328 leather seats maintenance/protection

Here's what I do and it works like magic:
1. Shopping list: Get a leather cleaning agent, leather rejuvenator (I use Griot's), and a a couple big soft sponges (any auto parts store has them).
2. Clean off the dirt: Spray the cleaner on all the leather surfaces and wipe it up with a throwaway microfiber cloth. It should get dirty.
3. Rejuvenate: use leather rejuvenator on sponge and work it in to all the leather and vinyl surfaces. Let it soak in for 15 mins. Then take a clean throwaway microfiber and buff the spots... you should see the oil of the rejuvenator spread evenly and start to shine.
4. Repeat step 3 a couple more times and then every few months.

Final tip: I'd work in area batches to time it all out so you're constantly either cleaning, rejuvenating, or buffing a spot. Like clean the seats, then rejuvenate. Then while that sets, clean the dash, rejuvenate it. Then it's time to buff the seats. Then the dash. Then apply 2nd rejuvenation coat to seats etc.

 

The issue can be how much product has been put on the seats over the years. Silicones and such can soak in and are hard to remove safely. Another issue to consider is if the seat look perfect, they may have been resprayed/dyed. This will often not respond well to the cleaners/rejuvenators, so testing on the bottom of the seat backs is essential.

I am a fan of Leatherique products. The rejuvenator flouresces out old product, and you end up with a low gloss nourished leather. There are threads on Leatherique, and how to apply their cleaners and rejuvenators.

Most modern leathers are nothing like the Connoly hides on our cars, so modern products are not necessarily correct for our leathers.

 

A set of these OEM covers can help reduce the wear on the seats and protect them in storage.
Alden
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