[Marty in NY]

My wife is short, the X5 sits high and therefore when she exits the car, she turns 90 degrees and "slides" off the side bolster and this is even with the seat lowered all the way. I can just see that side bolster wearing prematurely so I contacted Detailed Image and inquired about the Gyeon Leather Shield. Here is what I wrote and their reply.

My question here is for Gyeon Leather Shield users to confirm or disagree with their reply and pls state your reasoning.

My question to Detailed Image
My wife is short and when she exits our car, she "slides" off the side bolster of the seat to get out. I fear it won't be long before that area of the seat starts to deteriorate. The leather is BMW Tartufo Merino. Will your Gyeon Leather Shield protect that part of the seat? If so, how does it do that? It would be nice if it actually made it slippery to reduce the friction as she slides.

Their reply
Thank you for the email! I would highly recommend adding a coating to the leather surfaces as they will help protect and will make the areas slicker to reduce friction. The Gyeon Leather Shield is great and you can top it with the Gtechniq L1 Leather Guard AB for added slickness and protection. If you have any other questions, concerns, or simply need recommendations please do not hesitate to ask. Take care!

Reece
Customer Service Specialist

[oldguy00]

Just my opinion, but I think you'd be wasting your money. I don't think what will essentially be a super thin coating of a product on the leather, is gonna protect it from the contact/rubbing you are describing.

Maybe some 3M protective film...

[chefwong]

Slipper - yes, it will. If you're OCD, slight color shift, textural *slickness* to match all the leather etc will come into play. I don't recommend a coating on premium leather for other reasons...

But regardless, even if it is a bit slicker....it's the weight/creasing of the outer bolster getting in or out that causes the wear. It's not going to make that much of a difference IMO if the party is not -scooting- in/out, perching the derrier above the bolster...

[ScaldedDog]

Marty, I used Leather Shield on my wife's Ivory Merino leather, and would absolutely do it again. No color shift, no change in texture, no nothing. It still has that sweet Merino smell a year later.

Even so, I'm not certain it will prevent what you are hoping to prevent. It doesn't have the same effect as a good ceramic coating on paint, which makes it really slick. Once applied, it's hard to detect any difference from the original leather, unless you spill something on it. From our experience with an RX my wife drove for ten years - and she ingresses and egresses the same way yours does - the damage comes from the inevitable crushing of the bolster and accompanying folding of the leather. After a year and 4000 miles, though, my wife's X5 driver's seat still looks great.

Mark

[Clk Group]

Sheepskin seat cover?

[chefwong]

Marty -

I presume you are aware we/you are discussing a product that is fairly -permanent- once applied. The only way to remove it with on the gentler side is using harsh chems and on the non to gentler side, is to mechanically abrade it...
Just saying....do consider the pros/cons of the product being disucssed.

If this was ivory and one was a heady raw jean user, I get it....
Just be mindful of the finished topcoat...

[White340]

Seat cover

[1Mors]

All these non users chiming in.

I used Gyeon Leather Shield on my seats and they are still like new after 1 year. There is no color shift with it and it does provide provide a layer of SI02 protection making the seat more durable on the surface. I don't have any noticeable abrasions, color transfer or dirt stains on my seats still after the year. All I do is vacuum them once a month.

Gyeon doesn't necessarily make the seat more slick and that is why I think Detail Image is pushing the Gtechnic leather product to add a slick layer. I am not sure you would need that and if you do use it, use it on the bolster and that side of the seat she slides off from.

I don't think slippery seats are safe. My 2 cents on my experience.

[puckybadger]

Why would this brand/product be any better than any other leather conditioner?

[taek]

I have no idea about the GTechniq product, it may cause slickness.

The Gyeon Leather coatings generally do not impact feel that much, shield is thicker than coat but even shield I don't think is going to turn the seat into a slip & slide like you're looking for. From Gyeon:

"Q² LeatherShield does not stiffen the leather or make it more slippery, maintaining the regular comfort of use."

It's still a good idea to put a coating in this area, if someone is creating a lot of friction here with clothing it's more likely to have dye on it, and a coating will allow you to easily wipe it off. I don't know if you really need 2 products.

[Marty in NY]

Thanks for the replies so far! To be more clear, I am only looking to make the outside bolster of the passenger and drivers seat slippery. It goes without saying that whatever product is used, it must not change the color, shade or texture of the leather.

ScaldedDog, you're one of the few who said they actually used the Gyeon Leather Shield so thanks for saying so but you didn't say if it made the surface slippery...did it? I think not from reading your post and somehow I don't quite believe what Detailed Image wrote

chefwong, you said Gyeon Leather Shield will make the seat slippery (Slipper - yes, it will) and you said it will cause a "slight color shift" so just to be clear does this mean you have used it on your X5 seats? If so, which color and leather grade did you use it on? I understand your second post, thanks.

1Mors, You're the second one to say you used Gyeon Leather Shield, thanks for saying you didn't believe it made the seat slippery, which is really all I'm after since I already have a cleaner and protector for them that seems to work well.

[ScaldedDog]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

ScaldedDog, you're one of the few who said they actually used the Gyeon Leather Shield so thanks for saying so but you didn't say if it made the surface slippery...did it? I think not from reading your post and somehow I don't quite believe what Detailed Image wrote

Sorry, I guess I sort of alluded to it, but not clearly. No, there was no seat-of-the-pants difference in slipperiness, pun slightly intended. It certainly didn't make it slick enough to just slide across the seat. I love the product, but that's not a discernable benefit of it.

Mark

[1Mors]

Originally Posted by Marty in NY

Thanks for the replies so far! To be more clear, I am only looking to make the outside bolster of the passenger and drivers seat slippery. It goes without saying that whatever product is used, it must not change the color, shade or texture of the leather.

ScaldedDog, you're one of the few who said they actually used the Gyeon Leather Shield so thanks for saying so but you didn't say if it made the surface slippery...did it? I think not from reading your post and somehow I don't quite believe what Detailed Image wrote

chefwong, you said Gyeon Leather Shield will make the seat slippery (Slipper - yes, it will) and you said it will cause a "slight color shift" so just to be clear does this mean you have used it on your X5 seats? If so, which color and leather grade did you use it on? I understand your second post, thanks.

1Mors, You're the second one to say you used Gyeon Leather Shield, thanks for saying you didn't believe it made the seat slippery, which is really all I'm after since I already have a cleaner and protector for them that seems to work well.

The difference Gyeon has over most other products for leather is a version that is ceramic (SI02) infused. Like I said my seats are still perfect after 1 year. they are supple and conforming as expected. SI02 is a great repellent including spills. Doesn't mean it's perfect.

[chefwong]

Marty -

The product is inexpensive enough to order and do a test spot to see for yourself on whatever color sheen (minutia), textural, etc.

For merino, I would never use it as it's a permanent:semi permanent product once applied. I see a specific use case if one had ivory and was a heavy jean dye transfer....but then again, there are products that will remove it easily, without a coating, but it's a high PH *strong* cleaner.

If you're going to do it, I would do the entire front including center console just so the sheen/shine/textural coating is consistent...

Merino is dyed leather. There was a reply stating it's great at repelling spills...
Unlike the cheaper leather, Merino will take on conditioner, unlike the cheaper color coated leather...Once you apply that coating however, conditioner will not make/soak into your premium Merino leather. Well, maybe over time, with the micro fractures in the coating, maybe some conditioner will work it's way past...

[E91toG05]

For what it is worth, I have done nothing other than vacuum for one year and mine looks like new too.

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by chefwong

Marty -

The product is inexpensive enough to order and do a test spot to see for yourself on whatever color sheen (minutia), textural, etc.

For merino, I would never use it as it's a permanent:semi permanent product once applied. I see a specific use case if one had ivory and was a heavy jean dye transfer....but then again, there are products that will remove it easily, without a coating, but it's a high PH *strong* cleaner.

If you're going to do it, I would do the entire front including center console just so the sheen/shine/textural coating is consistent...

Merino is dyed leather. There was a reply stating it's great at repelling spills...
Unlike the cheaper leather, Merino will take on conditioner, unlike the cheaper color coated leather...Once you apply that coating however, conditioner will not make/soak into your premium Merino leather. Well, maybe over time, with the micro fractures in the coating, maybe some conditioner will work it's way past...

chefwong, I get what you're saying and agree but you didn't answer my previous question, which was...."ok just to be clear does this mean you have used it on your X5 seats? If so, which color and leather grade did you use it on?"

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by E91toG05

For what it is worth, I have done nothing other than vacuum for one year and mine looks like new too.

My drivers seat, like yours, is fine but I don't "slide" in or out like my wife does so are you saying you do or don't slide off of yours?

[chefwong]

I have not used in the G05 which also has Merino but I have used in on a Previous Wifey's Daily Driver. The discussion about the pro/cons of the product is based on not the color although I did mention Ivory White/Raw Denim Jeans.

The lower grade leather is color coated. It won't take on moisturizer as it's a quasi - plastic color coat- that is applied to the leather. The leather you have mentioned in your OP is Merino. It will take on conditioner if applied.

There is no right or wrong on whatever direction you choose. Just be mindful of what substate you are applying the coating to and understand the benefits, the drawbacks, or the simple fact you have limited yourself to not be able to add conditioner to the leather, if that is also ones goal in interior care. If the goal supersedes that and you just want easier maintenance cleaning, then coat it. It's not a universal answer based on color of the leather or chassis of the car

Regardless, I don't think the coating addressed your OP. The creasing as such will still occur if one doesn't not do the -lift and scoot- getting out or in
I'd suggest just keep the bottom cover clean, vac or compressor blowout the nooks and crannies, so that the minute debris does less - micro abrasion- on everyday wear and tear .

[1Mors]

I have Tartufo Merino seats.

[Orient330iNYC]

i applied it to the tartufo extended merino leather in my x7. after 8 months, spills bead up and roll off and wipe easily, my sons messes wipe clean with just water.
no noticeable change in texture, color returned to normal once it dried.
leather is still as soft as factory

[Marty in NY]

Originally Posted by Orient330iNYC

i applied it to the tartufo extended merino leather in my x7. after 8 months, spills bead up and roll off and wipe easily, my sons messes wipe clean with just water.
no noticeable change in texture, color returned to normal once it dried.
leather is still as soft as factory

Thanks. When you say there was no noticeable change in texture, can I take that to mean it did not make the surface slippery?

[eelnoraa]

Marty, the way your wife get and in out putting pressure in the holster, I don’t think any coating will help. The issue is not rubbing, but constantly compressing beyond typical usage. The leather will fold at the line over and over and eventually crack. This happens too all bmw seats after sometime, the bigger the bolster, the worst it gets. But then what is the length of ownership are we talking about here? 5-7 years, I think you have nothing to worry about. 10+, no coating will help.