Anyone know if there is a paint to touch up the buttons on the climate control panel. Mine has some wear exposing the underlying blue for the temp. down button.

Thanks in advance.

 

Mine was also worn. I replaced the face with one from a used unit found on eBay.

 

Yes I saw some up there as well, I was just thinking less labor than replacing as it's only a small spot, call me pedantic lol.

 

Model paint, black satin and matt, mix till you find the right color.

Patching up can lead to perfect results, as long as you have patients, the right brush, and a steady hand.

 

You can also try satin black trim paint by SEM. I always get good results using SEM automotive paints.

 

I don't know - as a trained professional artist, I would rather pull the radio/AC and replace a disassembled button from an eBay unit rather than try to match the gloss, hue, and value of a paint like that. That paint will come off so easily with wear too...If you aren't a perfectionist, try layers of construction permanent markers (sharpie). Do one coat, let dry very very thoroughly. Then do a few more.

 

Good info.

 

This seems to be a very common wear issue on the X300 too, which shares the same buttons.

I touched mine up with SEM "GM Black" which is very close to the LEG interior code. No one else can normally see it, but I can still slightly make it out.

My thoughts have been to find a NOS unit (saw one on eBay a while back for about $60, no A/C which is why it was so "cheap"), pull the good buttons, then clear coat them for future durability.

If that isn't what you want to do, if nothing else due to cost, I'd think about removing the cold & hot buttons from mine or a used unit and painting them identically so they at least match. It might be tricky to get the triangle right, but you could always opt for a different shape with some sort of stick-on masking such as a circle to just avoid trying to get the triangle correct.

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There's actually good looking CC units on E-Bay for under $40 @ that rate I just may go there.

Thanks for all the suggestions.

 

Why not just paint one button blue and the other red. You wouldn't have to worry about matching the black to the other buttons or re-doing the triangles, and you could use a semi-gloss paint and match the original colors of the triangles so it wouldn't stick out like a sore thumb.

 

Anyone know if the buttons come off without having to remove the panel, like with an allen key to pry/pop it off.

 

That's not a bad idea if you could find a nice subtle color. You are right that it would simplify the issue of reproducing the factory look.


Don't know but also would be interested. It would save a lot of hassle to not have to remove the A/C control panel after I just rebuilt and reinforced all the plastic bezel/mounting tabs, etc for the A/C, clock and radio.

I really don't want to take all that back out again some day as much as I can avoid it.

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If I order a whole panel, I will experiment w/ removing just the buttons on my current one, I may even try the whole button paint idea.

 

The buttons are 2 pieces, the outer visible part is slightly larger than the part which is fitted from the inside, they slide together.
Installing is clicking them together from each side of the panel frame.

I think you will have a hard time getting them separated without damage to the other buttons or the frame, and I am not sure the inner part is sufficient supported to click them back in.

I decided last year to go the replacement-button-way, and took the panel out.

I know you have an aftermarket headset, but if you are careful (all brittle plastics ...) you can take the panel out by only sliding the OEM headset a bit forward.

 

Several layers of permanent sharpie ink, drawn on carefully with dry time between layers, worked perfectly for mine. Looks like new now.

 

Well tonight the temp. display lights both went out so I guess the unit is going to have to come out anyways.