I have a 2002 A6, Brilliant Blackm with the vanilla/onynx black interior. Vehicle has 18,000 mi. and despite weekly cleanings the leather is taking on a grayish black appearance. This actually started only three months after taking delivery. Audi responded by having the seats "re-dyed". They looked like new for a while. But the problem is resurfacing once again. No pun intended. Audi is taking the stand that the "staining" is a result of our choices in outer wear. possible transfer from leather coats, etc. Has anyone else experienced this problem? How did you resolve it? Any suggestions for a cleaning agent to minimize the "staining"?

 

From past experience, any light color leather seats dont hide dirt well.

 

Having had a business background with the automotive upholstery manufacturers in this country, automotive leather is dyed at the tannery using a technique called "drum dyeing".
This means, basically, that the dye is soakd into the leather for full penetration of the dye. This should result in long-term durability of the finish, with less signs of the color literally wearing way from the surface. If they redyed the seats for you, most likely all that was done was to apply a topical application of new dye to the seating surfaces. The bottom line-a topical application will not last too long, before it starts showing signs of wear. Secondly, a secondary application of dye on the surface could compromise the breathing qualities that were engineered in the the original leather finish, in the first place. Automotive leather is a high-tech product, really the result today of about 30-years' trial and error development. But the rule of thumb, the light colors are a bad choice, if you are concerned about keeping things looking "fresh" for the long term. Beige, vanilla white, light grey-it does not matter how often you clean them. They simply will eventually start to show the signs of use. And there is really not much you can do about it. If the ever-fresh look is important to you, you are really better off choosing the darker colors. That is actually why I went with the black.

 

the staining. You have to stay on top of it. Once it sets in, I would not know what to do. They redyed it for you? Good to know. I have gone as far as to sit on a white towel to stop the problem. I clean twice monthly with lexol. It's only an 03 so I can't give you a long term look. Keep us up to date please. Have you tried to clean it again and what hapens when you do?

 

I tried dry cleaning fluid, all sorts of nasty solvents, and couldn't get the blue spots out. Driver's seat looks great after 3 years, but the passenger seat has the spots from the wife's jeans. Has anyone tried bleach?

Should have use seat covers.

 

agree with what has been said. dyed cotton, that still bleeds is the biggest problem. carry a towel to sit on when wearing blue/black jeans.
with the lesser quality, surface-dye only leather goods, cleaning is easier but the dyed top layer eventually cracks and looks much worse.

also cleaning may be part of the problem, because each time you clean, some of the glycerin, soap fats or whatever is used stays in the leather, so during "seat time" the residue works on the clothing and "attracts" dirt. so with most leather cleaning products, several passes with a clean damp towel are needed to remove as much cleaner as possible. too frequent cleaning eventually leads to drying of the leather, just like dry hands/skin....lexol also attracts pigment so it should be used sparingly, if at all on light colored leather.

the product i suggest you try was made initially for exotic boot leathers (bird, gator, lizard) and is a very safe product that leaves very little residue. it also doesn't need a lexol like conditioner after cleaning. the product is called "propert's all purpose cleaner & conditioner" 8 oz plastic size and 4oz glass jar...this brand name can be found in western goods stores. the brand is owned by kiwi, so the same product is sold under the kiwi name "kiwi oil tanned leather cleaner" in a 4 oz glass jar. kiwi also owns the meltonian brand name so the same cleaner/conditioner can be found under this name as a "meltonian delicate leather cleaner/conditioner". all are the same product, which looks and feels a bit like facial coal cream or goop hand cleaner. in fact it drys without any oily residue a bit like gojo...
the product smells like no other leather product you've ever used, but the aroma evaporates. work the product with your bare hand into the surface (after vaccumning) wait a minute or so and then wipe it away with a clean cotton towel-don't let it dry befoe wiping or the dirt will remain. if a white towel is used you'll see the dirty stuff on the towel and your hand.
i have used this product on my ivory motorhome leather coach seats for 15 years, audi melange seats and lizard/ostrich boots as well. it really does clean without residues and is very safe for the audi skins.
staining from ink, graphite, motor oils and grasses will only partially come out...
cheers

 

www.leatherique.com

 

transferred to the pass seat (beige) from jeans worn by my wife on a long trip. Used the rejuvinator oil, followed by the pristine clean; seats look like new.

 

I have a 2.8Q with vanilla leather which I bought used a year ago. The previous owner had always worn a black leather belt, the dye from this stained the leather and I can't shift it. Otherwise I find LEXOL (recommended many times on this site) shifts everything pretty well. My car is 5 yrs and 92K old but leather still looks pretty good. Best of luck.