ex-quattro PETE

The leather surfaces of my front seats feel very rough/coarse to the touch and overall the material feels very hard. The back seat doesn't seem to have this problem.

I tried applying Lexol Leather Cleaner and Lexol Leather Conditioner several times, but it hasn't helped.

This is on an '02 530i with sport seats. I bought it 1.5 years ago and it's been like this since I bought it. Up until last month, I was living in FL, so I thought high humidity would actually prevent leather from becoming so brittle and hard, but I guess this issue has nothing to do with humidity.

I've heard some people recommend Leatherique. Then I've heard others saying that all these different leather products don't do squat because typical car seats are made of protected aniline leather with poly clearcoat which will effectively prevent any leather care product from soaking into it and softening it.

Any suggestions? Sorry if this has been covered already.

WECoyote-SuperGenius

the leather on the front seats are hard from use, as in getting polished from getting in out of them by your clothes rubbing on them. Most likely, the natural oils in the leather have been depleted by time, sunlight, temperature and absorbed by your clothing. I'm not sure that the condition can be reversed, but I'm pretty sure that by replenishing the oils, you will slow down the advancement of the condition.
What to use, I would think that any of the premium products for Leather should suffice. Just stay away from the greasy kid stuff such as armorall and the like.

ex-quattro PETE

Actually, the worst one is the front passenger seat - and that is the seat that is practically not used (neither is the back seat), so I don't think use is a factor.

WECoyote-SuperGenius

I would have bet the farm that the driver's seat was the worst.

Bendquattro

and found that it softened the leather nicely. I applied it to my 2002 BMW 330xi, that should have the same leather as your 530i. I didn't however care for the smell. I much prefer Lexol's post application car smell.

muzzy996

I for one prefer Zaino's fragrance to Lexol or Leatherique's.