Good write-up. However, I do need to mention our most obvious leather treatment Leather Care. It's formulated for finished (and semi-aniline) leather. We don't recommend applying Vinyl-Rubber Care and Protectant which is formulated for exterior plastic and rubber surfaces. If you apply VRCP on leather finishes you'll be slipping and sliding which can be dangerous. Also, it will not treat the finish. It would be the equivalent of spraying your car's exterior clear coat finish with VCRP instead of polishing and waxing it. Leather Care is non-greasy, will not powder, cleans and keeps the the finish from becoming brittle or fading.
[However, I do need to mention our most obvious leather treatment Leather Care. It's formulated for finished (and semi-aniline) leather.] What is the % wax content as this has always made me hesitant in recommending this product FWIW_ I'm never really sure what most people describe as 'semi-aniline' leather; for me its pigmented as opposed to immersion dyed
Why would the wax content cause you hesitation? The amount is 5-15% by weight. Semi-aniline is lightly dyed and corrected because the leather used is not the best of the best. They lightly dye it to even out the finish and thena light coating is applied to increase durability and prevent fading (lightfastness). In luxury vehicles (including exotics), the layer is very thin so that the surface is very malleable and therefore has a more natural finish. Frankly, aniline leather (no coating whatsoever and uses a clear dye) is extremely rare and although considered the best of the best, it's not as practical as semi-aniline... especially in automotive applications. Aniline leather has been out of use for so long now (about 20 years) that most customers can not distinguish the difference anymore.
I have a 2007 335i. Could anyone tell what type of leather I have in my car? And, could you recommend (1) a foam based cleaner, and (2) a leather protectant product? I may purchase these products from LTT Leather Care , but they are pretty expensive. I am willing, however, to buy from LTT if they are worth the money. What do you think? Thanks!
There is group of leather care "experts" (some work for companies that sell leather care) that claim wax does not belong in any leather product. It just sits on the top of the leather. As I understand the function, the wax or other products that have lanolin (chemically similar to a wax) do not condition leather but just provide a protective barrier and do not harm to the underlying coated leather.
