The seat on my car has a little scuffs on the passenger side lumbar. Seems like it was sliced off by something sharp. Probably jeans or belts. I have the standard leather.
I went to a local upholstery shop. They suggest I replace the whole piece of the leather, which cost like $200
But since the scuffs are tiny. Can this be fixed by those leather glue/paint or or DIY leather repair kit??
What I've done to minor rubbing is to apply black soft cream style shoe polish, let it dry and buff it. Works fine for my rub but most people wouldn't even see what I'm repairing. Certainly the least expensive way to start.
http://www.planet-9.com/porsche-care-detailing/26757-leatherique-diy-steps.html
http://www.planet-9.com/porsche-care-detailing/13935-leather-seat-abrasions.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-chat/27135-scratch-leather.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-chat/27870-replacing-repairing-worn-leather-seats.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-complaints/10765-leather-deterioration.html
http://www.planet-9.com/cayman-boxster-complaints/9288-leather-wear.html
http://www.planet-9.com/porsche-care-detailing/3574-leather-care-detailed-instructions.html
Some related reading material.
Sorry for the off topic. Marc from L.I., what is the badge on your glovebox?
~Miles
Its a white badge I made up (its my business) with the 1" PCA enamel badge to the left side and on the right it says (if memory serves me correctly) 2006 Porsche Boxster over Type 987 over my member #. Its done with a white background, reverse engraved and filled with black and red lettering from the back so you don't feel any engraving. I've done other samples with the VIN etc. but decided on the member # with the PCA enamel emblem.
I started a new post.
http://www.planet-9.com/987-general-discussion/32360-glovebox-badge.html#post357827
I don't know if you guys knew, but on the 'standard' leather seats, only the inside portion of the seats is leather; that's why if you read your spec sheet or window sticker it says 'partial leather'. So all the bolsters (in both sides of seatback and cushion) are vinyl. The good news is it's much easier to repair than leather. And yes, I was surprised when I learned that... along with power seats and automatic climate control being optional on a $70K car; geez. Good day.
I would guess all "seating surfaces" or parts of the seat you generally sit on or rub against are leather, including the inside portion of the side bolsters. Thats why they are so easily cracked, worn and rubbed. The outer portion or side of the side bolster may be vinyl I haven't checked but I'd guess thats where the substitution takes place on the partial leather option.
So how do you guys recommend fixing the vinyl. Can I use leather repair DIY kit?
I would think you could try anything suggested for leather but it may not work. As leather is a skin even though its been tanned, finished or whatever it is/was porous and the treatments all get into the pours and color from within. A vinyl is a plastic and doesn't breathe or isn't porous so whatever you put on it will stay on the surface. The shoe polish might work but anything other than a paint I would think will rub off if rubbed repeatedly. I would try everything but paint first leaving that as a last resort if you're talking about working on the vinyl. There are numerous leather dies etc. for the leather.
Again, there are pros that fix this kind of damage. Your dealership uses them. They are relatively inexpensive. And they have been trained in this kind of repair. Why not use them rather than risk a sloppy DIY?
First find out if your car has the 'leather seat' option, which is about $400 extra over the standard 'partial leather' seats. Full leather interior automatically includes full leather seats, by the way.
Then find out where dealers take their off-leases for reconditioning, as Santa Fe suggested. Around here they're called 'auto touch-up masters'. They obviously know if your seat is leather or vinyl, but they might tell you it's leather to charge you more, hence the suggestion to know which one it is in advance. Then ask them if it'd look like new guaranteed. If not, and not too bad, I'd probably live with it. Good luck, and Keep us posted.
Vic give me a call, if you still have my number. I have a number for an auto upholstery shop that has leather for Porsche. I'm not sure how much it might cost though. Perhaps cheaper than the $200 you quoted.
