89 911 leather dash and rear shelf care

[JustinK]

I have an 89 911 and the dash and rear shelf are in good shape however I have not applied any products to the leather since I bought the car last year.

What is the best product to treat the dash and rear shelf to prevent the leather from cracking?

Do you treat the door panels and seats with the same product or something different for best results.

Thanks

[sky1jord]

My sense is that for leather preservation, most on this board are partial to either Leatherique or Obenauf's (my personal favorite). Just make sure you apply it to real leather, not a synthetic imitation.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by sky1jord

My sense is that for leather preservation, most on this board are partial to either Leatherique or Obenauf's (my personal favorite). Just make sure you apply it to real leather, not a synthetic imitation.

I have used both Leatherique and Obenhauf's. In my opinion it's no contest, Obenhauf's is best by a mile! Check this thread:Soften those "cardboard stiff" leather seats!

[JustinK]

Thanks for the info, I just ordered 16 oz of Obenaufs to do the seats, doors, dash and shelf.

My seats are leather per my cars build codes.

Are all the dashes, rear shelves and door panels leather? If not how would I tell the difference?

[sky1jord]

There's no guarantee that anything other than your seats (and probably steering wheel and shift knob) are leather. There are several threads here on how to play leather detective if you search. Nonetheless, my recommendation is to take the car to a knowledgeable, reliable upholsterer/leatherman and ask their opinion.

[uwanna]

Originally Posted by JustinK

Thanks for the info, I just ordered 16 oz of Obenaufs to do the seats, doors, dash and shelf.

My seats are leather per my cars build codes.

Are all the dashes, rear shelves and door panels leather? If not how would I tell the difference?

There's a very simple test to determine leather from plastic/vinyl.
Get a safety pin (easiest) or straight pin. Find an inconspicuous out of the way spot on the seat, door panel or whatever. Heat the pin with a match or lighter till it's quite hot, insert the pin, if the material forms a tiny melted hole, it's vinyl, if no melt it's leather.
Easy peasy!

[Jameel]

An old-school, lifelong classically Italian upholsterer from the east coast who has done lots of work for me and been working on old concours-level British and Italian sports cars since the 60's told me to use Connolly Hide Care. I didn't even question him. Our host sells it.

[DNickel]

I have used Leatherique for years on my P cars with good results. I don't know about the other products but the only drawback is that you have to let the car bake on a sunny day after conditioning as it's a bit sticky if it all doesn't soak in. Bit of a wipe with a non-fluffy cloths fixes that.

[JustinK]

Thanks all for the advise and tips, I am waiting on the Obenaufs to be delivered.

I am surprised the dash and rear shelf would be made out of multiple materials. Was it not standard for them to be made out of the same material during the model year.

[Coastr]

Full leather was an option. Standard area have vinyl rear shelfs and dashboards.

Leather doesn’t tend to crack it shrinks and goes hard.

If you have the rear shelf out just look under the seam at the back where the cover joins the board. Leather looks like leather on the back and vinyl looks like vinyl.