Leather top Dash cleaning

[Kidicarus112]

I’ve been looking for the best way to clean and protect the top of the leather dash. Dust with a soft bristle brush then use sponge with colourlock cleaner and protectant is what I was thinking. If anyone has some tips I would appreciate it. 2025 G80 w/extended leather.

[John in VA]

That works. A windshield sun shade will also help keep it from drying/shrinking/cracking. I like the Covercraft ones sold by the dealer:
https://www.covercraft.com/product/u...-sunscreen/UVP

[TXSTYLE]

The direct SUN is definitely the enemy of Leather!
I suggest and have my windshield tinted with 80% film. But it blocks whatever high 90s% of harmful UV.
I do use a lightweight leather cleaner from time to time. I don't suggest straight up leather conditioner because as it evaporates, it will coat the inside of your windshield.

[silvermanor]

I use a Swiffer duster then the BMW leather care kit.

https://shop.bmwusa.com/products/det...195A3ADA7.html

[chowser51]

I usually tint the windshield for uv protection. Never had an issue. Going Monday to get all my windows tinted in next car. 35% all round and 50% windshield

[Kidicarus112]

Originally Posted by chowser51

I usually tint the windshield for uv protection. Never had an issue. Going Monday to get all my windows tinted in next car. 35% all round and 50% windshield

I have ceramic tints all the way around as of now. Will be getting the windshield done in a few weeks.

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by Kidicarus112

I’ve been looking for the best way to clean and protect the top of the leather dash. Dust with a soft bristle brush then use sponge with colourlock cleaner and protectant is what I was thinking. If anyone has some tips I would appreciate it. 2025 G80 w/extended leather.

I know this thread is a bit old, but I'm bringing my new car home next Wednesday after getting full tint (including 70% on the windshield) and was curious what you ended up doing to protect your dash. I was planning to dust it off and do Colourlock Leather Shield. I don't see a need to clean it since it's brand new. Was going to do the same with the seats and doors, too.

[Henn28]

I’m not sure the upper dash (or door arm rests) are actually leather. I suspect it may be sesa-whatever. I use Zymol leather cleaner and conditioner on my cars and have noticed that the dash material doesn’t take the cleaner or conditioner the same as the seats. The products won’t work into the material as well, and leave streaks. Regardless, the dash looks great and if it lasts longer than actual leather I’m happy.

As far as the arm rests go, they are my pet peeve. Could be “pleather” in my opinion. Wife’s 2025 X5 has beautiful leather and stitching on the armrests and center console, with no extra boxes ticked in this respect and at the same price-point.

Champagne problems, I know, and sorry for the thread drift.

I use California Covers sunshades, which I think are actually Covercraft products. Great fit and coverage.

[HTTP 410]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I’m not sure the upper dash (or door arm rests) are actually leather. I suspect it may be sesa-whatever. I use Zymol leather cleaner and conditioner on my cars and have noticed that the dash material doesn’t take the cleaner or conditioner the same as the seats. The products won’t work into the material as well, and leave streaks. Regardless, the dash looks great and if it lasts longer than actual leather I’m happy.

As far as the arm rests go, they are my pet peeve. Could be “pleather” in my opinion. Wife’s 2025 X5 has beautiful leather and stitching on the armrests and center console, with no extra boxes ticked in this respect and at the same price-point.

Champagne problems, I know, and sorry for the thread drift.

I use California Covers sunshades, which I think are actually Covercraft products. Great fit and coverage.

Thanks. I've got full Silverstone|Black on my new car and would expect the dash, door cars (less) the bottoms, etc. to be the real thing.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I’m not sure the upper dash (or door arm rests) are actually leather. I suspect it may be sesa-whatever. I use Zymol leather cleaner and conditioner on my cars and have noticed that the dash material doesn’t take the cleaner or conditioner the same as the seats. The products won’t work into the material as well, and leave streaks. Regardless, the dash looks great and if it lasts longer than actual leather I’m happy.

As far as the arm rests go, they are my pet peeve. Could be “pleather” in my opinion. Wife’s 2025 X5 has beautiful leather and stitching on the armrests and center console, with no extra boxes ticked in this respect and at the same price-point.

Champagne problems, I know, and sorry for the thread drift.

I use California Covers sunshades, which I think are actually Covercraft products. Great fit and coverage.

It's real leather.

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

It's real leather.

You mean “I can’t believe it’s not leather” leather?

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Henn28

You mean “I can’t believe it’s not leather” leather?

Nope, real leather. Perhaps you only have the extended leather? In which case you would have a faux leather dash. However, if you opted for full leather, it's real on both the dash and door sills.

[chefwong]

Originally Posted by HTTP 410

Colourlock Leather Shield.

Do a test spot.
Maybe I'm just too picky...
Shield on mine....shifts the color a smidge. I'd rather use protect for that area. It's not like you have a concern about abrasion. Just keep it conditioned.

I do use shield on the outer bolsters since it is designed for that.....it does make the surfacer slicker a smidge.
Right after application, you will notice it's slicker....maybe slight placebo.

I'm not thrilled on the slight color shift but I live with it on the seats. When I do it on the seats, I do both fronts and center console .
Mainly as I want things to be uniform in color

It's hard to explain other than do a test spot, see how it looks in your eyes ......and then proceed to apply knowing where you will have he product and where you don't and whether it will ---blend---

[Henn28]

Originally Posted by Burrcold

Nope, real leather. Perhaps you only have the extended leather? In which case you would have a faux leather dash. However, if you opted for full leather, it's real on both the dash and door sills.

Full Tartufo interior, which reminds me that the other irritant I have on a 90k car is that Full leather doesn’t get the cubbie at your left knee covered in leather. Just an odd choice by BMW when the rest of the entire lower dash looks amazing in leather.

I did see a post here where someone had his cubbie covered by an upholstery guy and it came out very nice.

You may be right about the dash of course, but we didn’t get any “extend leather” options on my wife’s G05 x5 50e and the dash areas seem identical. I will say that the BMW car configurator states:

“IMPORTANT INFO
When Leather upholstery is selected, Leather will be on all seating surfaces; other components may be Leather or Leatherette.”
By which I assume Sensatec, if applicable.

My curiosity stems from wondering if the cleaning and protection of semsatec is any different than leather. The inter web has a million different opinions on this very subject, but I can’t find anything from BMW.

Also, I did check my sun shades that I ordered from California Covers and they are Covercraft brand. I like them because they are rigid (accordion fold) and sized specifically for various cars. Much better and more precise coverage than the numerous cheap shades I would buy from Amazon over the years which would eventually get smashed up and misshapen.

[Phillies8008]

Since Sensatec isn't leather, I don't think I'd use a leather care product on it. I don't know if it'll specifically hurt it, but I doubt it'll help it either and is kind of a waste of time.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Full Tartufo interior, which reminds me that the other irritant I have on a 90k car is that Full leather doesn’t get the cubbie at your left knee covered in leather. Just an odd choice by BMW when the rest of the entire lower dash looks amazing in leather.

I did see a post here where someone had his cubbie covered by an upholstery guy and it came out very nice.

You may be right about the dash of course, but we didn’t get any “extend leather” options on my wife’s G05 x5 50e and the dash areas seem identical. I will say that the BMW car configurator states:

“IMPORTANT INFO
When Leather upholstery is selected, Leather will be on all seating surfaces; other components may be Leather or Leatherette.”
By which I assume Sensatec, if applicable.

My curiosity stems from wondering if the cleaning and protection of semsatec is any different than leather. The inter web has a million different opinions on this very subject, but I can’t find anything from BMW.

Also, I did check my sun shades that I ordered from California Covers and they are Covercraft brand. I like them because they are rigid (accordion fold) and sized specifically for various cars. Much better and more precise coverage than the numerous cheap shades I would buy from Amazon over the years which would eventually get smashed up and misshapen.

They put that note because some surfaces such as the knee pads are not leather (in the manual) even if you select full leather. The middle parts and the armrest could be sensatek I'm not sure. However, the tops of the door cards, seats, upper dash and lower dash are all merino leather.

[Phizzzle]

Microfiber towel and a sunshade or UV blocking windshield tint is all you need to keep the leather dashboard clean.

I coated our leather dashboard with Gyeon leather ceramic coating and it nearly messed up the dashboard so I don't recommend it.

[smjtri]

This has been talked about a bunch in the g05 forum after some people had their leather dashboards start to separate. Tint windshield, windshield cover, and less is better seems to be the best approach. Use a damp micro fiber towel w/water and just a wipe clean of the dash is all you need. Nothing more.

[Westside Guy]

Originally Posted by Henn28

I use California Covers sunshades, which I think are actually Covercraft products. Great fit and coverage.

You can buy Covercraft products from California Car Covers but they are distinct top-tier brands. CCC acts as a major retailer for many Covercraft products, offering a wide range of Covercraft items such as seat covers, sun shields, and floor mats. CCC manufactures its own line of custom-fit car covers that are known for their exceptional quality. I owned an outdoor cover from CCC which I used on a Mercedes CLK430 and then a CLK500. It was amazing quality and lasted almost 20 years.

[claykin]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Full Tartufo interior, which reminds me that the other irritant I have on a 90k car is that Full leather doesn’t get the cubbie at your left knee covered in leather. Just an odd choice by BMW when the rest of the entire lower dash looks amazing in leather.

I did see a post here where someone had his cubbie covered by an upholstery guy and it came out very nice.

You may be right about the dash of course, but we didn’t get any “extend leather” options on my wife’s G05 x5 50e and the dash areas seem identical. I will say that the BMW car configurator states:

“IMPORTANT INFO
When Leather upholstery is selected, Leather will be on all seating surfaces; other components may be Leather or Leatherette.”
By which I assume Sensatec, if applicable.

My curiosity stems from wondering if the cleaning and protection of semsatec is any different than leather. The inter web has a million different opinions on this very subject, but I can’t find anything from BMW.

Also, I did check my sun shades that I ordered from California Covers and they are Covercraft brand. I like them because they are rigid (accordion fold) and sized specifically for various cars. Much better and more precise coverage than the numerous cheap shades I would buy from Amazon over the years which would eventually get smashed up and misshapen.

Your G05 looks like an LCI. And you appear to be in the US. FYI, there is no Full leather option for the US market. Extended leather is as good as it gets here.

[Seedster2]

Originally Posted by Henn28

Full Tartufo interior, which reminds me that the other irritant I have on a 90k car is that Full leather doesn’t get the cubbie at your left knee covered in leather. Just an odd choice by BMW when the rest of the entire lower dash looks amazing in leather.

I did see a post here where someone had his cubbie covered by an upholstery guy and it came out very nice.

You may be right about the dash of course, but we didn’t get any “extend leather” options on my wife’s G05 x5 50e and the dash areas seem identical. I will say that the BMW car configurator states:

“IMPORTANT INFO
When Leather upholstery is selected, Leather will be on all seating surfaces; other components may be Leather or Leatherette.”
By which I assume Sensatec, if applicable.

My curiosity stems from wondering if the cleaning and protection of semsatec is any different than leather. The inter web has a million different opinions on this very subject, but I can’t find anything from BMW.

Also, I did check my sun shades that I ordered from California Covers and they are Covercraft brand. I like them because they are rigid (accordion fold) and sized specifically for various cars. Much better and more precise coverage than the numerous cheap shades I would buy from Amazon over the years which would eventually get smashed up and misshapen.

I hate that full leather still doesn’t get the cubby covered in full matching leather. I took care of it myself to address my OCD.

[Burrcold]

Originally Posted by Seedster2

I hate that full leather still doesn’t get the cubby covered in full matching leather. I took care of it myself to address my OCD.

Oh nice! How did you find matching the matching leather?