Stain/bleach mark on leather door trim

[BTB 500]

My R129 picked up this white mark on the passenger door trim while having an aircon service:

The rest of the interior is immaculate, so obviously I'm not best pleased.

It looks to me like something was being sprayed into the vent (antibacterial or odour-remover), and splashed onto the door.

I've rubbed gently with a microfibre cloth and warm water, the mark is less visible when damp but looks as above as soon as it dries out. It seems like the surface layer of the leather has been removed - similar to scuffing a shoe.

I've sent this picture to the garage and am currently waiting for their response. Basically I just want it to look like it did before it went in - can this be dyed etc. by someone who knows what they are doing, or should I insist on a new trim panel?

 

[C43AMG]

If it can't be rectified then they supply a new door panel.

 

[Will]

Strange one. I can't actually see the picture right now (from work) but I saw it briefly last night. Hard to tell if it's definately bleached or whether it's something sitting on the surface?

I'd imagine it could be died quite easily and might be a less obvious repair than a full replacement panel.

Your local dealer seems quite good so I'd hope that it'll be sorted out painlessly

Will

 

[BTB 500]

The bleaching (if that's what it is) is in the 'valleys' of the leather grain ... the 'peaks' are OK. So it looks like whatever went on there was quickly wiped off the surface, but what was left continued to attack the recessed bits.

I've just had a fairly difficult conversation with the service team leader, who said he hadn't yet looked at the email I sent him on Tuesday. He initially denied that it could be anything to do with the aircon service, but has agreed to get a service manager to look at it if I can take the car over to them.

To be continued ...

 

[jaymanek]

you can have a local trim repair company do this, many traders use them to sort out interior niggles such as the holes left by phone kits etc...

alternatively black shoe polish will work in the short term...

they have sprayed the anti bacterial stuff in there...

 

[BTB 500]

Thanks. The really annoying thing is that the aircon was OK anyway - I only had it serviced because this was offered free of charge

Hopefully my wife will be able to get it over there to be looked at this afternoon.

 

[garystu1965]

Hi mate,

This is a doddle to sort out. Go to a craft/hobby shop and buy a couple of small tester pots of paint. One in matt black and one in matt grey.
The stuff that's used to paint model aircraft etc.
Get a piece of paper or card and keep mixing small bits of the grey and black paint until you get a shade that matches the black trim. Then when you have a reasonable match apply it with a ruffled brush and sort of dab small bits of paint on the trim lightly.

This worked for me on an awful white scratch which is worse than what is showing on your photo. Can't see the scratch at all now !

I think the paint is made by UMBROL or someone like that.

No need to take it to a trim repairer. Save you £££££s !!!

Regards,
Gary

 

[BTB 500]

Well, a happy ending (after another 30 mile round trip).

They were reasonably apologetic, took it away for 30 mins and it came back looking OK. The leather has been treated with something, it's a little more glossy than it was before but there's no visible mark any more.

 

[Will]

Excellent Bill, they've probably cleaned the white mark out of the grain of the leather and have now treated it - hence the glossy finish.

You could try wiping all the leather down at once with a dampened soft cloth now and then dry off with a soft clean cloth, this should reduce the 'sheen'

Will