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If your vehicle has leather seats, one of the most important maintenance practices you should diligently adhere to is applying a high-grade conditioner to them on a regular basis. It doesn't matter where you live or where you park your car. Leather seats must be routinely moisturized to prevent them from turning into a crinkly cracked mess. The leather seats in your vehicle take a beating - especially on the driver's side. The constant abuse of being sat on and rubbed against takes its toll on leather and it will eventually develop wear marks and cracks. The wear marks are most noticeable on the entry side of the seat cushion from the driver repeatedly getting in and out of the vehicle. These wear marks are often amplified if the driver is...well how do we say this nicely...a bit portly. Applying an excellent leather conditioner will help prevent these wear marks. In fact, we have even seen wear marks partially disappear after several treatments from a premium leather conditioner.
A premium leather conditioner can actually reverse wear and tear on your BMW seats.
Another major source of seat cracking is extremely high or low temperatures and continuous sunlight. Hot or freezing interior cabin temperatures dry the leather out making it more susceptible to splitting. Continual sunlight also dries and fades leather. Vehicles that sit outside for prolonged periods are especially vulnerable to this type of leather deterioration and should be regularly conditioned with a high-grade product. Choosing the best leather conditioner As with most automotive cleaning and detailing products on the market, there are a plethora of choices when it comes to leather conditioners with all of them claiming to be the best (of course). So which conditioner is best for your car? Well, that can be a bit subjective. There are several factors that contribute to ranking leather conditioners including odor, ease of application, overall performance, and cost. The best leather conditioner for your car is not only the one that offers superior protection but also the product that isn't smelly and doesn't cost a fortune. We tested over 20 different conditioners on two of our BMWs here at the repair guide and made a list of what we believe to be the top 5. One of our BMWs is a 1995 840ci with older leather that was parked outside for many years and has endured a lot of abuse. The other BMW is a 2013 M3 that has been garage kept and pampered. Between the two we were able to put together what we feel are the best conditioners on the market that will give you the most reliable results. Here are our top five products based on overall performance:
Best Performance ✈
Pro
✓ Easy to apply
✓ Nice scent
✓ Excellent moisturizer
Con
X A bit pricey
Leather Honey was first formulated in the early 1960s in Philadelphia, but it is not until recently that it has become one of the top vehicle leather seat conditioners on the market. We first applied it to the older 840ci seats and were impressed by its performance - after only one application we noticed a substantial difference in the feel of the leather - stiff dried-out sections were immediately softened. The Leather Honey was very easy to apply and wipe off and it did not leave a greasy feel. The smell was also pleasant. Overall this was our favorite leather conditioner of our top five. Unfortunately, the only downside is the price - a 16oz bottle costs about $40. If you are price sensitive, you may want to look at other options below.
Manufactured in Plainfield, Indiana, Griot's Leather Care has quickly become a staple among auto detailers. At $17 for a 16oz bottle we feel it's the "most bang for the buck". Griot's has a great smell and does a fantastic job moisturizing vehicle leather. It also has great longevity - the 2013 M3 seats were still super soft 6 months after application. The only drawback with this product is it can be a bit "goopy" when being applied making it a bit more difficult to remove. But if you are looking for a high-performance product at a reasonable cost, Griot's Leather Care is a safe choice.
Pro
✓ High quality performance
✓ Excellent longevity
Con
X A little greasy
X Strange smell
Chemical Guys products are favored among professional detailers making it one of the most popular brands on the market. Chemical Guys California facility manufacturers high-quality automotive detailing products and their leather conditioner definitely performs on a premium level. We tested it on both the 1995 840ci and 2013 M3 and found it to be an excellent moisturizer that was easy to apply and remove. Our biggest issue with Chemical Guys Leather Conditioner was the smell. We couldn't put our finger on it, but someone suggested it smelled like an old box of photos sitting in their grandfather's attic. Ok, that may be a bit dramatic, but the fact still remains there was something "musty" about the odor that bothered us about it. On the upside, Chemical Guys Leather Conditioner costs about $17 for 16oz keeping it in the "reasonably priced" sector of our review.
Best Overall ★
Pro
✓ Superior moisturizing
✓ Pleasant natural odor
✓ Easy to apply
Con
X Super expensive
Zymol has been around for over 40 years now and their leather conditioner is still considered a gold standard among automotive enthusiasts. By the sound of their name you would think they are some fancy Scandinavian company...but in fact Zymol is headquartered in good old Brooksville, Florida. Zymol Treat Leather Conditioner is made of natural products and makes your leather smell like the produce section at your local Whole Foods Market after being applied. It has excellent moisturizing properties and is easy to apply. Our biggest issue with Zymol Treat Leather Conditioner is the price - 16oz will cost you about 70 bucks making it the most expensive conditioner in the line-up. But if cost is not an issue, we highly recommend Zymol...especially for those owners with a sensitive nose.
Pro
✓ Reasonably priced
✓ Excellent performance
✓ Great moisturizer
Con
X A bit watery
First developed in 1933, Lexol has become a popular choice among auto detailers and high-end automotive enthusiasts. Lexol is a very reasonably priced product (about $14 for a 16.9 oz bottle) and can be purchased at just about any auto parts store. We have worked miracles with Lexol over the years - virtually erasing small cracks and creases in leather and literally restoring seats that we contemplated recovering. It has decent longevity and an acceptable smell. Our only issue is it can be a bit watery, making application and removal a bit more time-consuming. But if you are price-conscious and looking for a product that will keep your leather seats looking new, Lexol All Leather Conditioner may be your best choice.
