Koch-Chemie × COLOURLOCK COLOURLOCK "Leather Fresh C & P Set"

Restore smooth leather to OEM color in three steps with COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh

What is the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh C & P Set? A three-step restoration and care system consisting of Leather Cleaner Mild, water-based Leather Fresh dye, and Leather Protector with Vitamin E and UV filter. Refreshes faded smooth leather seats to their original vehicle color. Not for aniline, nubuck, suede, or Alcantara.

COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh C & P Set is a leather care set from Koch-Chemie × COLOURLOCK for the restoration and preservation of smooth leather. The set combines a slightly acidic Leather Cleaner Mild, a water-based polymer dye, and a Leather Protector into a complete three-phase workflow. After the water evaporates, the dye forms a flexible polymer mesh on the leather surface, which optically fills micro-fine scratches and replenishes the color in faded areas.

• pH just below the fiber pH of leather. Smooth leather is acid-tanned and has a natural pH range between 4.5 and 5.5. The Leather Cleaner Mild is designed for this and does not attack the leather's natural oils. Alkaline universal cleaners above pH 8 make the fiber brittle—you'll see it months later as visible dry cracks on the bolster.
• 46 standard colors plus vehicle-specific OEM shades. The Leather Fresh dye covers 46 universal colors. In addition, COLOURLOCK maintains a vehicle-specific database with original colors for BMW, Porsche, Mercedes, Audi, and Alfa Romeo. In other words: your bolster in a 12-year-old 5-series will match the factory shade again, without you having to guess the color code.
• 100 ml is enough for an entire car interior. The dye is applied selectively only to the worn areas, not over the entire seat. One 100 ml bottle is sufficient for four seats plus door panels plus steering wheel or an entire furniture set when applied in this spot-application manner. The former 150 ml container was reduced to 100 ml in 2024, but the price per liter remained stable.

Practical tip from Detailing1: We see the same application error in almost every user who uses the set for the first time. The seat is cleaned with Leather Cleaner Mild, then the dye is applied directly, and four weeks later the color peels off the bolster. The missing step is degreasing. Every smooth leather has an invisible layer of skin oils, old care lotions, and silicones that the mild cleaner does not remove. From our experience, the strict rule is: after cleaning, it is essential to degrease with COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Spirit. The quick check before dyeing is the tape test with painter's tape—if the tape doesn't stick, there's still grease, and you need to clean again. Only then apply the dye with a sponge, dabbing in wafer-thin layers, with a hairdryer between layers. And without exception, 24 hours must pass before the Protector is applied.

Three phases, one sequence that is non-negotiable

The COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh C & P Set is not a miracle cure for Sunday afternoon, but a continuous three-phase workflow. Anyone who skips a phase will reliably ruin the result.

Phase 1 is cleaning with Leather Cleaner Mild. The formulation is a mild anionic surfactant system with a slightly acidic pH, so that the fiber does not swell. Professionals always put the cleaner into a foam dispenser (Foamer Bottle), because the drier foam prevents the leather from getting soaked and becoming stiff like a board when drying.

Pump foam onto a slightly damp sponge, work it in with a soft leather brush in circular motions, then immediately remove it with a dry microfiber cloth. Do not let it dry, otherwise edges will form.

Phase 2 is degreasing with Leather Cleaning Spirit. This component is not included in the set and must be purchased separately. Nevertheless, it is not an optional step. The cleaning spirit dissolves skin oils, sunscreen residues, and old silicone-based care lotion from the surface.

The polymer dye adheres permanently only to a degreased surface. The tape test with painter's tape is a quick quality check: if the tape sticks, the surface is grease-free and you can proceed.

Phase 3 is dyeing with the Leather Fresh polymer. Shake the bottle vigorously, as the water-based polymer dispersion tends to stratify. Wet the enclosed sponge, apply the material in wafer-thin layers by dabbing or massaging in gentle circular movements—never spread, otherwise streaks will form.

Dry with a hairdryer on a medium setting between each layer. For heavily worn bolsters, three to four thin layers are realistic. Then allow to polymerize for a full 24 hours before applying the Protector. If you want to care for the cockpit and door panels in parallel, combine the set with the leather care collection or with the interior cleaners.

Polymer film, not filler. Three hard limits

The COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh dye is a polymer film, not a repair filler. Three substrates are taboo, three technical limits must be known.

First limit: open-pore leather. Aniline leather, nubuck, suede, and velour leather immediately draw the water-based polymer dispersion deep into the fiber, without forming a film. The result is dark, patchy discolorations that cannot be removed without residue.

Before each application, perform the water drop test: place a drop of clear water on an inconspicuous area. If it absorbs within 30 seconds, the leather is open-pore. In that case, use COLOURLOCK Aniline & Suede Protector, not the C & P Set. Synthetic microfiber fabrics like Alcantara are also on the negative list.

Second limit: the set does not repair cracks or holes. The polymer matrix has a minimal filling effect for micro-fine surface scratches in the leather finish, but none for deep fiber damage.

If you want to close a hole in the seat bolster, you first need COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather (liquid leather) as a filler and then work with Leather Fresh for color matching. Without this preliminary work, the hole will remain visible, because the dye only forms a thin film over the wound and will tear when the seat is sat on for the first time.

Third limit: no radical color changes. If you want to recolor black leather to beige, you need solvent-based spray paints with a spray gun, not the water-based C & P Set. The dye matches faded and worn areas to the original color—it is restoration, not redesign.

One exception is the "Neutral" base: 100 ml of colorless dye can be mixed with about 20 to 30 percent color pigments if you really need a special shade for a restoration project. If you want additional protection against jeans abrasion after dyeing, combine the set with microfiber cloths and brushes from our accessories range.

Prosumers, Smart Repair specialists, and saddlers

The COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh leather care set serves three clearly defined target groups. Anyone outside these three profiles will either overchallenge or underchallenge the set.

First target group: Prosumers and hobby mechanics with a special restoration object. The greasy steering wheel of a youngtimer, the worn bolster in a 10-year-old BMW, the faded seat in a Mercedes E-Class Convertible. Anyone who invests a full Saturday and adheres to the three-phase logic will achieve a smart repair level without a smart repair bill.

Second target group: Smart repair specialists and semi-commercial detailing studios. They work with a spray gun or airbrush instead of a sponge, achieving a seamless factory finish without sponge texture on the leather. The OEM color database makes the set the de facto industry standard for color-accurate restoration.

Third target group: Saddlers and leather restorers for larger restorations. Classic car interiors, vintage car cockpits, 80s Mercedes SL seats. In combination with Fluid Leather as a filler and, if necessary, Elephant Leather Preserver for extreme re-oiling, the set covers the complete tool chain for full restoration.

Compared to the competition, the set is clearly positioned. Geist. Easy Colour Restorer is cheaper and does not require a separate topcoat due to self-crosslinking polymers, but it lacks the vehicle-specific OEM color database. GYEON Q²M Leather Set is a ceramic coating for prevention on intact new leather, not a repair system.

LMX/Coralux Keralux dominates the home furniture market with alkaline cleaners, not the automotive sector with pH-compliant formulations. If you need color restoration to original tone, the C & P Set is the right choice. If you want to protect new leather, a ceramic sealant is better.

One practical trick that no manufacturer brochure reveals: after the dye has dried and before the Protector, gently run the included leather sanding pad over the surface without pressure. This smooths the polymer surface, eliminates any remaining micro-roughness, and restores the fiber's original, almost factory-like feel. Only then is the Protector applied as a long-term sealant.

Application of the COLOURLOCK Leather Fresh C & P Set

Four steps for a complete smooth leather restoration

Step 1 — Cleaning: It is essential to fill the Mild Leather Cleaner into a foam dispenser (Foamer Bottle) so that the fiber is not soaked. Pump foam onto a lightly moistened sponge, work it deep into the pores with a soft leather brush in circular motions, and immediately remove it with a dry microfiber cloth. Never let it dry.

Step 2 — Degreasing: Apply COLOURLOCK Leather Cleaning Benzine to a lint-free cloth and wipe over the cleaned surface. Degreasing is not included in the set, but it is essential for the adhesion of the dye. Adhesive tape test as a quick quality check: Press on masking tape, then peel it off. If the tape does not stick, there is still grease on the leather and you need to clean again.

Step 3 — Dyeing: Shake Leather Fresh vigorously, as the water-based polymer dispersion tends to layer. Wet the sponge and dab it on in very thin layers or massage it in with gentle circular movements. Never brush. Dry each layer with a hairdryer on a medium setting between applications. For heavily worn areas, apply three to four thin layers – preferably several thin layers rather than one thick one.

Step 4 — Sealing: Allow to polymerize for a full 24 hours without mechanical stress. Then apply Leather Protector thinly with a microfiber cloth – this introduces vitamin E as an antioxidant and the organic UV filter into the fiber. The smooth leather surface is then ready for the normal leather care routine.

Notes: The set is strictly designed for surface-dyed smooth leather, synthetic leather (vinyl/PVC), and leather-like hard plastics. Aniline leather, nubuck, suede, velour leather, and Alcantara are taboo – the water droplet test decides. If a drop of clear water is absorbed immediately, the leather is open-pored and you need the Aniline & Suede Protector instead of the C & P Set. Fill deep cracks or holes first with COLOURLOCK Fluid Leather, then dye. Process at room temperature between 15 and 25 degrees Celsius, never in direct sunlight. After dyeing, wait 24 hours without exception before applying the Protector. Preservatives can cause reactions in sensitive skin – wear protective gloves. Store frost-free.