Cleaning Sticky Switch Trim Plates

[deezilbug]

I'm sure many (all) of you have experienced a total failure of the "Soft Touch" coating crap that VW applies to many of the interior plastic parts.

The coating on the interior door handle trim plate starts to scratch easily then progresses to the sticky gooey state.
The grab handles on the doors start to peel and flake.

I have found a way to strip the coating away leaving the base plastic exposed by using white wall tire cleaner (Westleys),with great success.

Start by spraying a clean cloth with the cleaner and rub the sticky coating away. It take some time, but the effort is well worth it. It leaves the base plastic clean and nice looking.

I see that VW is still using this lousy stuff on the new cars.

Good luck!

[thatpastorguy]

Whooo! Thanks man I have been wondering about how to get this crap off ever since I got my NB (1 week ago)

[deezilbug]

This formula works best to remove the soft black gunk on the door handle trim plates. - Use rubber gloves when applying.




My next project will be the grab bar supports above the glove box. I'll try to post some before and after pics.

[jussbuggin00]

i hope this works... i absoutly hate hate hate that rubbery stuff on my doors.

[kate_the_valkyrie]

Question:
I have a 2003 Color Concept beetle that has the leather interior package on my door panels and my seats. I've noticed this black stuff "peeling" especially now that we've approached the summer and I am in the arizona desert.

I'm wondering if this product you are talking about will ruin or damage the leather at all?? Any ideas?

[LadybugEwa]

mask off the leather to be sure, Kate

[deezilbug]

Kate - Not a good idea to let the tire cleaner touch the leather. It will probably strip the color away.

I want to also mention that I tried using cotton swabs (Q-tips) to apply the Bleche White. Then it was a simple matter of rubbing away the black gunk around the door lock switch.
Works great Used a lot of Q-tips!
This keeps the Bleche White off your fingers and away from the painted surfaces.

I'm thinking of sending a bottle of this cleaner to VW North America customer service with some before and after pictures....

Maybe VW should outsource all plastic parts to Honda, Nissan or Toyota - Their plastic is far superior to the crap that VW makes.

Good luck ..............Danny

[raff]

I've eliminated the gooey, sticky stuff around the interior door handle trim with something most of us probably already have on hand--bug nad tar remover. I used Turtle Wax B & T Remover. All I did was wrap a thin cotton towel over my pointy index finger, sprayed on some B/T remover and rubbed the offending black trim. With a little help from a short fingernail within the towel, trim piece looked better than new in ten minutes. And as a bonus, the B/T remover is safe for the adjacent colored trim.
Just my .02

[OhSnap]

Originally Posted by kate_the_valkyrie

Question:
I have a 2003 Color Concept beetle that has the leather interior package on my door panels and my seats. I've noticed this black stuff "peeling" especially now that we've approached the summer and I am in the arizona desert.

I'm wondering if this product you are talking about will ruin or damage the leather at all?? Any ideas?

I just bought a 2002 Color Concept that has the same issue - the black on the doors and around the roller coaster bar is all gooey and some has even stained the leather!!! I was wondering what to do with it, and it's rather embarrassing when someone wants to go for a ride and ends up with sticky fingers. Ick! I will get the blech white and see how it helps. To cover the leather, do you think painter's tape is the way to mask it off?

[griselgallardo]

Hi guys, I just got a 2001 beetle as a replacement of another silver bug
The dashboard seem to be all scratched as well as the handle to open the door. Like if someone delivery keyed the hole interior :S I was disapointed at first but after cleaning it today, I notices I could easily make my own scratches pretty much just passing my nail very softly. He hole dashboard is so sticky. I was beginning to think that the previous owner of my beetle had put coat on top of coat of an oily think or something to make it shine and left all that junk. I cleaned a Small Spot for a while with de greaser , and then tire cleaner and did came out but just a small square 3" x 3" took me for ever. Came out shinny and pretty. But no way the hole dashboard would take ages

If you have any suggestions please tell me
I will try that cleaner you guys mention above, ...thanks.

Grisel