STICKY SWITCHES DONE IN AN HOUR

spyderbags

Junior Member
Messages
40
So when you get the black rubber wearing out with white bits showing, (they look like breaks in the rubber?), and I’ve seen it a lot - is this fixable? Or is it new rubber time?
If you've only got a few dots of white showing, a dab with a big fat black indelible felt tip makes them virtually unnoticable.
 

spyderbags

Junior Member
Messages
40
Has anybody ever tried these?
Looks like it would take a lot of time and effort to achieve an acceptable finish, maybe ok if you only needed one or two buttons refurbished.
 

CatmanV2

Member
Messages
48,539
They are going to looks pretty unpleasant pretty fast I'd have thought. Send them to Lorenzo

C
 
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safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
I note a lot of GM cars have the same issue in the US with the buttons going to white.

They appear to sell a number of transfer sets to recover the buttons... maybe one would have the window symbol in the set?
 

Kincath

Member
Messages
358
I’ve just done the big top heater vent on the 3200. It was very bad. I used Tesco cream cleaner. The kids nail brush (wife’s no happy) my old tooth brush and a kitchen sponge with the scourer on one side. In the sink soaked the whole thing in hot water and went to town on it with the nail brush and cream cleaner. Then done the little corners with a toothbrush then a final sponge over using cream cleaner. Came up great. Little bit of dash dressing on it to finish it off.
 

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,393
They are going to looks pretty unpleasant pretty fast I'd have thought. Send them to Lorenzo

C

100% just get it done properly over the winter.
Putting on stickers and permanent pen is just a temp solution at best.
 

luisabel9090

Junior Member
Messages
30
Hello there.

I have introduced myself yesterday.

Stated then I was joining the Forum looking for some assistance, as my 3200 is starting to show age.

I have found here one of the answers I was going to ask, so thanks to everyone. The problem we deal with here happens also to my wife´s E46, and is well known to me in the 3200/4200/GS family, so I am always very careful when touching the related switches or controls.

My answer has always been to buy the part, but on this occasion, having to do with the heater control knob, same policy seems not possible, so here I am.

I believe I have understood the procedure, just wonder if I will be brave enough to pull out the knobs using a plier.

I just bought online the spray (Thanks for the picture and the link), in transparent color, hoping it will be a matt finish, rather than gloss.
 

Delmonte

Member
Messages
878
Update on the NIT cover part (the vented plastic piece that houses the sat nav cd slot). Everyone seemed to think these were NLA, and tbf they probably were. But right now they are available and Eurospares have them new in stock at £130 plus VAT.
I’m mentioning here because mine was the worst part to be suffering from scratched rubber surface, and I know that many folks are sticky - I was going to send mine to Lorenzo, but he mentioned this part is easily broken during the restoration process, plus by the time I’d paid 2 way quality delivery and his fee, the new part is cheaper anyway.
Interesting also that, the new part is hard Matt surface and not rubbery, so shouldn’t go sticky.
I’d buy them while you can, if needed.
 

Raulpereg

Junior Member
Messages
71
Well, I have ordered this spray and will try to fix this by myself:). I will let you know the result. For removing the sticky part I have understood that can be done with ammonia or alcohol so I will do so. Please, if some of you have experience with the spray let me know!
 

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
Dont bother with that plasti dip , it just peels straight back off again im my experience . Just leave the switches raw or get a matt laquer
 

Raulpereg

Junior Member
Messages
71
Thanks, but already ordered so I will try....what laquer do you mean? Any recommendation? Im completely new to these repairs
 

Gp79

Member
Messages
1,393
For a GS you can order the F430 ones they are the same, did this myself as the old ones lasted 14 years so can’t really complain.
 

safrane

Member
Messages
16,746
Good find... I suspect they are less than the Maserati ones we bulked ordered five years ago.
 

Raulpereg

Junior Member
Messages
71
For a GS you can order the F430 ones they are the same, did this myself as the old ones lasted 14 years so can’t really complain.
Where do you order them? Eurospares? There I see i can buy the air vents, but not the buttons separately for the GS...My window buttons are not in so bad condition, but the ones i need to repair are the ones in the central console, like auto and fog lights.
 

Spartacus

Member
Messages
3,184
You can do the same to the centre consol buttons . Just scrape off the coating with you nail . Job done
 

Raulpereg

Junior Member
Messages
71
Yes, I will try that. Any recommendation for the big surfaces like the air vents? Ammonia and scourer to remove the sticky?