I have the interior in Natural Espresso and it's been fine so far. Since it's been a few months there's some dirt marks so I decided to clean it. I used a microfibre cloth with water and then some leather cleaner - all fine.

Then I thought I should use some leather protectant/moisturiser to keep it nice. But since I have applied that, the leather appear to be much more coarse-grained. The orginal leather is really smooth in appearance. Now it's got grains like usual leather, may be with some age.

Has anyone experienced this or know why this is the case? Anyway to fix this?

Thanks!

 

I've got same combo as yours and a lot of natural espersso (ext dash, steering column, mirror, tunnel etc). i have cleaned and conditioned it a few times. first time just wiped it with damp clean microfibre, second time wipe clean with damp microfiber followed by BMW leather cleaner/conditioner then just few months later (last weekend), wiped clean followed by chemical guys cleaner and then conditioner. It looks marvelous! Haven't noticed any coarseness or grainy leather yet. Have you been rubbing it hard perhaps? I always use foam pad to apply protectant/conditioner...Which cleaner/protectant you used?

 

I don't think it's the rubbing. I was gentle, but not super light handed I guess.

Those areas with dirt marks I cleaned relatively hard and they are still ok (haven't applied conditioner yet). In contrast the areas where I just lightly cleaned and then conditioned are showing this coarse grained result.

 

I'm in the leather furniture business and have a very good working knowledge of hides. I can assure you that applying conditioner to a leather will not raise the grain. You are on the right track to keep it clean - most people don't and that deteriorates the hide when dirt and oils accumulate. Most likely your leather conditioner is water-based, and its not usual to have a slight color shift on application until it dries, but I've never seen any leather application product alter the grain pattern.

 

Hi Duane, thanks for your reassurance. I wasn't worried about the color change as I was expecting it, but the texture now does look more grany than the very smooth original condition. I'll give it a few days and see what it looks like.
Cheers, Kenny