mrchua

We have the same luxor beige leather interior.

But You guys have been talking about different types of leather in this thread and now im confused what type I have. (I got mine preowned)

What do you mean by partial? Full? Upgrade? Vinyl? Etc??
And more imprtantly what type of leather do I have? (Im trying to post a pic but getting error)

On the other hand, i dont have any damage similar to yours and its impossible a seatbelt would do that. I would assume a sharp accessory from the body caused it.

mrchua

Sorry about attaching duplicate pics, errors kept appearing during the upload and didnt know it got in.

shawnone

Try some composite resin. Just make sure you acid etch first.

shawnone

Mrchua, you have the standard partial leather.

mrchua

Thanks for letting me know. Partial meaning is it real leather?

It may sound stupid but what difference from the full leather?

Does it pertain to the proximity of the interior covered or the quality?

Thanks

LexVan

More about proximity and the actual surfaces. Main difference are items like the dash and door panels on a full leather interior. But there are others.

991999R

i hate to be the one telling you this but you're wearing your jeans backwards...

Duke I

Oh man! Lol.

Z356

You photos are not very clear, not do they show the seats in close-up. You either have a partial leather interior, a partial leather interior with full leather seats or a full leather interior (as Porsche defines it):


1) Difference between partial leather and full leather interior on a 991:

Mostly from post #25 at this other thread:

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/7085...and-you-2.html

"Leather Interior Choices

Just to be clear about as to what you get from Porsche when you order a 'full leather' interior, let's first see what you get as standard in leather without spending a penny extra and compared with a 'Full Leather' Interior on the same model!

A) Standard 'Partial Leather Interior' on all US market 991's.

1) front seat centers
2) steering wheel rim
3) airbag module on steering wheel
4) gearshift lever
5) door handles
6) door armrests

(Or you could have partial leather interior with full leather seats. In that case 1 through 6 of the above list, but with front seat side bolsters, front headrests & front seat backrests - unless Sport Plus- in leather).

I believe this is similar to what the previous 997 sported in leather as 'standard' on every 911 destined for the US, except 997's also had leather handles on e-brake!.

B) Optional 'Full Leather' Interior on a US market 991!

Covered in smooth-finish leather in interior color:
1) front seat centers
2) front seat side bolsters
3) front headrests
4) front seat backrests (unless Sport Plus)
5) steering wheel rim
6) airbag module on steering wheel
7) gearshift lever
8) center console storage compartment lid
9) center console side section
10) dashboard top incl. instrument cluster cover
11) dashboard bottom incl. glove compartment lid
12) door handles
13) door armrests and paneling
14) door paneling top section
15) door panel inserts (metal looking trim piece)
16) rear seat centers
17) rear seat bolsters
18) rear side paneling
19) center tunnel cover in rear

************

2) What type of leather do you have in the few places you have leather?

Answer: The least expensive and lesser grade 'leather' used by Porsche!

From post #13 found earlier at this same thread:

https://rennlist.com/forums/991/7085...e-and-you.html

"Leather Interior Choices - Part 1

First, let's talk about what leathers Porsche offers. You will note that in the Configurator, they give you the following options:

a)Standard color
b)Special Leather
c)Two Tone
d)Natural/Special leather
e)Custom Colors

It seems for sure that the only 'Natural' leathers offered, on the face of it, are 'Carrera Red' and 'Espresso'. So what are the 'un-natural' leathers being offered to us by Porsche?

Over at the 6speed forum, member 'jmmk' recently gave us a very interesting tutorial which might help explain things better for us. "Leather is a starting point for a car manufacturer. With the base leather, the leather is stretched and the outer layer is sanded off and a new grain is embossed into it to make it more uniform. This increases the porosity of the leather when the outside is sanded off and it accepts color better. However, it doesn't hold up as well unless a sealer is applied. So the "leather" interior is considerably changed from its natural state. It is now thinner, uniform in both grain and color, and sealed against UV and infrared damage from the sun, making it suitable for an automobile use. Since it is stretched thinner you don't notice that it is slightly stiffer. It could be dark black or dark grey according to what the designer wanted. Full leather has nothing to do with what kind of leather is used, although the designer might specify a better grade if their research indicates the consumer expects it with the cost upgrade.

Natural leather is not stretched. It is natural thickness and has the natural grain still intact. It is tumble dyed in large drums that constantly roll and knead it to get it to accept the color. This softens it much like you would soften a dry chamois by kneading it. It retains the natural, saddle-like leather smell without adding synthetic aromas. The comfort, if you took the time to compare it, is obvious to the educated rear end. Even though less is done to cure leather this way, it is still more expensive since you get fewer square feet of leather out of a hide. The UV and infrared sealants are introduced into the leather while it is tumbling in the dye soaked drums and like the dye, is soaked all the way through the leather rather than added with the sealant.

Additional leather options in a Porsche, beyond the full leather option, show the skill and technology that Porsche craftsmen are capable of. For leather air conditioner vents, the leather is stretched almost paper thin to cover the plastic vanes of the outlet. Also, the match between what is leather and what is similar to leather is outstanding by automobile standards."

Over the years we have also heard the term 'aniline leather' to signified what is referred to by 'jmmk' and Porsche as 'Natural'. Wikipedia describes it as "Aniline leather is a type of leather dyed exclusively with soluble dyes without covering the surface with a topcoat paint or insoluble pigments. The resulting product retains the hide's natural surface with the 'grain', i.e. visible pores, scars etc. of the complete original animal's skin structure. Originally, the dyes used for this process were synthesized from aniline through chemical reactions. These dyes used to be called 'aniline dyes' or 'tar dyes'. In modern times, the dyes used are subject to laws and regulations in many countries, and the use of certain azo compounds is prohibited as there are reasons to assume health risks. Typically, leather is dyed both for aesthetic reasons and to conceal blemishes. The dye colours leather without producing the uniform surface of pigmented leather. Any visible variations on the surface of the undyed leather such as natural blemishes will remain visible. There are different kinds of aniline leather, but the same kinds of dyes are used in the process. The dyes used are clear and transparent chemicals that allow the grain structure of the leather to be seen. These dyes show the natural texture, but do not protect the leather from damage. Aniline leather may be referred to as full aniline or full sauvage leather to differentiate between this dye treatment and variants. Semi-aniline leather is produced through a very similar process to full-aniline, but has a thin protective top coat added to protect it from wear and staining. Pull up aniline leather has additional oil or wax applied to the leather to give it a distressed look'.

So it seems that the 'standard' leather offerings from Porsche are not 'natural', or 'aniline', or even 'semi-aniline'. These 'base' leathers on the 991 include the colors 'Black', 'Platinum Grey', 'Yachting Blue' and 'Luxor Beige'. Also not 'Natural' are these other offerings: a) 'Special Leathers' in the colors 'Umber' and 'Agate Grey'; and b)Two-Tone (BiColor) 'Agate Grey/Pebble Grey' and 'Black/Platinum Grey'! Only 'Carrera Red' and 'Espresso' fit into this 'premium' or 'exclusive' Natural / 'aniline' leather designation!

I believe that 'Custom Colors', which from now on I will simply call 'Leather to Sample', can be had in either 'base' leather (if particularly colorful) or in 'Natural', if that particular leather grade is available in the color you desire. 'Leather to Sample' is a seldom selected option here in the US. It is more common to markets like the Middle East/Gulf States. I will make it my business in the next few months to inquire more on this subject. Personally, I find the standard 'black' in the base leather as offered by Porsche not to be particularly desirable. So I would like to know if they can provide us in 'Leather to Sample' a deeper 'Black' leather in 'Natural' upscale grade that will be darker in color & richer than the standard 'Black' offered. Others have commented that the new standard 'black' seems to be a bit more 'charcoal' this year than they remember in the recent 997.1 and 997.2 models. I am also fascinated by the previous model's offering of 'Natural Brown' leather, which was a beautiful color and of great quality! More about this when I talk about 'Leather to Sample' on a future post on this thread.

Note that the leather colors for the new 991 are almost all new to the 911 model range. The only true carry over is 'Carrera Red' Natural leather. I believe that the base black is slightly more 'charcoal' than in the outgoing 997, but I could be wrong. 'Agate Grey', 'Platinum Grey', 'Yachting Blue' and 'Umber' are totally new offerings (one at least came from the Cayenne)! 'Luxor Beige' has apparently replaced 'Sand Beige', 'Umber' replaced 'Cocoa'* and 'Espresso' Natural replaced 'Natural Brown'. Too bad this last one was not kept! The Dual-Tones (BiColor) are all new to the range. Note they are not 'Natural' leathers! Some have wondered why a Dual-Tone (BiColor) 'Black/Carrera Red' is not yet offered. I don't know the answer but note there is a mismatch of grade quality given the 'standard' black with the 'natural' Carrera Red. Perhaps that is one of the reasons it is not yet offered! There is the possibility of mix & matching via other 'Porsche Exclusive' options, and we will talk about that on another day.

Colors of leather fall within the range of personal taste. I will not comment on that subject, but I will explain in greater detail the new 'BiColors' in my next post. I think these BiColors are some of the most interesting offerings yet from Porsche and deserve particular attention as to what they offer.

Leather grade is not a matter of personal taste but of your budget! When all possible, order the highest grade of 'Natural' or 'Aniline' leather you can afford! I voted with my wallet. I ordered 'Carrera Red' Natural leather on my Aqua Blue Metallic Spyder. I think it's a beautiful and striking interior which has kept to this day some of its original leather aroma! The quality of that 'Natural' leather is excellent and highly recommended. I am also lucky to have a rare Porsche factory leather interior on my well preserved 'Crystal Blue' 1970 911E Targa. That 'full' leather interior - door, front & rear seats, rear back and side panels - still smells like leather some 42 years later on my particular 55K original mile vehicle!"

Saludos,
Eduardo
Carmel

Porscheforever

LOL