Discolored White Leather

[werdn]

Hello all,

I know that this is a F10 M5 forum, but I own an 06 E60 M5, and there are no E60 M5 forms on this site, so I decided to post here anyways.

I am doing a full clean of my car, exterior and interior (including paint correction).

The car overall is in immaculate condition, 33k miles and only one owner for this 12 year old car. I only drive around 2-3k miles a year on this car, so I truly baby it.

However, one thing that really angers me is the interior of the car. When leasing the car, I chose the white Silverstone colored interior because of its "less dull" looks compared to the traditional black colored leather. However, upon leasing the car, I did not realize that I would end up buying the car after the lease, and that white leather is not a good idea in the long term.

The leather is darker compared to when it was brand new (obviously), and I was wondering if anyone on the F10 forums know how to safely clean and protect the seats and center armrests?

Thanks!

[werdn]

Oh, and please excuse the wood trim! The combination of white leather and that wood trim looked better in my imagination, when I was configuring the car in the dealer, than in real life!

[gazosnic]

Steamer would help do wonders.

[werdn]

This is what it looked like when new

(photo serves as comparison to my car)

[Phatcat]

Originally Posted by werdn

This is what it looked like when new

(photo serves as comparison to my car)

I'm even worse, I have the platinum full leather which is basically white.

Like you I wanted an interior that doesn't look dull and originally I wanted to get brown interior but since my paint is frozen bronze I thought it might be lame to have brown on brown so I choose platinum.

I wish I picked another color as there is no way to keep it looking pristine.

[M.S.B]

take it to a professional detailer

[MpowerMike]

The worst color ever , only looks good when new , I’m never getting it again!

[v3n0m]

I have about the same mileage with silver stone interior and it looks the same as it does new. The trick is (after you get it detailed by an expert) is to keep maintenance. I do the following:
1. Protect the surface using Leather Masters leather barrier and ink stop (which prevents dyes and colors from soaking in).
2. Regularly condition the leather.
3. Every few months clean with Leather Masters soft or had cleaner (hard cleaners requires reapplication of #1. and I do that yearly).

I pretty much only wear jeans and have a 4 year old and it's our exclusive family car and the interior still looks fresh.

[werdn]

Thank you all for your inputs! Do you guys think ceramic coating the interior will help? My paint was ceramic coated a couple months ago, and it is really holding up well.

[v3n0m]

Originally Posted by werdn

Thank you all for your inputs! Do you guys think ceramic coating the interior will help? My paint was ceramic coated a couple months ago, and it is really holding up well.

Never heard of ceramic coating on an interior but I'd guess that would be a bad idea since leather needs to breath.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by M.S.B

take it to a professional detailer

This. However to be clear it was never white. It was gray and it still is gray.

Best option may be to steam clean the leather, then treat it.

[stealth.pilot]

Originally Posted by werdn

Thank you all for your inputs! Do you guys think ceramic coating the interior will help? My paint was ceramic coated a couple months ago, and it is really holding up well.

The Best product to use is Dr Leather Dye Block.

http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1206200

[werdn]

Lol after getting white once, I will never get white leather ever again!!!

[dsmclark]

I clean my leather with just some auto gleam leather cleaner pretty much every 2 weeks (my daughter likes to climb everywhere ) and it brings it up a treat. Just spray it on and wipe it away with a micro fibre cloth

[werdn]

Do you guys think that I should sell this M5 for a 335i?

[Beast27]

Originally Posted by werdn

Do you guys think that I should sell this M5 for a 335i?

No. F10 M5 is more reasonable...