Repairing colour damage to car leather

When is this guide right for you?

When the colour on the driver's seat or other areas is wearing away, the entry area has faded, or the first signs of cracking due to dryness are visible. Here you will learn how to take targeted action with the right products.

Procedure for leather damage:

99.9% of car leathers are surface-coloured smooth leathers with a final colour coat. Typical signs of wear occur mainly on the driver's seat: over time, the original colour wears away in the entry area, cracks due to dryness develop, and the surface becomes rough.

Every repair starts with cleaning. Depending on the level of soiling, we recommend Colourlock Leather Cleaner mild or Colourlock Leather Cleaner strong. Dirt that is deeply embedded in the grain is best removed with the Leather Cleaning Brush.

Important:
A cleaner alone does not remove all oils, waxes or silicones previously applied from other care products. These substances impair the adhesion of repair products. The areas to be treated must therefore also be degreased with Colourlock Leather Cleaning Spirit or Degreaser before repair.

COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh and COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather can be used to remove
moderate signs of wear from plain-coloured smooth leather effectively.

Before repair, smooth areas that have become rough through wear with the Colourlock Sanding Pad.

Colour abrasion and cracks due to dryness are treated with Colourlock Leather Fresh. Apply the colour several times to the most severely damaged areas, drying it in between with a hairdryer. As Leather Fresh also has a slight filling effect, minor surface damage largely disappears.

Finding the right colour:

We mix special colours according to the manufacturer's colour name or a sample sent to us, for an additional charge of CHF 25.-. Ask an official dealer of your make for the exact colour name (not the code) using the vehicle identification number, or send us a sample (headrest, sun visor, cover or another part) by post. You will of course receive the part back. In older vehicles, it is often possible to cut a piece of leather from a concealed area (under the seat or behind a trim panel).

You will find our address below.

(Please state the sender clearly):

Weidmann & Sohn
Lederzentrum Schweiz
Tämperlistrasse 3
8117 Fällanden

IMPORTANT: When placing an order through the shop, select the “Send in a sample” option when choosing the colour for Leather Fresh and Fluid Leather. We will contact you immediately after receiving the sample.

Please note that special colour mixes, whether based on the manufacturer's colour or a sample sent in, take 7–9 working days from the order date before they are dispatched.

You can find the colour chart with all standard colours here.

You can find the manufacturer list here.

Repair larger scratches, cracks due to dryness and small tears with Colourlock Fluid Leather. Please refer to the separate guide.

Leather Fresh colour for smooth leather is not a care product. After refreshing, care for and preserve the result with Colourlock Leather Care. Its UV filters protect against fading, and the surface becomes supple and soft again. Regular, sparing care is better than infrequent, excessive care: we recommend treating the driver's seat every 3 months and the remaining leather every 6 to 12 months.

For convertibles, we also recommend Colourlock Elephant Leather Preserver. It provides strong waterproofing and helps prevent mould formation.

In the heavily used entry area, Colourlock Leather Shield can also be applied before Leather Care. It specifically reduces friction on entry bolsters and sports seats.

What is realistic? These products will not make the leather look new, but all areas that are noticeable now will be barely visible or no longer visible afterwards. The result looks like well-preserved, cared-for leather. If you would like a professional result or the damage is too extensive for a DIY repair, we will be happy to help you in our leather workshop.

Illustrated examples of typical damage

Leather care — Typical, minor case for Leather Fresh.

Product recommendations

Note:
(Clicking on products adds them to the shopping basket, where they can then be ordered.)

Note on colour selection: After selecting the desired products, click “Add to basket”. You will then be taken to colour selection.

Ready-made product sets by type of damage

Leather Fresh Colour and Protect Set

Contents:

1 x Leather Cleaner mild 250 ml
1 x Leather Care 100 ml
1 x Degreaser 250 ml
1 x Leather Fresh 100 ml
1 x Sanding Pad
1 x Leather Cleaning Brush brown
1 x Foamer Bottle/Foam Applicator Bottle
2 x Viscose cloth
1 x Cleaning & Application Sponge medium (90x55x35mm)
2 x Nitrile Gloves

If you do not know the name of your interior colour, it is best to contact an official dealer of your car make. With the chassis number, they can provide the name of your leather (not the code). You can also send us a sample. To do so, select the “Send in a sample” option in the colour selection menu and follow the instructions. You will receive the sample back in any case.

A mixing fee of CHF 25.- applies to all special colours (all colours other than F001–F046 are special colours).

Please select a colour:

“I also need Fluid Leather.” Please select a colour:

For heavier soiling, Leather Cleaner strong 250 ml can also be used.
Elephant Leather Preserver for older open-top vehicles or very dry leather (applied after Leather Care and/or Leather Shield)
Leather Shield for protecting heavily stressed areas (entry area); apply before Leather Care and Elephant Leather Preserver.