Cleaning M3 Stitching and Steering Wheel Leather - Testimonial

[IanB22]

So, I saw a number of photo's of the M3 wheel (this car is new to me as of about 4-5 weeks ago). And I was floored by how well the alternating stitching popped in these photo's. Decided to tackle the job and see what would happen.

Warning to all those who acquire or who 'think' their steering wheel is clean. IT IS NOT!

I decided to use woolite stain remover, and after about 5 minutes with the tooth brush, realized there was a huge cake of oils and residue on my wheel. I have no idea if this is a coating of some kind or just a REALLY REALLY REALLY dirty wheel. Think 1995 ford mustang with the champagne interior, 20 years later! Black literally started to peel off the wheel with aggressive woolite and aggressive microfibers smearing/wiping the shit of this wheel.

Enjoy the photo's and the last one is the best before/after I could get.

Where I started (not to bad right?)
E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

Tooth brush action (again not to bad...)
E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

Then all hell breaks loose, as quite literally a coating of shit on the leather starts to break down from the woolite that is spilling over onto the leather where the stitching isn't. Most disgusting thing I have ever seen in a car.

E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

It's not just one spot either, it's all over the top of the wheel as a slick nasty coating. I keep adding woolite and keep scrubbing (knowing I have leather masters vital ready to treat the leather and return all the 'good' oils back to the hide after this truly aggressive treatment)

E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

The towel (both sides looked like this when done!)
E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

Finally I get it clean, and the stitching really does pop super nice!
E93 m3 Cleaning the stitching and wheel by Ian Bennett, on Flickr

[///M Power-Belgium]

Not bad , good job ! But I'm pretty sure this works better for our Novillo leather => http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=768340

[IanB22]

Very interesting. Leatherique?
I am about out of my strong cleaner, and running lower on my vital.
This might be the next cleaning product.

Did you apply it and let it sit for 2 days? OR did you let it sit for 2 days, apply leatherique, then wipe it off right away? How long did you let the cleaner sit is the basic question?

Thanks, in that thread I have to admit the leather looks better than mine

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by IanB22

Very interesting. Leatherique?
I am about out of my strong cleaner, and running lower on my vital.
This might be the next cleaning product.

Did you apply it and let it sit for 2 days? OR did you let it sit for 2 days, apply leatherique, then wipe it off right away? How long did you let the cleaner sit is the basic question?

Thanks, in that thread I have to admit the leather looks better than mine

1-Just use the Leatherique Rejuvenator oil .
2-Park your car in full sunlight with the windows closed and let it sit for 2 days or longer..
3-Wipe it off with a microfiber towel and use warm water .

Done...
Thanks for the compliment !

[Banana Hammock]

I thought my steering wheel was relatively clean as well until I bought some leather cleaner and gave it a quick scrub. Had to rinse the towel out a couple times and the water that came out of the towel was pitch black every time.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by pasghetti

I thought my steering wheel was relatively clean as well until I bought some leather cleaner and gave it a quick scrub. Had to rinse the towel out a couple times and the water that came out of the towel was pitch black every time.

Wash your hands?

[carenthuziast]

Originally Posted by pasghetti

I thought my steering wheel was relatively clean as well until I bought some leather cleaner and gave it a quick scrub. Had to rinse the towel out a couple times and the water that came out of the towel was pitch black every time.

Maybe that was the leather dye.

[R3dliner]

Like helmsmen stated, I only use leatherique on my steering wheel. I must have cleaned it 3-4 times this year already and it works wells removing the filth. I did not use the oil on the steering wheel but just did a quick wipe down with the cleaner.

Trying out swissvax next to compare against.

[nick3753]

Interesting. I cleaned my wheel last week with strong cleaner and a brush. When I was done it looked like I rubbed off part of the leather coating. Picture looked similar to your "dirty" wheel. Maybe I need to go back and clean some more. Or maybe I did kill it.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by nick3753

Interesting. I cleaned my wheel last week with strong cleaner and a brush. When I was done it looked like I rubbed off part of the leather coating. Picture looked similar to your "dirty" wheel. Maybe I need to go back and clean some more. Or maybe I did kill it.

You want to be careful with the leather regardless if seats or wheel Nick. It's painted, if you try too hard the coat may come off.

[nick3753]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

You want to be careful with the leather regardless if seats or wheel Nick. It's painted, if you try too hard the coat may come off.

Yep, lesson learned.

[Freiheit]

We just brought home a low-mile M235i. The leather on the wheel looked good but it seemed like it was starting to get a shine between 10 and 2 so I thought it would be best to clean it and see what came off.

I used Griot's Interior Cleaner and an Autocraft MF cloth. I sprayed the cloth wet and started wiping. The filth that came off was unreal! I kept wiping, and more kept coming off. Its focused mainly on the upper quadrant of the wheel where the shine is and not much is coming off the rest of the wheel, so I'm pretty confident its not the dye or protective layer giving up.

The issue now is that I've gotten most of it up but there's still more to go, and the leather is tacky to the touch. Continued wiping doesn't seem to be giving any results. I'm going to switch to Woolite and a toothbrush like the OP did, but I need to know the proper ratio of Woolite to water. I saw in another thread someone said 15:1, but I think I saw a much stronger ratio elsewhere. Whats the appropriate strength?

IanB22, did you use a Sonicare toothbrush head by itself, or did you actually use the entire electric toothbrush? That seems like it would be an excellent way to get results with minimal effort.

[Frozen]

Good reason to wear driving gloves.

[Helmsman]

I go straight roads only where minimum touching on the steering wheel is required. Works fine, wheel in super shape.
Only issue is when I need to turn back.

[Freiheit]

Well, this didn't go well. The leather looks terrible now.

[Helmsman]

Originally Posted by Freiheit

Well, this didn't go well. The leather looks terrible now.

Sounds like you may have rubbed of the coating. Might be worth getting a leather paint kit, has worked wonder on my seat (minor bits on the side bolster but still). Got Furniture Clinic paint and "finnish" which is like a coating over the paint iself. Holded up extremely well for several years now.

[InnerBlueSkies]

Originally Posted by Helmsman

I go straight roads only where minimum touching on the steering wheel is required. Works fine, wheel in super shape.
Only issue is when I need to turn back.

I use my knees

[///M Power-Belgium]

Originally Posted by InnerBlueSkies

I use my knees

Flintstones ?

[dparm]

[QUOTE=Freiheit;24459598I'm going to switch to Woolite and a toothbrush like the OP did, but I need to know the proper ratio of Woolite to water. I saw in another thread someone said 15:1, but I think I saw a much stronger ratio elsewhere. Whats the appropriate strength?

IanB22, did you use a Sonicare toothbrush head by itself, or did you actually use the entire electric toothbrush? That seems like it would be an excellent way to get results with minimal effort.[/QUOTE]


I would start with something fairly weak. It doesn't have to be exact. Maybe do a spoonful inside a small Tupperware container. A cheap manual toothbrush is fine, just don't be too vigorous or you will weaken the stitching. Just don't let it dry or you'll get residue; you may need to have a second container of just water to help rinse the stitching a bit.

[amrazM]

Use leatherrique conditioner and let it soak into the wheel for a day while the car is baking, then use the cleaner you will get good results without damaging the leather.

[wfdeacon88]

Originally Posted by amrazM

Use leatherrique conditioner and let it soak into the wheel for a day while the car is baking, then use the cleaner you will get good results without damaging the leather.

I heard that stuff was a complete scam. Apparently it claims the 'pores need to soak in the moisture' or whatever... unfortunately, dead cow skin doesn't have functional pores, so you are just adding a bunch of chemicals inside it. Why not just use some nice leather cleaner? Chemical guys makes a nice set.

[dparm]

Originally Posted by wfdeacon88

I heard that stuff was a complete scam. Apparently it claims the 'pores need to soak in the moisture' or whatever... unfortunately, dead cow skin doesn't have functional pores, so you are just adding a bunch of chemicals inside it. Why not just use some nice leather cleaner? Chemical guys makes a nice set.

Leatherique has proven results. A quick search on any car forum will show you that.