Before starting on any interior detailing job, check with owner:
1. Has any interior part been re-dyed/re-sprayed due to previous damage?
2. Is it a new car assembled within the country, or was it imported used from another country, and then "re-conditioned' to make it look appetising again?
If you have doubts that certain interior parts have been cheaply re-dyed/touched-up repainted, proceed with CAUTION!
============================================
What To Look For (Tell Tale Signs)
Inspect abrasion-prone areas (corners of seats etc).
This is the plastic trim that surrounds the bottom of a Merc S-Class front seat.
Many deep scuffs have been re-painted....you can still see the marks underneath.
You won't know what kinda touch-up job it was (cheap vs professional), but the workmanship is a good indicator. The one above is crap. This could be indicative of more problems ahead.......
The other plastic parts attached to the seat....have also been "re-painted", and is now peeling off. Typical cheap job.
Condition of the leather seats are clear indications of a roughly-used, poorly maintained car. Here, it looks crappy...but there's more surprises!!:drool:
At this point, the car owner must be informed about potential problems.
If owner gives you the Green Light, proceed.
If owner says leave it, then LEAVE IT.
Cautioning The Car Owner
In this case, I've cautioned the owner earlier that the front seats are problematic as the vehicle was imported from Japan and clearly has been "re-conditioned".
DEMO - If Owner Allows
She agreed to let me handle a full Nappa leather re-wrap of all seats as she disliked the current colour anyway. Since the seats will be re-wrapped, I've sought her permission to allow me to use her seats as a "demo".
Meguiars Gold Class Leather Cleaner + Conditioner was applied to the questionable area and not surprisingly, the cheaply-applied dye immediately CAME OFF and onto my fingers!!
LOL! She just smiled, and requested to have all the leather seats re-wrapped with new leather, and re-spray the front bumper.
It was a superb real-life example to show fellow Autopians here...rare opportunity!
===============================================
Explanation to customers:
1. Leather's top-coating could hv worn away due to abrasion and neglect. This exposes the leather, giving it a slightly dis-coloured look. It prompts certain parties to 're-dye" the damaged area.
2. Re-dyeing is a complex art and a professional job is not cheap.
Note:
The worn-out portion must be cleaned with a professional fat remover (as in the leather's "fat liqour"), and then cleaned with benzene, to reveal a 100% clean leather surface for the dye to adhere. Skipping this critical part, could result in sub-std repairs.
3. Later, due to continued abrasion, the re-dyed areas start losing the dye again, hence re-exposing the unfinished leather underneath. When the new owner tries to use anything liquid to clean this part (mistaking it for dirt), it turns dark. Of course...the leather is now un-coated, and absorbs moisture, turning dark. When it dries, it looks much better. Cleaning it with more cleaning solutions will not do any good.
This is not only a dirt problem.
Solutions:
1. Re-wrap the seat.
But it's unlikely you can buy the identical type of leather from the aftermarket. To fully match everything, you'll hv to wrap all the seats which is expensive.
2. Visit a leather specialist for professional repair work.
But only certain damages can be fully repaired.
3. If you cant afford any repair, and hv to live with the damaged area, and treat this area constantly with products meant for "unfinished/uncoated" leather...eg. neatsfoot oil etc. .
1. Has any interior part been re-dyed/re-sprayed due to previous damage?
2. Is it a new car assembled within the country, or was it imported used from another country, and then "re-conditioned' to make it look appetising again?
If you have doubts that certain interior parts have been cheaply re-dyed/touched-up repainted, proceed with CAUTION!
============================================
What To Look For (Tell Tale Signs)
Inspect abrasion-prone areas (corners of seats etc).
This is the plastic trim that surrounds the bottom of a Merc S-Class front seat.
Many deep scuffs have been re-painted....you can still see the marks underneath.
You won't know what kinda touch-up job it was (cheap vs professional), but the workmanship is a good indicator. The one above is crap. This could be indicative of more problems ahead.......
The other plastic parts attached to the seat....have also been "re-painted", and is now peeling off. Typical cheap job.
Condition of the leather seats are clear indications of a roughly-used, poorly maintained car. Here, it looks crappy...but there's more surprises!!:drool:
At this point, the car owner must be informed about potential problems.
If owner gives you the Green Light, proceed.
If owner says leave it, then LEAVE IT.
Cautioning The Car Owner
In this case, I've cautioned the owner earlier that the front seats are problematic as the vehicle was imported from Japan and clearly has been "re-conditioned".
DEMO - If Owner Allows
She agreed to let me handle a full Nappa leather re-wrap of all seats as she disliked the current colour anyway. Since the seats will be re-wrapped, I've sought her permission to allow me to use her seats as a "demo".
Meguiars Gold Class Leather Cleaner + Conditioner was applied to the questionable area and not surprisingly, the cheaply-applied dye immediately CAME OFF and onto my fingers!!
LOL! She just smiled, and requested to have all the leather seats re-wrapped with new leather, and re-spray the front bumper.
It was a superb real-life example to show fellow Autopians here...rare opportunity!
===============================================
Explanation to customers:
1. Leather's top-coating could hv worn away due to abrasion and neglect. This exposes the leather, giving it a slightly dis-coloured look. It prompts certain parties to 're-dye" the damaged area.
2. Re-dyeing is a complex art and a professional job is not cheap.
Note:
The worn-out portion must be cleaned with a professional fat remover (as in the leather's "fat liqour"), and then cleaned with benzene, to reveal a 100% clean leather surface for the dye to adhere. Skipping this critical part, could result in sub-std repairs.
3. Later, due to continued abrasion, the re-dyed areas start losing the dye again, hence re-exposing the unfinished leather underneath. When the new owner tries to use anything liquid to clean this part (mistaking it for dirt), it turns dark. Of course...the leather is now un-coated, and absorbs moisture, turning dark. When it dries, it looks much better. Cleaning it with more cleaning solutions will not do any good.
This is not only a dirt problem.
Solutions:
1. Re-wrap the seat.
But it's unlikely you can buy the identical type of leather from the aftermarket. To fully match everything, you'll hv to wrap all the seats which is expensive.
2. Visit a leather specialist for professional repair work.
But only certain damages can be fully repaired.
3. If you cant afford any repair, and hv to live with the damaged area, and treat this area constantly with products meant for "unfinished/uncoated" leather...eg. neatsfoot oil etc. .
