Matt leather

[SpookyTheFirst]

Hello,

I would like to keep the matt finish of the leathers of my DB9GT.

I have the Aston Martin “leather kit”, and was very surprised to find that its user manual explicitly says that it should not be used for semi-aniline leather... which I guess is what we have on DB9! (and probably other Aston models).

Any recommendation to keep leather clean and matt?

Thanks!

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Semi-aniline was introduced on the DBS and was the standard fitment on that model. Was SA offered on the DB9? It certainly was not on any 9 before the S. The build sheet or window sticker should specifically call out the leather type used.

[GG33]

I use a 50/50 solution of woolite and water in a spray bottle to clean the leather, then autoglym leather treatment. Follow the instructions or look on youtube. Mine stays matt, no problem.

GG33

[SpookyTheFirst]

Thanks for the answer. As far as I read, the DB9GT is semi-aniline (it started in 2010 according to https://astonmartins.com/glossary_term/semi-anilin... )

Just for information here is the effect of swissvax leather cream: used and not used.

[Emilio Largo]

Strongly prefer the lower picture.

Spooky, this is the old thread that you should read - but please don´t despair; it´s obviously a controversial subject :
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...

My personal consequence from this was to avoid any creme/balm/conditioner/etc. by all means. I only use warm water and a soft microfibre towel - but then the car is only 3 1/2 years old, gets rarely used (with gloves) and is standing in the sunlight only when waiting for spare parts at the dealer´s (an upward trend ). Everything matte like on day one - but "unprotected", of course.

My 400th post!!

Edited by Emilio Largo on Tuesday 20th October 16:19

[AstonV]

I agree with the above. Just us well rung out warm water in a micro fiber. Stay away from conditioners and cleaners etc.

[Jon39]

Have Bridge of Weir ever published advice for owners ?

[DB9VolanteDriver]

Jon39 said:

Have Bridge of Weir ever published advice for owners ?

They did at one time on their web site. I remember no longer seeing it when I visited the site a couple years back.

[goddo]

DB9VolanteDriver said:

Jon39 said:

Have Bridge of Weir ever published advice for owners ?

They did at one time on their web site. I remember no longer seeing it when I visited the site a couple years back.

Always a very touchy subject as some owners want a different finish to others.
I think you are right that the Bridge of Weir website does not offer cleaning advice anymore.
This looks like a sensible site for alternative advice on cleaning.
https://www.truecar.com/blog/dos-donts-leather-car...

[anonymous-user]

https://www.classiccarservices.co.uk/shop/leather-...

This was (at some point in the past perhaps) the recommendation from Bridge of Weir. I've never used it myself - in recent times I find steering wheels need more TLC having been gunked up by hand sanitiser gel. Autoglym's leather cleaner doesn't do much, so I've moved to Dodo Juice Supernatural leather cleaner that seems better for unclogging dirt buildup. The topic of leather cleaning is one that 10 people will give 10 different answers though

[vpr]

What is Semi-aniline leather?

[Jon39]

vpr said:

What is Semi-aniline leather?

I would be interested to see a summary of the AML leather names and associated qualities.

Can remember, probably about 2016, that the existing good quality standard leather for the Vantage model, became a cost option.
The standard leather then became a type of leather which I have never seen, but according to some posters at the time, looks awful.

[vpr]

So much leather in new cars is reconstituted mush with a printed grain, looks and feels like pvc.

[AstonV]

vpr said:

What is Semi-aniline leather?

It’s a high quality soft leather. It’s fully sealed but not as durable as lesser grades used in most production cars like say Ford would use.

[DB9VolanteDriver]

AstonV said:

vpr said:

What is Semi-aniline leather?

It’s a high quality soft leather. It’s fully sealed but not as durable as lesser grades used in most production cars like say Ford would use.

And it really smells good, and for a long, long time.

[vpr]

So we shouldn’t feed our Aston leather?

[quench]

vpr said:

So we shouldn’t feed our Aston leather?

Only if it is hungry.

Can't believe how this is still a topic of controversy or even a question for most people. It is really very simple: the leather is painted with a polyurethane top coat which is impermeable to oils (the base component of most popular conditioners and 'foods' currently on the market), meaning use of said conditioners results in oil sitting on the surface, attracting more dirt and dust, and degrading the top coat more quickly than if you just used a damp cloth, or even did nothing at all. Result: that horrible, shiny look (worst on steering wheels) and eventually cracking and flaking of the paint.

[vpr]

quench said:

Only if it is hungry.

Can't believe how this is still a topic of controversy or even a question for most people. It is really very simple: the leather is painted with a polyurethane top coat which is impermeable to oils (the base component of most popular conditioners and 'foods' currently on the market), meaning use of said conditioners results in oil sitting on the surface, attracting more dirt and dust, and degrading the top coat more quickly than if you just used a damp cloth, or even did nothing at all. Result: that horrible, shiny look (worst on steering wheels) and eventually cracking and flaking of the paint.

Understood.
I have fed the leather on my old Aston more than I feed myself and it’s beautifully soft and supple. Old styleee

[AstonV]

vpr said:

So we shouldn’t feed our Aston leather?

No No No. Just keep it clean.

[spikeyhead]

vpr said:

So we shouldn’t feed our Aston leather?

...the most important rule, the rule you can never forget, no matter how much he cries, no matter how much he begs, never feed him after midnight.