oil it afterward like a saddle or reins, but not upholstery. A mild soap & water (Murphy's Oil Soap)is the strongest cleaner I'd use.

derfA8L

Point well taken. Leather should really be "re-conditioned" anytime water is used.

cedarhills

Lexol leather conditioner is my standard. Apply lightly once a month. If it's hot weather, allow the seats to dry out or 'cure' a bit with the car windows open. Otherwise, you're likely to get residue on the inside of the windows.

uwg

But I think I'll go for Mother's instead

Finman

Has anyone noticed a "bluing" that occurs with black leather? I've noticed it on other cars, and want to prevent it on mine.
Thanks

Doug4.2

I LOVE my Audi, but, my 4 mth old A6 seats already look older than my 2 yr old Infiniti seats.