1988 turbo r couple of things

[simonlyons]

Welli bought one, very happy. Got Steve Gallimore doing some bits and pieces and a paint job is booked.

Two questions, how do you replace the 3rd brakelight?

Also i want to recondition the leather myself. Its not ripped just lined and dirty. Any Bentley owners out there help me? Its peacock blue with magnolia hide. i have driven her to the Lakes and back already and its a dream. Bar the brake light everything works!!

Many thanks in advance of your kind help

Simon

[ADP68]

Try googling "gliptone liquid leather". They have a good website. I use their cleaning and conditioning products and like them.

[2woody]

+1 for Gliptone !

[buyer&seller]

simonlyons said:

and a paint job is booked. Its peacock blue Simon

Just be careful before you order the paint as at that age it won't be Peacock Blue, that wasn't introduced until 1993.

[matt5791]

I have just re-finished the front seats of my Conti-R with Gliptone - it is excellent BUT you have to use it correctly. I have experimented for hours in order to attain an "as new" finish with this stuff and it is possible.

1. Remove any previous re-colouring with meths or, if this doesn't work, thinners - but you need to be very careful with thinners.
2. Thoroughly clean the leather with the G12 cleaner. I found a very stiff small brush, like a very stiff tooth brush, to be the best.
3. Treat with the G11 treatment.
4. Clean again with G12
5. Either re-treat with G11 or, if you need to re-colour, rub over with meths to remove any residue
6. You can now re-colour with the correct leather dye from Gliptone Liquid Leather. You need to spray it - it's not possible, in my opinion, to achieve anything other than a very average finish, unless you spray it. You have to remove seats from the car. Impossible to re-colour in situ (unless just dabbing a small scuff with a sponge of course). If seats are anything like the Conti-R then base will remove very easily with a couple of clips and back will unbolt with two (awkwardly located) bolts.

I highly recommend the workshop manual and parts list CD from Flying Spares for £25. This will tell you how to to most things on the car, which parts to order by part number etc. Very useful. Takes a bit of getting used to though in terms of finding what you are looking for though.

[simonlyons]

Thanks for the advice.i have just ordered the g12 today and intend to experiment a little first before getting the dye. The seats really arent bad at all. They just hace grainedin dirt. Thanks for the tip on the flying spares.

Appreciate all the help

[matt5791]

simonlyons said:

Thanks for the advice.i have just ordered the g12 today and intend to experiment a little first before getting the dye. The seats really arent bad at all. They just hace grainedin dirt. Thanks for the tip on the flying spares.

Appreciate all the help

You can do a lot with the G12 alone, you may well find this is all you need.

[simonlyons]

Just ambushed the postman, not arrived as yet. Going shooting in said Bentley tomorrow. Should be fun

[matt5791]

These front seats were in reasonable condition, but showing their age with surface cracking. They now look 99% like new - and I am very picky about achieving an as-original finish. Total cost about £40 (excluding equipment like spray gun and compressor which I already had)

[1000foot]

What a great finish you have achieved there.Did you mask the coloured piping , and did you recolour it after spraying the seats ? When the weather turns a little warmer I will pull the seats out of my Turbo R given your encouraging results.

[simonlyons]

I don't think i have the technical skills for that, but it looks amazing. Truly brilliant. The g 12 arrived today, im going to have a go at one of the seats tomorrow and start the pre work before the respray. Full inventory and a three year plan. I may even tell my wife im keeping it!

[matt5791]

1000foot said:

What a great finish you have achieved there.Did you mask the coloured piping , and did you recolour it after spraying the seats ? When the weather turns a little warmer I will pull the seats out of my Turbo R given your encouraging results.

I did mask off the piping - you have to take your time and do it carefully. Saying that, you generally only need to blow in up to the piping because the leather is likely to be in good condition where it hasn't been in contact with day to day wear. With masking, be careful that the tape does not damage the piping when being removed. Apart from the driver entry-exit point of the seat back, the piping hasn't needed any re-colouring.

The backs were not re-coloured - I only resprayed the facings and sides. The backs come off after you remove the seat tilt switch. (which also allows access to enable detachment of the seat back and access to lumbar support and seat release if they go wrong)

It's not as challenging as painting car bodywork, but different. But where it is the same, is that the final finish is dependent on thorough preparation. If you take your time, you'll get excellent results.

Definitely get the workshop CD if you intend to remove the seats (which you need to do if you are going to re-colour) and haven't removed them before. It's not difficult, but the CD will make life easier.

One thing about the Liquid Leather Bentley Magnolia - it's ever so slightly too dark, at least for my car, and needs tinting slightly - but this is being very picky and considering everything (18 year old car, etc.) it is a VERY close match.

[1000foot]

Thank you very much for a very detailed ( pun intended ) reply.

It has given me the courage to tackle the project.