After having looked at the nasty gummed up buttons in my '12 XK I finally got around to finishing the clean up process. Last year I cleaned the steering wheel and gear change console. The buttons for the radio and center knob weren't that bad at the time but got progressively worse.

I know that many have used Goo Gone but I went a different route, used WD40 both sessions and while I can't compare to how long it takes compared to Goo Gone, the WD40 is relatively quick. I spray some into a small bowl, use an old sock that I soak and then wipe. I cleaned all the sticky radio, climate control, and center round cluster in about 20 minutes. The key isn't pressing and rubbing hard, it is all about number of strokes. Fast back and forth and the coating just melts away.

Perhaps Goo Gone works the same and is pretty quick also, just another option for those in need of this hack. The before picture was after I had already done the left side, cleaning the right side and center only took 9 minutes.




After

Before - half way done...

 

Looks good. Thnx.

 

Wow I gotta say it looks like this finish doesn't hold up in hot , humid sun country. Although I've heard of this problem on this form and others I have no indication of it on my 2012. Then again it also looks like usage has a contribution . All of these on my car so far look brand new . Also I very rarely touch them as they are set to what we like and have no need for adjustment. Nice job on the clean up and thanks for the tip.

 

welcome back stranger. Looks good!

 

I've heard stories of button labels coming right off with goo gone. WD40 sounds like it may be a safer alternative -- thanks for sharing!

 

I've always used "tuner cleaner" for when the buttons get sticky. No issue at all with disfigurement or removal of the labels with that product, but the WD-40 is certainly more readily available. Thanks for the heads up.

 

The only problem with WD-40 is that everything smells like WD-40 for about a week! It certainly works though.

 

I just did the door switches on my 2012 XF using 91% alcohol solution. The gummy layer came off with a few seconds of wiping and I finished up the edges of the switches with a cue tip. Much easier than I was expecting and the switch marking are completely intact.

 

I barely ever use any of those buttons, certainly as they became progressively gummier I avoided touching them. Definitely must be the climate. Even the surrounds on the steering wheel buttons was jacked up, we certainly never go around putting our fingers on part around the buttons. Here is what those areas looked like side by side, clean and gummed.




Thanks! Don't spend much time on forums anymore...hope all is well.

The Wife drives the XK and is hyper-sensitive to chemical smells so she is my litmus test, using it as a rubbing compound didn't leave any residual odor at all. You are right, I am used to spraying it and it certainly lingers with a stink when airborne.

Easy is key! Wish I had done this months ago, just never set the time aside and in the end was very quick. The results are a huge improvement.

Dealer said they charge $300 to clean them...

 

Nice!

This is a super common problem on a lot of Maseratis and Ferraris, and you did a great job of bringing it back.

I wonder if being a convertible makes it worse? My 07 was a Florida car from 2007 until 2018, had 50k miles, but had pretty dark window tint from near new and is a coupe. DEFINITELY got the wrinkly dash though, which is getting fixed this spring with either the stapled edge tberg talks about or redoing in vinyl.

 

No problems yet with the buttons on my XKR. Some of my XJ buttons were sticky, so I tried a little dab of Bath and Body Works hand lotion from a small bottle that my wife keeps in the car. It worked great!

And smells better than anything else.

 

I have a 2010 so I don't have this issue but I've used Olive Oil to remove sticker residue from delicate surfaces before (chrome plated plastic, etc). Might not be strong enough for this application though.

 

I dont have any issues either.

I wonder if the breakdown of coating begins when a dealer might use the wrong chemicals to clean the car.
We know that silicone from wd40 completely destroys it.

 

Isn't it a 2012 MY on problem?

 

My "new" '12 has the sticky button problem. From talking with the original owner, I know the car spent it's entire life in a California coastal town. It was garaged when the owner was at work, but not at home, so my guess it's due to temperature and humidity.

What I'm wondering is what exactly is being removed with "tuner cleaner,"WD-40, alcohol or whatever? My guess is it's a coating of some applied in the manufacturing process. If so it had a purpose, e.g., protecting the lettering or symbols from wearing off. If I'm right about this, maybe we should be looking for a coating to apply after cleaning off the old.

Or, can the face plate be replaced?

 

The gummy coating was an attempt at giving the controls a 'soft', feel nothing more. Once removed on my 12, they look just like the same buttons, etc. I had on my 07 vert. I didn't find the need to apply anything to cover them again as they look and function correctly.

 

My 'new' 13 came in June with gummed-up steering buttons, mainly on the right side. I was already aware of this from the pictures they sent me, and the very nice sales lady said it's a known issue with these cars and they will leave it to me to deal with. I decided to try ULINE 'safety glass wipes' that come in small sealed pouches which contain Isopropyl Alcohol. Worked great, took about 10 minutes and didn't erase any markings (and smells nice).

 

Oops. My car is a '13, not '12.

 

Un-gummed mine tonight. Alcohol wipes worked great.