Hi guys,

Is there any particular color, or type of leather offered in the KJ Verada which stands to the test of time better than the other?
I think it seems like the GTV black leather is more durable, can anyone confirm this?
And, in the Xi leather range, did any color or type fare better against wear & tear, sun exposure, cracking etc?

I dare say that since the last KJ/GTV(i) was made almost 10 years ago that the leather durability when left the factory floor is fairly irrelevant. It's more about how the owners have treated it. If they did not take care and did not condition often enough then it'll be cracked up and even torn.

If it is torn then be aware that this is not fixable. Once it starts tearing - that's it - it has to be replaced - no stitching will stop it.

I suspect that since the Verada's Xi or GTV were 50k+ or 46k+ respectively, and often bought by the elderly, that most will be in decent condition. I'd be inclined to say the GTVi leather is a bit more durable. To my knowledge, the Xi leather was actually a mixture of PVC and leather.

mcs_xi is the man to speak to regarding this..

My 10yr Old GTV leather is in brilliant nick - It gets a condition once every month and a clean once a fortnight.

The front drivers seat has a few stress marks but nothing a little loving wont fix.

I do believe that the Xi leather is of a better quality, from what I have heard in passing, but not as good looking.

As long as you take the time to actually look after the leather - It will last a long time.

SuFz :ninja:

It is a valid question.

XI leather is Howe supplied.

GTV/GTVi leather is a South African supplier AFAIK and were road tested with the GTV before Mitsu switched suppliers totally before the 380.

My XI has PVC on the sides of the seat base, but from the feel the rest is genuine hide. If you are concerned with condition, buy a car without a sunroof. My passenger seat is lots less supple as I have the sunroof open often and naturally direct sulight is the enemy of leather trim.

GTV(i) Leather seems to be slightly harder as well..

As an example the leather in my car feels much thicker than the leather in mcs_xi's car. It's quite possible it may be the design of the leather, not sure.

SuFz :ninja:

I know that my KL Xi has very thick leather, 132K though and still mint condition, hard though but no signs off stress or cracking :)

I wipe them down every week with special leather conditioning wipes, goes on wet and just dries off in minutes.

If there is way to keep/make the leather supple PLEASE let me know.

is it leather though or synthetic leather? It's quite rare to see real leather in cars from the past 5-10years. Even BMW's and Mercs don't have real leather.

is it leather though or synthetic leather? It's quite rare to see real leather in cars from the past 5-10years. Even BMW's and Mercs don't have real leather.

It's PU Leather - So a Synthetic Poly Urethane Coated 'Leather'

Which requires NO Oiling - Just good leather care.

SuFz :ninja:

There you go, thought it was REAL leather :)

Looks good, is there a thread here on LEATHER CARE??

Thanks guys for the info.
I have seen many older Xi's (pre 2000) which have very worn leather.
I think quality is possibly more important than care because I see that Mercedes cars which are 20+ years old all have leather in pristine condition.

That's also a bit of a misnomer for Mercedes. In the late 80's and 90's, Merc developed a high tech low wear vinyl called MB-Tex. Unless you bought a high end S Class, that material is what you got. Hence the low wear rate.

Verada Howe leather does wear, it doesn't like sunlight. It is a natural material and needs lots of care. But that is the nature of leather trim. My drivers seat does have a tear now. I am hunting a replacement. As for the condition, each car will need to be assessed on its merits for that reason. My car is kept maintained, but I still have a tear. I'd probably go with a KH-J xi. Cause if something is an issue, seats are easier to find.

The 5 speed auto is a priority hence the KJ Series II.
To be perfectly honest each car has something that I want (GTV - Power and suspension, Xi the sunroof, and even Ei possibly due to the better wearing interior).

Mercedes give you the option of synthetic or real leather when you buy a car.

The 5 speed auto is a priority hence the KJ Series II.
To be perfectly honest each car has something that I want (GTV - Power and suspension, Xi the sunroof, and even Ei possibly due to the better wearing interior).

Look for a GTV with a Sunroof

As long as the leather is in good nick, you should be fine!

SuFz :ninja:

So are the leather seats in up-spec 380s made of real leather or pleather?

And what about the leather bits in the cabin - steering wheel, handbrake lever handle etc?

Look for a GTV with a Sunroof

As long as the leather is in good nick, you should be fine!

SuFz :ninja:

Yes this would be ideal, hopefully I find it