Am I Screwed?
 

I recently applied Meguiar's Gold Class Rich Leather Cleaner Conditioner to the top of the dash with a soft cloth. The next day, I noticed that the top of the trim on the center a/c vent was discolored and appeared 'brownish' instead of the 'aluminum' color it had been the day before. I can only assume that the cloth I used to apply the leather treatment must have inadvertently made contact with the trim piece and got some leather treatment on it. I wiped it gently with a soft cloth and a little mild soap solution, but it looks just the same ... 'brownish'. Has anyone experienced anything similar? Any idea how to get it back to the way it was? Can this trim piece be easily removed and replaced? Help! Thanks for any assistance you can provide.

I've never used the product. Is there anything in the directions that indicate you should avoid plastic?

I'll defer to anyone with direct experience but suggest you contact Meguiar's support line.

Thanks, Sean. There's no warning of any kind on the spray bottle other than 'don't get it in your eyes'. It does say to try a small inconspicuous 'test' area first, which I did, and it was fine. P.S. Why do all of my pictures get posted sideways? Sorry to make everyone turn their head to see them!

Right, I would think that the verbiage to test in an inconspicuous area is meant for the actual leather and not the surrounding parts.

The trim is easily removed with a trim tool (plastic tools sets that run about $5 on eBay). The trim pops out. Just don't be too aggressive. I'd pull it just to try different cleaning solutions. Start with mild cleaners (non abrasive) like diluted simple green. Try plastic cleaners if you can find them.

Yes it can be replaced, but $$. Reach out to the used parts suppliers on eBay as they don't always advertise the vents but have them available and they can quote you a price.

Though I would still call Meguiar's first.

Are you talking about the stainless steel air vent surround or the little wood strip above? If it's the stainless, take a little WD 40 on a rag and rub it on the metal in the direction of the grain (right to left). That should take whatever conditioner is staining the metal off. Good luck.

I Guess I Am Screwed!
 

tberg ... thanks for your suggestion of wiping it with WD40 but it had no effect.

The piece in question is the aluminum-colored trim that goes around the center a/c vent and has the 2 thumb-wheels (for adjusting airflow angle) protruding through the trim piece itself. I can't tell if the trim piece is plastic or metal but it wouldn't hold a magnet. A Jag dealer has the entire center a/c duct (part # C2P2928) for almost $200 which DOES include the trim piece I need, but I was hoping to find a less expensive solution. Next step ... contact Meguair's! I'll let you all know what they have to say.

For all of you out there who treat your dash with leather care products ... BE CAREFUL. I thought I was taking care to avoid letting the cloth touch anything else, but my little mistake sure turned into a big problem!

If it's discolored like you say, I don't think any cleaner will revert it unfortunately.

Call Meguairs and get Barry on the phone! As far as I can tell they are stand up company.

You might be able to pain the trim piece if it comes off clean; may be cheaper than replacing it.

I use toothpaste as a cleaner in situations like this, it seems to work well at least on abrasions to paint. Never tried it on a trim piece but what can you lose!

Perhaps another direction to go, if the stain does not come out no matter what, rub the Meguairs on the entire trim so that it is one uniform color. Then it is a darker aluminum trim.

I'd try a magic eraser.

Not a bad idea!

+1. I just removed a bunch of shoe scuffs from the plastic trim and on the seat bottom. Worked like a charm. Don't get the eraser too wet though and try to catch the water drips with a bunch of rags under the area you are working....

My bet is there is a chemical cleaner in the product that reacted to the plastic and the result was the stain. I don't believe it is a dried on top coat that can be removed. SO he can either coat the whole thing or paint it or wrap it. So now we know what product to not use on the leather.

Weird, I've been using Meguiar's Gold Class pretty much exclusively since jump. Never had a problem with it on any surface, accidentally or otherwise. Sad thing is it's not available in Foam any longer.

Calling Meguiar's and trying to get Barry Meguiar on the phone would be like calling the White House and asking to speak with Barack.

It won't happen.

You must be on 'The eve of Destruction'


Damn, it just yesterday....

I'm working now with Rick McDonough, Senior Surface Care Specialist at Meguiar's who has shipped me some product and applicators in an attempt to fix my problem. I'll post the results once I have them. Thanks everyone for all of your input.

There's a set of vents from a 2009 XKR on eBay right now, although (maybe its just the photos) they look darker than your stained ones:

Set Dashboard Dash Instrument Panel Air Vent C2P2928 Jaguar XK XKR 2007 11 | eBay

The Meguiar's Heavy Duty Vinyl Cleaner that they sent me didn't have any effect on the vent trim's discoloration, and the one or two I saw on eBay didn't look any better than mine. I may try to tape off everything else and airbrush some silver paint on the vent trim. Or, I may just leave it as is. I sure as hell don't want to make it any worse!

Someone said earlier to wrap the trim in vinyl. Personally, that's what I'd do. Don't like it, take it off.