Cleaning A Grey Leather Interior Of An E46 330D - Loads Of Problems To

[coombsfh 2]

Hi guys and gals,

 

I have got a 330d (E46) and although I love it it desperately needs a clean. I have a lot of questions and hope that at least some of them can be answered.

 

The interior is grey but heavily soiled (not particularly worn bar the DS bolster), the doorcards are leather and again soiled, the trim is vinyl in grey, heavily soiled into grain, the plastics are, grey, black and aluminium coloured and are more smeary from being cleaned than actually dirty. Here come the questions.

 

Cleaning leather:

-Is meths too harsh a cleaner for leather if you aren't restoring the seats with dynamix, liquid leather, woolies leather restorer or the professional kit from Furniture Clinic as mentioned here (http://www.bimmerforums.co.uk/forum/f4/changing-colour-your-leather-interior-t109100/index2.html) NB I cleaned an inconspicuous area of leather today with meths and it looked AMAZING but the cloth did remove some of the seat colour...

-If meths is too harsh as an interim cleaner, what do you recommend for cleaning and conditioning the leather. Warm water and soap with lemon juice followed by the tiniest amounts of leather conditioner for shoes is one suggestion.

-Should nail brushes/toothbrushes be used on leather or are they too harsh?

 

Cleaning Trim:

-Meths is surely too harsh. Therefore, what tools and cleaner do you advise? Brushes are surely a must as cloths do little/nothing in terms of removing really ingrained dirt and grime.

-What have you guys found to be the best interior dressing. I have read around, searched etc and even got the detailers' handbook - just a question of personal experiences here

 

Carpet Cleaning:

-Is it safe to wash car mats in the washing machine?

-What is the best way to restore carpets to their former glory? A manual wet it, apply cleaner, scrub it, dry it approach. Or a wet n dry vac?

 

Finally, considering I will be in this car for 2.5-3h a day, 5 days a week plus personal use would you guys say it is better to just pay someone to clean it completely for me? If yes, what is a decent amount to pay, who offers a good service in Wiltshire, Bath and Bristol area?

 

Thanks in advance for all the help. Fred.

[Anthony 1,003]

I've always just used the liquid leather cleaner and conditioner from Gliptone to clean and care for leather seats.

 

It's cheap enough, does what it says on the bottle and seems to work fine if you follow the instructions - smells lovely too

[coombsfh 2]

Thanks Anthony. I miss 205's like mad and keep looking at them... 330d for a while to commute in and be sensible. Will post success or failure of leather cleaning later...

 

PS it is so dirty and meths really does help... Tempted to get some leather restorer and do it properly...

Edited April 27, 2012 by coombsfh

[ORB 227 1 Cars]

G101

[MrG 3]

I agree with Anthony, gliptone is very good BUT give it to a good valeter and let them deal with it, at least you'll get it back looking gleaming and a nice clean interior!

[Andy_C 50]

G101 and a medium bristle brush and lots of elbow grease. I'd steer clear of any solvents myself given that this is what is used in the first stage of conollising. It removed the top coat prior to repainting and laquer.

[Andy_C 50]

Best "in car" cleaning product I've found off the shelf for carpets is Autoglym interior shampoo.

 

Can help with if you want. PM me if you want any more help.

[coombsfh 2]

Thanks andy C. I am going to restore the seats eventually and as an interim I gave it to the guys next to wadworth brewery in Devizes.They shampooed the carpets, cleaned inside and out for a tenner! Smells great and looks much better. Meths is harsh but very effective...

[muddatrucker 125]

Didn't think much of the autoglym interior shampoo, but then I don't think too much of any of their products - I used actual carpet shampoo in my old beige STDT and it worked a treat.

[pugit666 2]

i use autoglym leather cleaner and then leather conditioner on my 330 leather seats, they come up lovely