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      07-11-2012, 05:50 PM   #1
greggk
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Leather/Vinyl Interior Cleaning

My Z4 is a few months old and I'm ready to clean/polish the interior. No extended leather, so my question is:

Seats, sides of doors and top of middle arm console are the only areas that are real leather to my eyes. The rest looks like vinyl to me, even the area above the glove box that has leather like stitching but feels like an artificial leather material. Should I use leather/conditioner on only these areas and a vinyl cleaner on the rest? Or am I missing something?

Using all Mother Products to date for washing and cleaning the exterior and will do the same on the interior.

Thanks
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      07-11-2012, 06:07 PM   #2
eugenelee
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You're right. Those bits on the dash and the glovebox are vinyl. I stupidly tried leather cream on them and they didn't absorb.

What I found worked for me is just a clean on the vinyl with simple wet wipes and leather cream on the seats and the leather bits on the door cards.

Meguire's has separate leather and vinyl cleaning sheets packaged like wet wipes. Those are convenient.
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      07-11-2012, 08:32 PM   #3
E36ic4Me
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I use Meguires exclusively on my vehicles with wonderful results. However, I am not a fan of the wipes. I like the absorption of the creams and feel they do a better job, plus I control the quantity. Over more textured surfaces, the wipes tend to tear.

After cleaning the vinyl, I give all of the bits a once over with Meguire's Vinyl Shine and it looks beautiful!
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      07-13-2012, 03:21 AM   #4
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For those with then extended leather and especially the Alcantra leather do not use leather cleaners on it, you need to use a special cleaner and yes BMW naturally sells it, but worth it!!!
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      07-13-2012, 03:54 AM   #5
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raven333 View Post
For those with then extended leather and especially the Alcantra leather do not use leather cleaners on it, you need to use a special cleaner and yes BMW naturally sells it, but worth it!!!
I have the extended leather, I use the BMW maintenance kit with UV protection for all the leather parts. BMW also has a cleaning foam, not yet tried it, I guess that one is safe to use for cleaning all the leather including the dash? Then follow up with the maintenance kit.
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      07-13-2012, 04:40 AM   #6
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Quote:
Originally Posted by NL-J View Post
I have the extended leather, I use the BMW maintenance kit with UV protection for all the leather parts. BMW also has a cleaning foam, not yet tried it, I guess that one is safe to use for cleaning all the leather including the dash? Then follow up with the maintenance kit.
Hi The Alcantra is the suede and it does require the special cleaner, it is a foam and comes in its own special can, I have used it on the area where the seat belt hits it when it retracts and it does work!!!!
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      07-13-2012, 07:41 AM   #7
statZ4
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Auto-glym leather cleaner and conditioner is awesome!!! If it's good enough for the queen, I guess it'll be fine for me lol
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      07-13-2012, 08:41 AM   #8
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Quote:
Originally Posted by raven333 View Post
Hi The Alcantra is the suede and it does require the special cleaner, it is a foam and comes in its own special can, I have used it on the area where the seat belt hits it when it retracts and it does work!!!!
A drop or two of Woolite on a damp clean white terry towel works well too.
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      07-13-2012, 08:54 AM   #9
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Originally Posted by statZ4 View Post
Auto-glym leather cleaner and conditioner is awesome!!! If it's good enough for the queen, I guess it'll be fine for me lol
Something tells me the Queen doesn't actually use the product...
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      07-13-2012, 08:55 AM   #10
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Quote:
Originally Posted by greggk View Post
My Z4 is a few months old and I'm ready to clean/polish the interior. No extended leather, so my question is:

Seats, sides of doors and top of middle arm console are the only areas that are real leather to my eyes. The rest looks like vinyl to me, even the area above the glove box that has leather like stitching but feels like an artificial leather material. Should I use leather/conditioner on only these areas and a vinyl cleaner on the rest? Or am I missing something?

Using all Mother Products to date for washing and cleaning the exterior and will do the same on the interior.

Thanks
A picture might help us identify the areas for you as everyone has difference specs and interiors...
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      07-13-2012, 11:11 AM   #11
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Dealer changed my drivers seat under warranty due to the markings in the alcantara, and also refunded me the cost of the option when it was ordered, so new seat and £1800 ($2700) back this week....

Am I happy?
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      07-13-2012, 11:13 AM   #12
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This is how bad it got after the dealer try to clean it this week. As you can see they made a slight hole in it afterwards...

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      07-13-2012, 12:56 PM   #13
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Hi! that looks bad but the best thing is the dealer took responsibility and did the right thing, great!!
One way for you guys to try to stop this mark happening is to use the seat belt guide when pushing back the clasp!! this holds the belt away from the seat, since getting the knack I have had no more issues of dirt!!!
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      07-13-2012, 01:40 PM   #14
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But what about when you've got the seatbelt on, how do you avoid the suede getting the mark?
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      07-13-2012, 04:12 PM   #15
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Hi ! this might sound dumb, but because I don't want to end up with a bad mark I always pull my seatbelt out and around then slot in, I ensure it does not touch and my seat is set so that it is away from the seat across my chest!! and when I release I hold it till its back at the top with the aid of the slider which keeps it up there....... sadly it is all a purposeful movement ...... I also cleaned the seat belt which gets incredibly dirty!!!!!

I wanted white upholstery and am prepared for the effort to keep it in clean condition!!!! The only reason my car is black(not my 1st choice) is because at the time of buying I could not find another car with the white upholstery.....
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      07-13-2012, 04:16 PM   #16
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I'm into detailing too, so will try this new approach.mwhat do you clean your seatbelt with?
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      07-13-2012, 06:34 PM   #17
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I clean this area with 2/3 warm-hot water and 1/3 Woolite, rubbing gently with a white terry cloth towel. It works like a charm.
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      07-14-2012, 01:10 AM   #18
eugenelee
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Quote:
Originally Posted by nickm9 View Post
This is how bad it got after the dealer try to clean it this week. As you can see they made a slight hole in it afterwards...

Hi nickm9,

This looks like discolouration rather than dirt. I've seen it on my gal's channel and the leather maintanence people said it happens because the dyed (or sprayed) colour on the leather has worn off due to rubbing. Cleaning won't help. Recolouring through spraying or dying seems to be the only way out. That's my limited experience.
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      07-14-2012, 02:30 AM   #19
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It's had 2 years of dirt, cleaning products, foam cleansers etc....so it's natural it would go off colour, glad to say its been replaced. You would not believe what the leather for the drivers seat costs here. Close to £1000 plus £450 labour, that's about $2300....scary stuff. BMW said if I preferred, as an option, and not to take the money, they would replace the whole interior when I came to sell the car. No point, I want to enjoy it now!!
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      07-14-2012, 02:31 AM   #20
nickm9
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Otherwise love my interior....
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      07-14-2012, 02:32 AM   #21
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Quote:
Originally Posted by VintageBMW View Post
I clean this area with 2/3 warm-hot water and 1/3 Woolite, rubbing gently with a white terry cloth towel. It works like a charm.
Vintage, are you referring to the seatbelt or to the alcantara?
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      07-14-2012, 09:33 AM   #22
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Alcantara and maybe it is 3/4 warm water and 1/4 woolite. It is the only thing that works safely if warm water alone will not do the trick. I received these tips from the Alcantara website on "how to clean" but have long forgotten the link.
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