Help with damaged leather

Truckermal

Hi Folks.

I used a supposedly good product that was recommended by the local shop selling detailing products. I sprayed it on and started to agitate it lightly with the brush when I noticed the colour starting to run.

I cleaned it off immediately with a Microfibre but the area I used it on has lost it's colour. Any suggestions on fixing this as the crowd I purchased it off are not willing to help out in any kind of way plus a new part from Audi will cost a fortune.

I attached a picture also the product is Gtechniq Tri clean and should not be used for cleaning Leather especially in a A6..

listermint

That has to be dyed easily done with leather restorers. Plenty of kits available online.

Truckermal

listermint wrote: »

That has to be painted easily done with leather restorers. Plenty of kits available online.

Is that a DIY job or would you recommend someone to do it?

listermint

Truckermal wrote: »

Is that a DIY job or would you recommend someone to do it?

You can redye yourself easily done DIY. Did some dye on my Nappa leather some moons ago.

Should be easier to match colour on new leather like that. Some do model and brand specific dye match . Google search.

Foxhole Norman

What's the staining on the plastic below the armrest? Could that have been dyed before?

MetzgerMeister

I think you may have used a brush that was too stiff.

Have you used the same combo of product and brush on the seats?

Truckermal

Foxhole Norman wrote: »

What's the staining on the plastic below the armrest? Could that have been dyed before?

That's the run off after cleaning I wiped it off after as the seat was in the way..

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

I think you may have used a brush that was too stiff.

Have you used the same combo of product and brush on the seats?

No I was afraid of my sh1t it would run them too.. I used a small Vikan brush that was recommended for the job.

Foxhole Norman

Truckermal wrote: »

That's the run off after cleaning I wiped it off after as the seat was in the way..

I tried Tri Clean myself with a Vikan and a cloth on my old leather, had no issues. The armrest could well have been redyed before and not protected well.

clubberlang12

Automotive leather is colour painted and has a top "clear coat" layer of paint similar to car paint. Tri-Clean isn't strong enough to remove the clear coat layer unless there is some very excessive scrubbing.

I would possibly think that the arm-rest, and possibly other areas of the leather interior, has had a poor leather repair done at some stage(have you owned the car since new?), and that they neglected to apply a top clear coat layer over the colour coat, hence the colour running once agitated with the brush and poduct.

vectra

Truckermal wrote: »

Hi Folks.

I used a supposedly good product that was recommended by the local shop selling detailing products. I sprayed it on and started to agitate it lightly with the brush when I noticed the colour starting to run.

I cleaned it off immediately with a Microfibre but the area I used it on has lost it's colour. Any suggestions on fixing this as the crowd I purchased it off are not willing to help out in any kind of way plus a new part from Audi will cost a fortune.

I attached a picture also the product is Gtechniq Tri clean and should not be used for cleaning Leather especially in a A6..


https://www.boards.ie/vbulletin/attachment.php?attachmentid=508678&stc=1&d=1586281063

Give Peter a shout ADBL

clubberlang12

vectra wrote: »

Give Peter a shout ADBL

Was just about to edit my post to add in about contacting Peter for repair. You can also mfind him if you Google OCD Detailing in Ferbane.

traco

Another thumbs up for Peter in OCD in Ferbane. Talented guy and colour lock agent so knows his stuff when it comes to leather.

Truckermal

traco wrote: »

Another thumbs up for Peter in OCD in Ferbane. Talented guy and colour lock agent so knows his stuff when it comes to leather.

Yep I remember talking to you before about him indeed he is a very very helpful guy who told me what to get and how to fix it!

Truckermal

All sorted but it's the Leather in the Car that's very delicate! I tried a rear seat with cold water and the water was milky looking after!

I tried the Gtechniq in my Lexus with hot water and it was fine, also reading up on various forums these seat's are notorious for dye transfer onto clothes and vice versa.

I will have to be very careful in future...

clubberlang12

If you are getting some paint residue after just cold water and a cloth then there is no clear coat applied on the leather, which would lead me to think it has been re-coloured at some stage.

Do you own the car from new?

A number of car dealerships often get worn down leather, even on fairly new cars, re-coloured.

You are right about Audi leather in last few years......it's poor. Seems to be thinly applied so comes off after too soon after typical seating abrasion. I've had a few Audi's in over the last couple of years, all only a couple of years old, where the colour lifting and abrasion seemed excessive for such young cars.

MetzgerMeister

Truckermal wrote: »

All sorted but it's the Leather in the Car that's very delicate! I tried a rear seat with cold water and the water was milky looking after!

I tried the Gtechniq in my Lexus with hot water and it was fine, also reading up on various forums these seat's are notorious for dye transfer onto clothes and vice versa.

I will have to be very careful in future...

So it wasn't anything to do with the Gtechniq product or info given by that detailing company?

Truckermal

clubberlang12 wrote: »

If you are getting some paint residue after just cold water and a cloth then there is no clear coat applied on the leather, which would lead me to think it has been re-coloured at some stage.

Do you own the car from new?

A number of car dealerships often get worn down leather, even on fairly new cars,

Nope never recoloured as I went back to the dealer who was very straight, I was using a Brush and Cleaner..

MetzgerMeister wrote: »

So it wasn't anything to do with the Gtechniq product or info given by that detailing company?

No that's why I came back to correct myself, infact the handsome Detailer was more than helpful!

clubberlang12

Truckermal wrote: »

Nope never recoloured as I went back to the dealer who was very straight, I was using a Brush and Cleaner..



No that's why I came back to correct myself, infact the handsome Detailer was more than helpful!

So you've owned the car from new?

You should not get colour transfer from leather seats that easily. Would definitely consider it a "fault" and something i would be looking at the dealership to rectify.

Truckermal

clubberlang12 wrote: »

So you've owned the car from new?

You should not get colour transfer from leather seats that easily. Would definitely consider it a "fault" and something i would be looking at the dealership to rectify.

No didn't buy it new but it's not even 4 year's old, I purchased in the UK so no come back. I managed to get touch up paint though so it's a easy fix.

clubberlang12

Truckermal wrote: »

No didn't buy it new but it's not even 4 year's old, I purchased in the UK so no come back. I managed to get touch up paint though so it's a easy fix.

Happy days about the touch up paint. Frankly, I wouldn't be believing the dealer who assured you it wasn't(maybe he didn't know if it had or not), but to get colour transfer from different seats in the car is too coincidental. I've seen 18 month old Audi's , A6 and Q7's , that needed leather repair from not being able to withstand seating friction well enough, so it wouldn't surprise me in truth.

Let us know how you get on with it.

ianobrien

Glad you got to the bottom of it. I was about to try out Tri-Clean. I normally use CarPro inside on the leather and was worried when I saw the photo.

Now that you know what was the problem, I guess I'll try it anyway.