Dried out leather and MB-Tex.

**Dolebludger** · 06-01-2008

When I took delivery of our new SLK last November, the leather and MB Tex in the interior was beyond flat -- it looked dead. Since then, I have been treating it regularly with 303 and leather conditioner. It looks fine now.Nice matte finish.

We bought an '04 C 320 back at the end of '03 with no such problems. So, I am wondering if this is a typical problem with R171 SLKs, or just with mine. Has anybody else with a dried our looking interior?taken delivery on a new SLK with a dried out looking interior?

**alroumi** · 06-01-2008

It will get dry with usage, I like to condition the car every one to two months with a nice leather cleaner and conditioner so it still is smooth and soft.

**Dolebludger** · 06-01-2008

Thanks, Mohamed:

I tried the Meguair's conditioner you recommended on all leather and plastic interior surfaces about a month ago, and all looked fine. In time the dash and the door panels retained a nice look. But the seats, console cover, and steering wheel went back to that dull "dead look" Of course, I re-applied the conditioner.

What puzzles me is that I never had this situation on our '04 C 320. It's interior surfaces keep a nice semi gloss look, regardless of how often I condition them

Could it be that SLKs have a different type of leather in some areas than do other MB models?

bobsquad7 · 06-01-2008

I noticed the seats in my slk350 looked (& felt) a little dry also.
So, . . .I wandered over to the OKC Mercedes detail shop (just west of the service dept) & asked their tech guy what they used. They recommended Malco Leather Conditioner Part# 109932. According to the info on the bottle, it contains mink oil, neatsfoot oil & dimethyl-polysiloxane (whatever that is?).
I don't use it on the insturment panel, just the leather (seats & door trim panel inserts). It definately brought the luster back. The supplier just happened to be at the detail shop when I went by, so I bought it direct from him. A 32 oz bottle was $15. I also looked up the Malco product on google & found the majority of responses to be favorable, . . .several compared it to Lexol.

**DansSlk** · 06-01-2008

Do you drive/park the car with the top down?

bobsquad7 · 06-01-2008

Hi Dan, My 350 is garaged 24-7 unless I'm driving it, . . .then, I always park with the top up, . . .usually 100 yards from the next car in the park lot - try to keep the idiots from leaving me with door dings.
BTW, . . .have you had a chance to look up the brake bleed procedure?

**DansSlk** · 06-01-2008

Oh no sorry i must do that

**Dolebludger** · 06-02-2008

Bobsquad7: Hi, fellow central Oklahoman!, My mailing address is in Yukon, OK, but I live within the city limits of Oklahoma City. Go figure! I'll check in on the product you recommend next time I am at the dealer. Sounds like an oil based product, whereas the Meguair's conditioner is water based. If that is the case, it could be expected to last a bit longer.

DanSLK:

I seldom leave my car top down outside. In fact, I seldom even drive it with top down. This is due to our beastly Oklahoma weather. Either too cold or too hot. That's why we liked the SLK better than some of the competition because of the metal roof.

06-01-2008	#1 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 408 Country: Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 37 Posts	Dried out leather and MB-Tex. When I took delivery of our new SLK last November, the leather and MB Tex in the interior was beyond flat -- it looked dead. Since then, I have been treating it regularly with 303 and leather conditioner. It looks fine now.Nice matte finish. We bought an '04 C 320 back at the end of '03 with no such problems. So, I am wondering if this is a typical problem with R171 SLKs, or just with mine. Has anybody else with a dried our looking interior?taken delivery on a new SLK with a dried out looking interior?
	http://www.slkworld.com/

06-01-2008	#2 (permalink)
alroumi Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Kuwait City, Kuwait Vehicle: 2006 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 2007 Ebony Jaguar XKR Coupe' and 06 Black Cayenne S Posts: 6,016 Country: Thanks: 229 Thanked 156 Times in 94 Posts	It will get dry with usage, I like to condition the car every one to two months with a nice leather cleaner and conditioner so it still is smooth and soft. __________________ 06 Kleemann Designo Mocha Black SLK55 AMG 06 Porsche Cayenne S 07 Jaguar XKR Coupe' I use the Torque and keep the HP for my Steak Sauce!

06-01-2008	#5 (permalink)
DansSlk Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,384 Country: Thanks: 83 Thanked 121 Times in 95 Posts	Do you drive/park the car with the top down? __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

06-01-2008	#7 (permalink)
DansSlk Super Moderator Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,384 Country: Thanks: 83 Thanked 121 Times in 95 Posts	Oh no sorry i must do that __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

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06-01-2008	#3 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 408 Country: Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 37 Posts	Thanks, Mohamed: I tried the Meguair's conditioner you recommended on all leather and plastic interior surfaces about a month ago, and all looked fine. In time the dash and the door panels retained a nice look. But the seats, console cover, and steering wheel went back to that dull "dead look" Of course, I re-applied the conditioner. What puzzles me is that I never had this situation on our '04 C 320. It's interior surfaces keep a nice semi gloss look, regardless of how often I condition them Could it be that SLKs have a different type of leather in some areas than do other MB models?

06-01-2008	#4 (permalink)
bobsquad7 SLK World Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: OKC, Ok Vehicle: slk350 Other Toys: R1200GS, Freightliner Class-8-RV conversion Posts: 34 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	I noticed the seats in my slk350 looked (& felt) a little dry also. So, . . .I wandered over to the OKC Mercedes detail shop (just west of the service dept) & asked their tech guy what they used. They recommended Malco Leather Conditioner Part# 109932. According to the info on the bottle, it contains mink oil, neatsfoot oil & dimethyl-polysiloxane (whatever that is?). I don't use it on the insturment panel, just the leather (seats & door trim panel inserts). It definately brought the luster back. The supplier just happened to be at the detail shop when I went by, so I bought it direct from him. A 32 oz bottle was $15. I also looked up the Malco product on google & found the majority of responses to be favorable, . . .several compared it to Lexol.

06-01-2008	#6 (permalink)
bobsquad7 SLK World Member Join Date: Apr 2008 Location: OKC, Ok Vehicle: slk350 Other Toys: R1200GS, Freightliner Class-8-RV conversion Posts: 34 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 12 Times in 5 Posts	Hi Dan, My 350 is garaged 24-7 unless I'm driving it, . . .then, I always park with the top up, . . .usually 100 yards from the next car in the park lot - try to keep the idiots from leaving me with door dings. BTW, . . .have you had a chance to look up the brake bleed procedure?

06-02-2008	#8 (permalink)
Dolebludger Elite SLK World Member Join Date: Feb 2008 Location: Yukon, OK Vehicle: '07 SLK 280; '04 C 320, '01 Honda S 2000, '98 Ford Ranger truck. Posts: 408 Country: Thanks: 33 Thanked 60 Times in 37 Posts	Bobsquad7: Hi, fellow central Oklahoman!, My mailing address is in Yukon, OK, but I live within the city limits of Oklahoma City. Go figure! I'll check in on the product you recommend next time I am at the dealer. Sounds like an oil based product, whereas the Meguair's conditioner is water based. If that is the case, it could be expected to last a bit longer. DanSLK: I seldom leave my car top down outside. In fact, I seldom even drive it with top down. This is due to our beastly Oklahoma weather. Either too cold or too hot. That's why we liked the SLK better than some of the competition because of the metal roof.

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