Instrument panel surround/bezel - dark spots on plastic

[drawen]

Hi,

New member, long time lurker.

I've got a 2007 Audi S6 which has developed some dark spots on the instrument panel surround/bezel during winter hibernation.
Anyone got any similar happening to your interior plastics? Any suggestions on how to remove these spots?

Already tried Megiuars PlastX, Koch Chemie Orange Power, IPA, and 1:10 diluted APC. Absolutely no change with any of them.

Any help is appreciated!

/drawen

[drawen]

After looking at my logs and pictures from before the car was put into winter storage, and doing tests on similar plastics, I have concluded that the discolouration is caused by Swissvax Quick Interior Finish.
So with the mystery of what caused it solved, I am even more keen on getting any tips on how to remove these spots/discolourations. I want to avoid spending $300 on a new bezel, so any help is appreciated. Thanks in advance!

[dgage]

I know some use Zaino AIO to polish interior trim pieces and remove defects. I’d think any of the mild cleaner polishes could do that. But I haven’t seen those spots before so I’ll let others chime in with more experience.

But I did want to let you know that you can get parts cheaper on eBay though it looks like all are pre-owned. But there are a ton listed for under $100.

https://www.ebay.com/sch/i.html?_fro...bezel&_sacat=0

[drawen]

Thanks for the tip! In my desperation I tried going all in with PlastX on less visible spot, and that (obviously) turned the matt plastic shiny, and did not even remove the spot completely, so I'm anxious to use any abrasives. I also tried some gtechniq P1 with the same result (making the surface shiny, but not removing the defects).

I have looked into getting a pre-owned one, but of the ones I have found until now is either the wrong shade of grey (as the ones in your eBay link - they were all light grey, and mine's a darker grey), or they are far from good condition.

In trying to replicate the issue on a similar type of plastic, I used the Swissvax Quick Interior Finish on the piece below with a very similar result, which I have the same trouble removing. I will send Swissvax an e-mail, and see if they are familiar with the issue. The bottle says safe on all plastics, but it doesn't seem to play well with matt surface plastics.

[drawen]

Thanks for the tip! In my desperation I tried going all in with PlastX on less visible spot, and that (obviously) turned the matt plastic shiny, and did not even remove the spot completely, so I'm anxious to use any abrasives. I also tried some gtechniq P1 with the same result (making the surface shiny, but not removing the defects).

I have looked into getting a pre-owned one, but of the ones I have found until now is either the wrong shade of grey (as the ones in your eBay link - they were all light grey, and mine's a darker grey), or they are far from good condition.

In trying to replicate the issue on a similar type of plastic, I used the Swissvax Quick Interior Finish on the piece below with a very similar result, which I have the same trouble removing. I will send Swissvax an e-mail, and see if they are familiar with the issue. The bottle says safe on all plastics, but it doesn't seem to play well with matt surface plastics.

[2black1s]

My opinion...

I find it hard to place blame on any product used.

My rationale is that if the damage was from some type of product usage, the damage pattern would be more splotchy, streaky, and widespread than the isolated spots evident.

I would attribute it to imperfections in the bezel material/finish itself.

While some products may penetrate into an existing imperfection, thus resulting in the spots, placing blame on the product seems a bit of a stretch. The product might highlight an existing condition, but it didn't cause it.

[Mike Phillips]

My opinion...

I find it hard to place blame on any product used.

My rationale is that if the damage was from some type of product usage, the damage pattern would be more splotchy, streaky, and widespread than the isolated spots evident.

I would attribute it to imperfections in the bezel material/finish itself.

While some products may penetrate into an existing imperfection, thus resulting in the spots, placing blame on the product seems a bit of a stretch. The product might highlight an existing condition, but it didn't cause it.

I agree with the above.

It makes more logic the source of the problem is something besides the product used.

[JKDesign]

What you are seeing is most likely spore damage/tracing that is now stained into the matte silver paint finish on your instrument cluster surround. It is very similar to the damage I see on the semi-gloss silver interior trim I see in a lot of Subarus, Nissans, Hyundais, and Kias- in most of those cases it is caused from spilt coffee or the like. No amount of cleaner or polish will remedy the damage- it is permanently etched into the finish. Only way to remove it in my experience is to sand and refinish- this can usually be done by a company like Fibrenew, or a mobile interior specialist that services dealerships. If you do happen to find something that fixes it chemically or abrasively without ruining it- please share your findings with us!

[oneheadlite]

What you are seeing is most likely spore damage/tracing that is now stained into the matte silver paint finish on your instrument cluster surround. ...

From the look of it, I was wondering the same thing.