Half way through Leathermagic Dye job (pics to follow)

[Jeff M3]

So I decided that my tore up Champagne lux seats had to get the boot, and currently I couldn't afford a full new interior for the car, as to find replacement seats I would have to: a. buy brand new front seats as there are only a few Champagne interior M3's out there and no one has seats for sale, or b. buy a used interior with seats and door panels. I decided to try leathermagic dye kit to redye the entire interior. I bought this color which is BMW color code 893:



Unfortunately it is slightly darker than what it looks like from the picture, and I have come to learn it is the color of Burgundy found in E30 cars -- but it is turning out to be a color I really like (I was worried if it was too bright of a red it would be too drastic)

Half way through the job I'm incredible impressed. I have two coats of dye on every piece being dyed, and a 3rd coat on the rear seat bottom. It looks very professionally done, and does wonders on the little hairline cracks and stubborn stains. I have taken pictures, but can't find the cord to put them on my computer now -- i will find it tomorrow

On one of the rear interior panels I noticed the dye isn't sticking very well -- it's on the stiff leather at either end of one of the Lux stitched panels, and I have realized I didn't prep well enough on that piece. It seems though that adding more coats is solving this problem, we will see the long run results

I will get some pictures up ASAP to show the results, needless to say I'm very pleased -- and to all the other Champagne interiors on here, I'm sorry -- but it was too dirty and no leather cleaner was fixing it (wait till you see the before pictures)

[///Mink]

Allow me to be the first...

[DeeM3]

Allow me to be the first...

ditto

[Jeff M3]

I'm half tempted to go up to the 24hr walmart and pick up an SD card reader so I can just upload the pictures -- i know so far the thread is worthless, i know

[DeeM3]

go ahead driving in the night is fun

[Jeff M3]

It could be an issue that there are no seats in my car

And 2 inches of ice and snow ... I will have pics tomorrow evening of before, during, and after

[///MacDaddy]

I just completed my interior with the same kit, came out awesome.

A few hints:

LIGHT, LIGHT coats. Spread it real thin. I didn't use the aerosol sprayer, just the foam applicator. You want to use as liitle dye as possible, just enough to cover.

Where the dye isn't sticking well you need to take some more of the Prep Sol stuff, rub out the spot, lightly sand again, let it dry and reapply dye, Don't just keep adding dye to cover the spot.

Also, the dye doesn't fill a lot of the cracks, makes them look better though. If I ws to do it over I would fill the cracks with some kind of crack filler first.

Good luck, it was an easy and fun DIY.

Jeff, aren't you the one who started that "treaure" thread? If so, thanks man. Great find!

[Casebrius]

Jeff, aren't you the one who started that "treaure" thread? If so, thanks man. Great find!

always up for treasure hunts - share the wealth! Wheres the thread?

[///MacDaddy]

always up for treasure hunts - share the wealth! Wheres the thread?

here it is: http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=289389

and my threads on "Leather Magic"

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=292091

http://forums.bimmerforums.com/forum...d.php?t=292528

[brownMPOWER]

hmmm i have the champagne leather/wood trim interior on my 95 boston green lux m3 and desparetly need to cure the leather, curious to see how yours came out - cant wait for the pics

i however really do like the color so i am planning on purchasing the champagne(bmwcolor) leathermagic and doin this proccess - i'm just a bit worried cause my leather is pretty beatup on the drivers seat

also did u take your seats out for this proccess?

heres pics of my seats

[Ali]

how do u guys beat up your seats so bad?

[brownMPOWER]

bought the car used with them beat up :-P

the leather really wasnt the biggest of my concerns cause i found such a deal on the car 15k $ and only 50k miles

but..the leather has started to bother me so is this a good solution?

[Jeff M3]

Compared to mine -- your seats are cherry, and the leathermagic would do a wonderful job -- the finish is just worn off of yours with some small cracks. It would look nearly brand new with the leathermagic. My seats are now finished with E30 M3 red leather, and I love it -- I had some technical difficulties with the door panels, but I've removed 3 of the 4 inserts from the panels and am going to redo them and then post the pics

And as he said -- Bought the car used, seats were already wrecked. Champagne leather is a 95 lux only color, so after 10 years of use, it's hard to find the stuff in good shape

[Speedlimits?]

Guide to posting on Bimmerforums:
1) Take Pics.
2) Host pics somewhere with good bandwith.
3) Make thread.
4) ??????
5) Profit.

[STL Avus M3]

Guide to posting on Bimmerforums:
1) Take Pics.
2) Host pics somewhere with good bandwith.
3) Make thread.
4) ??????
5) Profit.

Way to think like an underpants gnome.

[snipaz2k10]

[potomac]

Guide to posting on Bimmerforums:
1) Take Pics.
2) Host pics somewhere with good bandwith.
3) Make thread.
4) ??????
5) Profit.

So you are aware of this process as well...

Not bad for a new guy on the block

[HALO_OPS]

So are going to see any pics this year.......

[phillyB///M3]

pics pics pics!!! my seats are looking pretty messed up these days...I still havent gotten around to leatheriquing them.

[MitchSF]

Doesn't this company also offer a crack filler? I've used Color Plus, and I believe their products are the similar, for the most part. They sell a crack filler for leather that's used just like body putty. You put it on, sand, then dye. It works great.

I really like Color Plus's leather conditioner, called Soffener. I've used it for many years.

Mitch

[///MacDaddy]

Doesn't this company also offer a crack filler?
Mitch

yes they do. It's called leather repair compound.

[Jeff M3]

I still don't have the pics because my camera cord is back at school ... I am going to buy a card reader and use that. I have one bone to pick with leather magic though -- I wouldn't call it a dye, it's a paint. 4 days later I found a spot i messed up on and was able to get down to the original color with their "leather prep solution" -- A dye should have changed the original color, not covered it over

[Kyle M]

:d

[Jeff M3]

Alright -- I got a card reader ... here are some of the pictures ... I have it all in the car now and will get some finished pictures

http://pg.photos.yahoo.com/ph/calyps...bum?.dir=/6ded

[Jeff M3]

To save you from having to do all the point and click --


Worst part Before:



The process:



Worst part almost done:



One seat final product:



Blue Tape DOES NOT EQUAL painters tape ... this took a DAYS to fix, having to slowly break the insert away from the door, and redo it all.



I will get some in car pictures soon