Shiny dashboard and airbag crease
Shiny dashboard and airbag crease
Author
Discussion

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Strange question(s) perhaps, but interested to know what people think.

Really struggling to decide about a car I looked at during the weekend. I know this sounds minor, but one thing that's putting me off slightly is that the matt dashboard has been cleaned with some kind of cockpit polish which has made it all shiny. It looks awful, like a tarted up used car (which I suppose it is biggrin ). Is there any way of getting this stuff off or am I stuck with it?

And the other odd one is that there's a fine lengthways crease across the middle of the top of the passenger side of the dash, which is obviously the weak spot for the airbag to deploy. On my car (same model just older) you can't see it at all, nor have I seen it on other similar cars, but on the one I drove it's really obvious. I can't understand why.

Any thoughts?

kambites

70,289 posts

241 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Hmm, is it possible that the airbag has fired and been replaced? I suppose you might get that crease if they'd replaced the air-bag and put a new surface on the dashboard without quite lining the plastic underneath up right.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
That did cross my mind I must admit.

On the one hand these are petty things on a three year old used car. On the other, they shouldn't be there and they're just niggling at me.

Now I think about it, there's a cap at the front of the headlining that's something to do with the retracting roof. And that's not a flush fit. Again, it's a petty thing, but on mine it's perfect. So why's that been off to the point where it doesn't fit quite right?

The car is absolutely lovely, but it's a lot of money (to me), so I'm terrified of getting it wrong...

kambites

70,289 posts

241 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Well if the air-bag has fired, it might be an indication of accident damage. Certainly worth getting it checked for structural soundness by someone who knows what they're doing.

davepoth

29,395 posts

219 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Ari said:
That did cross my mind I must admit.

On the one hand these are petty things on a three year old used car. On the other, they shouldn't be there and they're just niggling at me.

Now I think about it, there's a cap at the front of the headlining that's something to do with the retracting roof. And that's not a flush fit. Again, it's a petty thing, but on mine it's perfect. So why's that been off to the point where it doesn't fit quite right?

The car is absolutely lovely, but it's a lot of money (to me), so I'm terrified of getting it wrong...
Three years old? I'd probably accept those sorts of niggles on a £1000 snotter, but if you're dropping a lot of money on this car and it isn't something incredibly rare, I'd keep looking.

D1bram

1,518 posts

191 months

Monday 26th March 2012
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Personally it would bug me trading up to a car with imperfections that my older version doesn't have.


nonuts

15,855 posts

249 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Dare I ask why you're trading to another of the same model? Doesn't make sense to me unless it's an age related need for work etc.

Fastra

4,286 posts

229 months

Monday 26th March 2012
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Shiny dashes do my head in - literally!
Nothing worse than peering through a windscreen and only seeing a reflection of your dash.
I make a point of not using any products on mine but a damp chamy (sp??) leather.

To 'un-shine' it I'd perhaps suggest a good going over with the aforementioned chamy leather?





Edited by Fastra on Monday 26th March 11:42

snapdragon69

207 posts

203 months

Monday 26th March 2012
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This silicone dash stuff also fogs up the windows over time with a greasy layer.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
nonuts said:
Dare I ask why you're trading to another of the same model? Doesn't make sense to me unless it's an age related need for work etc.
Love my car, but fancy a newer lower mileage one with a bigger engine and more equipment.

This has all of these things.

Having said that, just driven mine in the sunshine with the top down and I do wonder what I'm doing.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
davepoth said:
Three years old? I'd probably accept those sorts of niggles on a £1000 snotter, but if you're dropping a lot of money on this car and it isn't something incredibly rare, I'd keep looking.
I feel like I'm being petty, but that is how I feel. This car just happens to be perfect spec and colour (black/black), but I'm just not 100% convinced...

nonuts

15,855 posts

249 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Ari said:
Love my car, but fancy a newer lower mileage one with a bigger engine and more equipment.
Ah, in which case just wait for one to come up that you don't have ANY doubt about buying or you'll probably end up regretting getting rid of your car that doesn't have any niggles!

J4CKO

45,365 posts

220 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
I dont know why dealers do this to cars, a mate bought a very tidy Pug 406 a few years back, he was really happy for it and they asked him to wait whilst they prepare it, they cleaned it and basically slathered the entire car is some evil smelling, acrid slime, every black surface was dripping in it, took months to get it off, dashes arent meant to shine as they reflect int he windows, tyres arent meant to get the Al Jolson treatment either, some products are ok that make the tyre blacker but it shouldn't look like a Soho Madams boot.

E38Ross

36,417 posts

232 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Easy to get the dash stuff off with a good apc and a firm bristle brush. Is use 303 aerospace protectant on mine which leaves a lovely matte finish.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
E38Ross said:
Easy to get the dash stuff off with a good apc and a firm bristle brush. Is use 303 aerospace protectant on mine which leaves a lovely matte finish.
Pardon my ignorance, but what's an APC? As I write i'm guessing All Purpose Cleaner?

E38Ross

36,417 posts

232 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Ari said:
E38Ross said:
Easy to get the dash stuff off with a good apc and a firm bristle brush. Is use 303 aerospace protectant on mine which leaves a lovely matte finish.
Pardon my ignorance, but what's an APC? As I write i'm guessing All Purpose Cleaner?
yup.

i use bilt hamber surfex HD for odd jobs like that. try a household all purpose cleaner, if that doesn't work send me a PM and i'll see if i can ship some surfex HD out to you.

microfibre cloths are very handy too smile

Balmoral

42,554 posts

268 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Ari said:
I know this sounds minor, but one thing that's putting me off slightly is that the matt dashboard has been cleaned with some kind of cockpit polish which has made it all shiny. It looks awful
I thought this had been a sacking offence for any car valetor for at least the last twenty years?

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
E38Ross said:
yup.

i use bilt hamber surfex HD for odd jobs like that. try a household all purpose cleaner, if that doesn't work send me a PM and i'll see if i can ship some surfex HD out to you.

microfibre cloths are very handy too smile
Thanks Ross. If I do buy the car I'll certainly give you a shout.

Ari

Original Poster:

19,738 posts

235 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
Balmoral said:
Ari said:
I know this sounds minor, but one thing that's putting me off slightly is that the matt dashboard has been cleaned with some kind of cockpit polish which has made it all shiny. It looks awful
I thought this had been a sacking offence for any car valetor for at least the last twenty years?
Bloody well ought to be!! mad

wolf1

3,091 posts

270 months

Monday 26th March 2012
quotequote all
My Subaru came with the high gloss dash from the previous owners overuse of cockpit spray. I just sprayed a load of brake cleaner onto a rag and wiped it down which removed the shine. Then a good dose of pledge and it was back to a nice satin finish, 10 minutes tops.