Looking after the leather in the LR3/D3 is obviously key, as it's expensive, effects the interior look and feel, and the ultimate resale value of the vehicle.
The #1 traditional UK products for your leather care are made by Connolly - these guys have been doing hide care for over 100 years, so probably know a thing or two.
Easy to find at LR dealers, or often more cheaply at horse saddle/tac stores like this:
Eight quid gets you a jar of cream (not unlike a fancy face cream for SWMBO)
Click image to enlarge
You might also want to consider the Connolly leather cleaner if your seats are well used, this cleans out all of the crud from the grain, before you move-on to the mositurising effects of the hide cream. Critical for long leather life.
The first problem you'll face, is that the cream tends to separate in the jar, leaving you something that looks like clotted cream that's gone off!
No problem - loosen the lid a little, and pop in the microwave for 30 secs on high - re-tighten the lid, and shake well.
You'll end up with a warm liquid that looks like a nice alfredo sauce or brandy sauce - creamy and smooth, and ready to apply.
Next - put your Land Rover in full sun - and close all the doors and windows - we want the seats to get warm/hot as this aids the absorption of the cream.
Take a soft cloth, and apply the warm hide cream evenly all over the leather parts of the seats - it'll look like cr@p as it goes on, but don't worry!
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
If you get any on the plastic, or seat belts, or carpet, just wipe off with a soft cloth, no problems.
DON'T APPLY TO THE SUEDE-LIKE LEATHER - IT WILL PROBABLY STAIN!
When you have a good even coat over the seats - close the door and walk away for an hour - letting the sun do it's thing.
Have a beer, relax
Go back to the LR after an hour in the sun, and you'll see the cream had really soaked in like this:
Click image to enlarge
Click image to enlarge
Take a new clean soft cloth, and buff the remaining cream until you have a nice, even, natural leather finish on the seats. Keep turning over the cloth so you get a new fresh side to buff with.
Click image to enlarge
Re-seal the car, then go back with the cloth after another hour, just in case any more 'melted' cream is sitting on the leather surface. Don't worry about the cream in the seat perforations - it will vanish by itself overnight.
If you find the temperature drops on you, and you have hide cream going cold on the seats - get SWMBO's hair drier - set to medium, and gently warm the leather/cream before buffing - works the same as natural sunlight - just don't over-heat your leather by leaving it on one spot!
End result - your leather has been fed with lots of lanolin, and is now more supple, better protected, and likely to last a lot longer without splitting or cracking.
Repeat every 6 months or so to keep everything in great shape. 08 LR3 SE V8 - 02 D2 SE7 V8
Porsche 911 (03 996) - 2013 MINI Cooper S
means you only get on day a year to do it in the UK and using a hair dryer will really get the neighbours talking The End
22nd Sep 2008 8:01 am
Ken
Member Since: 20 Feb 2006
Location: Here
Posts: 10865
Was thinking that
If its a heat thing leave it on tick over on full heat
22nd Sep 2008 8:06 am
Gareth Site Moderator
Member Since: 07 Dec 2004
Location: Bramhall
Posts: 26772
Hmm, thats just how my seats looked after the swmbo and kids were sat on them after a day on the beach, plastered in sun cream and sand. Took a while to clean off. I might give this treatment a go when the sun comes out again........
That'll be about 21st June next year then
22nd Sep 2008 9:04 am
Bodsy Site Sponsor
Member Since: 06 Nov 2006
Location: In the Clubhouse
Posts: 21361
That's my thoughts too Gareth, sun cream is a real pain to get out!
Will do the heaters on full blast method though, can't wait that long for the sun to shine!Bodsys Brake Bible
Clock/ SNOTM /3Flash / 4x4Info /BT Update /Service Reset/Error Codes / Gearbox Reset See It Here
22nd Sep 2008 9:06 am
stapldm
Member Since: 11 Sep 2006
Location: Swine Town
Posts: 2330
Nice write-up, thanks Dr. Ian Malcolm:
"Yeah, but your scientists were so preoccupied with whether or not they could, they didn't stop to think if they should."
Transgenic tomato anyone?
These vehicles have heaters? 08 LR3 SE V8 - 02 D2 SE7 V8
Porsche 911 (03 996) - 2013 MINI Cooper S
22nd Sep 2008 3:23 pm
xtc
Member Since: 27 Mar 2007
Location: Hampshire
Posts: 1072
Just ordered the bits.. Hope your on commision! Thanks for the prompt to get on and do this Off Roading is OK.... But I'd rather be Boating!
26th Sep 2008 9:13 pm
Oldbean
Member Since: 20 Mar 2006
Location: Hertfordshire
Posts: 27
We had a sunny day today so this afternoon I followed the instructions and cleaned and polished the seats. They look good. Thanks for the advice, But how much of the seats are real Leather? I polished the fronts but are the headrests leather or plastic?Got lost going home to OZ
We had a sunny day today so this afternoon I followed the instructions and cleaned and polished the seats. They look good. Thanks for the advice, But how much of the seats are real Leather? I polished the fronts but are the headrests leather or plastic?
I did the headrests on mine - seemed like leather to me 08 LR3 SE V8 - 02 D2 SE7 V8
Porsche 911 (03 996) - 2013 MINI Cooper S
27th Sep 2008 2:33 am
aussienick
Member Since: 19 Feb 2009
Location: Brisbane ( Lancashire escapee)
Posts: 5
Can I also recommend Auto Glym Leather Care Cream and products. The car polish is simply wipe on and wipe off. The cream is the only other leather care product recommended by RR in addition to the Connoly's.'If you haven't got a leak; you haven't got a Land Rover!'
TDV6SE '08 Tonga Green, Ivory Leather.
Back in a Landy at last!
20th Feb 2009 4:00 am
Alan G
Member Since: 15 Oct 2008
Location: Lanarkshire
Posts: 1372
I've been using a product from "Solutions" a leather care company based in Kirkcaldy. I used it on the bike leathers and on my 300TDI with good results.
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