alrightroad

<center><img src="http://pictureposter.audiworld.com/104778/center_rear_seat.jpg"></center><p>
(I preface this with saying I am a BONEHEAD)

My wife and I ran errands in her car on Saturday for about an hour and 1/2. Of course, I didn't want to leave my car baking in sun while we were gone with windows rolled up so I rolled them down about 1/2 way. High temp for day was 90. Blue skies when we left; complete downpour when we returned to the house.

Yes, the allroad got soaked and it was a sideways rains so water was everywhere in the car. About a 3/4 inch puddle in center console under break lever... and that's located in the center of the car!! Being 3 blocks from the coast, the afternoon storm rolled out in a matter of minutes and the sun blazed the rest of the day. Pavement was dry in about an hour.

So, I parked my car in the sun (again), took the floor mats out and let the moisture escape with the windows all the way down and the hatch open... after toweling off practically everything inside the car. I went on about my day.

When I checked back after dark, I found the car practically all dry except for some carpet in shaded spots. The next morning I saw what I did not notice in the dark (see image here and couple more in my Picture Poster). The leather dried out so quickly from direct sun (in some spots), it literally burned the surface of the leather. It is visually scarred and very hard to the touch. I have applied Lexol conditioner in heavy doses since Sunday a.m. with no change in the way the leather looks. I think it's, toast... literally. Moral here is dry out your car in indirect sunlight.

This clearly decreases my horsepower, torque and performance. I have changed my signature to reflect my new mod :-|

Any ideas?

TROY H, care to spin some magic?

Nappy

Wow.... that's wierd. I never seen that happen before.

Troy H

clean before conditioning?

alrightroad

I have never seen car leather act like this. I looks like someone took a torch and made Creme Brule on top.

alrightroad

I can't imagine it's salt but possible. I have never seen car leather act like this.

Woodman-ar 01

The leather must have been soaked through to do that much damage in the sun. Thanks for the lesson learned as I've done this in previous cars before.

Good luck with the conditioner.

Ink Ming

Any change at all from the conditioner? Or still the same exact appearance?

alrightroad

No change as of yet. More conditioner going on each night I get home.

Misplacedyankee

Lexol is pretty good, but I like this stuff better (See Link). I bought a used car once and the shifter boot was never cared for and was very rough and almost "burnt" probably due to lack of conditioning and maybe an open sunroof. It took many clean and conditioning hours, but it was like new in a few weeks. Leatherique has a great rejuvenator.

Maybe post on the detailing board for more opinions. Good luck.<ul><li><a href="http://superiorcarcare.net/leleca.html">Leatherique</a></li></ul>

Sarge

You = upgrading to S6 seats? Alcantara inserts and headliner would be schweet...