Guide: How to remedy the sticky interior trim, quick and cheap.

[Simon998]

I've only had my 172 a few days, but the interior trim was really getting on my nerves. I've seen a few but mine was by far the worst I've came across.

After searching through the forums for an answer, everyone seemed to either be stripping them completely and respraying them or else replacing them with items from non-sport models.

With nothing to lose, I thought I'd experiment.

Before:

The Process:

Remove the trim from the car and unclip the switches.

Then soak the trim in hot (not warm) soapy water.

The items used:

Elbow Grease is available for £1 in The Range and the scouring pads (Glitter optional) came from B&M or somewhere like that, I'll have to ask 'the boss'.

Spray the degreaser on and let it dwell for a couple of minutes before scrubbing with the scourer. Once you start scrubbing, it goes a bit white and scary looking, don't worry and keep scrubbing, it all comes off.

I wasn't expecting to make a guide, so I didn't take pictures of the scrubbing process - I'm sure you can use your imagination. It was surprisingly easy, each piece only took 5-10 minutes to do. Some places were a little awkward to do but just keep scrubbing, rinse occasionally and wipe with a towel and you'll see the parts you have missed.

Dry them off (If you don't have any kitchen roll left, improvise, like so):

And the dried item:

You can see on this one where I had to go over it again as it was still a bit white near the switches.

I then gave them a coat of Autoglym Instant Tyre Dressing. This isn't slippy/greasy like most tyre shines/cockpit shine sprays.

The results:

Hopefully this helps someone out.

 

[bloke]

ultrasonic cleaner works well if they aren't peeling and it's the lazy way of doing it as well ?

 

[Clio_fool]

Are they just hard plastic now then, with a bit of sparkle in them?

 

[Landyman]

Great result.

 

[Pricey98]

Will be doing this with mine. Shame I can't do the centre dash console and clock surround so easily. Have to take the upper dash off for that ?

 

[Clio_fool]

Will be doing this with mine. Shame I can't do the centre dash console and clock surround so easily. Have to take the upper dash off for that ?

Yeah that could be a tricky one. Post up how you get on with it. ?

 

[Simon998]

I'll be tackling those in a few days when I see how these hold up. I really want to do the radio and climate control but it would ruin them.

The passenger side needs done again as there's a few bits I've missed. You only really notice it when they're dry.

 

[Krarl]

Does it have to be a sparkly scrubber pad or can I use something less feminine?[emoji23]

Great guide though mate, will help out plenty of people with horrible handles!

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Wonder if its worth substituting the tyre dressing for 2K satin lacquer? Its really hard wearing etc.

 

[Simon998]

I've seen folk lacquering them when I was researching how to solve it. I done this a few weeks ago to all the plastics in the car (and the rear wiper surround) and i've just been giving them a wipe when cleaning the car and there's no marks/grime on them yet.

 

[Simon998]

The rear wiper surround was pretty bad. You can see how thick it had built up.

 

[Clio_fool]

The rear wiper surround was pretty bad. You can see how thick it had built up.

View attachment 1373293

What you cleaning that with?

 

[Simon998]

What you cleaning that with?

Same process as the interior. I did give it a little wipe with tar remover first though and let it dwell for a while. Not sure if it helped or not though.

 

[SSTEVENS17]

Isn't that mirror switch on upside down? ? Also, does anyone know where to get the screw caps from and also what size screws are meant to be used? Thank you!

 

[oreA]

Using this method I’ve now done all the dash bits that went sticky. I dismantled the stereo & climate control units to make sure I didn’t get the electronic bits wet.

It’s mint now! Thanks op!

Btw I got ‘Elbow Grease’ for 95p, chortle ?!

 

[Pricey98]

So I decided to do mine today, but the damn torx bolts holding them on decided to round off. Any ideas how I can get them out? I'm thinking drilling them out would be the only way. Sometimes I hate my car, nothing is ever straightforward ?

 

[arChi69]

Lol and i was wondering why the f... are my dash bits sticky. Will give be doing them this weekend.

 

[Simon998]

Isn't that mirror switch on upside down? ? Also, does anyone know where to get the screw caps from and also what size screws are meant to be used? Thank you!

Lol, yeah. I've changed it since. Oddly, it works just the same upside down :/

Using this method I’ve now done all the dash bits that went sticky. I dismantled the stereo & climate control units to make sure I didn’t get the electronic bits wet.

It’s mint now! Thanks op!

Btw I got ‘Elbow Grease’ for 95p, chortle ?!

Did you have much issue dismantling the radio fascia and the climate control? I'd love to do mine. Any pics of the process?

 

[oreA]

Did you have much issue dismantling the radio fascia and the climate control? I'd love to do mine. Any pics of the process?

No issues, it was straight forward:

I pulled the stereo out by using thin Allen keys instead of a stereo removal tool (you obviously need to do this to get the fascia off, but also to access the 2 screws holding the climate panel in place).

Once removed you’ll see the stereo has a torx screw on each side holding clips in place, I removed these first, then popped off the upper and lower metal body covers, no screws to undo here. The fascia should then just unclip from the body of the stereo, but be careful because the clips are plastic, thin and brittle. Then undo 3 screws and a few more clips to remove the circuit board and buttons from the fascia.

The climate panel was easier, undo the two screws that fix it to the dash, they are located ‘under’ the stereo. The climate panel is all held together with clips, so take it apart like Lego, but try not to damage the clips of course.

All the buttons will drop out of the stereo and climate panel, so take a picture beforehand so you know where they belong!

Also, there are two small panels above and below the climate panel which need cleaning up too, take these off at the same time!

Honestly, if you have an ounce of common sense and just a few skills you should cope just fine.

Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures ☹️.

 

[Pricey98]

Finally managed to do my door trim after using a bigger torx key to get the damn bolts out. Boring, and lots of scrubbing, but definitely worth it ? I found using an old plastic bank type card helped to scrape the nasty rubber coating off along with the scourer sponge and plenty of washing up liquid.

 

[Simon998]

Finally managed to do my door trim after using a bigger torx key to get the damn bolts out. Boring, and lots of scrubbing, but definitely worth it ? I found using an old plastic bank type card helped to scrape the nasty rubber coating off along with the scourer sponge and plenty of washing up liquid. View attachment 1379961View attachment 1379962View attachment 1379963

Good job man. It’s a bit worrying when they go all white isn’t it? Lol

 

[Pricey98]

Good job man. It’s a bit worrying when they go all white isn’t it? Lol

Was a bit, definitely lol. That stuff is stubborn to get off, but definitely worth doing.

 

[Simon998]

Was a bit, definitely lol. That stuff is stubborn to get off, but definitely worth doing.

It was your lack of glittery scrubbing pad was the issue

 

[Simon998]

No issues, it was straight forward:

I pulled the stereo out by using thin Allen keys instead of a stereo removal tool (you obviously need to do this to get the fascia off, but also to access the 2 screws holding the climate panel in place).

Once removed you’ll see the stereo has a torx screw on each side holding clips in place, I removed these first, then popped off the upper and lower metal body covers, no screws to undo here. The fascia should then just unclip from the body of the stereo, but be careful because the clips are plastic, thin and brittle. Then undo 3 screws and a few more clips to remove the circuit board and buttons from the fascia.

The climate panel was easier, undo the two screws that fix it to the dash, they are located ‘under’ the stereo. The climate panel is all held together with clips, so take it apart like Lego, but try not to damage the clips of course.

All the buttons will drop out of the stereo and climate panel, so take a picture beforehand so you know where they belong!

Also, there are two small panels above and below the climate panel which need cleaning up too, take these off at the same time!

Honestly, if you have an ounce of common sense and just a few skills you should cope just fine.

Sorry, I didn’t take any pictures ☹️.

Great job man, I'll give that a go tonight if the weather stays good. Cheers for the writeup.

 

[SSTEVENS17]

I’ve gone more crazy with mine ?

 

[arChi69]

??

 

[Moggi]

Anyone tried Autoglym Intensive Tar Remover and a clean rag? Worked when I had some decal residue on my motorbike. Going to try it anyway. ?

 

[Simon998]

I tried a tar remover that’s supposed to be a chemically stronger concentrate of tar remover compared to autoglym on my rear wiper plastic and it started to go funny again within a week or two.

 

[Moggi]

I tried a tar remover that’s supposed to be a chemically stronger concentrate of tar remover compared to autoglym on my rear wiper plastic and it started to go funny again within a week or two.

Funny?

 

[Simon998]

I’ll grab a pic when I’m home. It went whiter than it was before I started scrubbing it.

 

[Simon998]

The products I use on my car are all Anachem Automotive stuff. It’s a local company and developed along side one of the best detailers in the country. It’s great stuff and cheap compared to other brands.

https://anachem-automotive.com/

Their ‘purge’ wheel cleaner is the best I’ve used. My wheels were like new after. And the hybrid quick detailer smells like coolwater lol

 

[Simon998]

Pish, wrong thread. I hate using forums on my phone.

 

[Moggi]

Pish, wrong thread. I hate using forums on my phone.

Almost appropriate! ?

 

[Moggi]

Btw, why do the bits have to be treated after cleaning?

 

[Simon998]

They probably don't tbh, I just found that it gave a deeper colour and probably offers some sort or protection. Plus I had the bottle sitting with-in arms reach.

I made this guide up off the top of my head, just tried some s**t and it worked. There's no science to it lol.

 

[Moggi]

Fair enough! ?

 

[Krarl]

Really need to get mine sorted, feels like someone has cummed in half of my car ffs[emoji24][emoji23]

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Really need to get mine sorted, feels like someone has cummed in half of my car ffs[emoji24][emoji23]

I guess there is a chance they have - get your UV lamp out and have a look ?

 

[Krarl]

I guess there is a chance they have - get your UV lamp out and have a look [emoji119]

Who’s to say it wasn’t me...

 

[Robbie Corbett]

Haha, then you know where to clean.