Most liked posts in thread: Ferrari Plastic Syndrome in my MINI...

One of the chemicals in plastic is a "plasticizer"...
On really hot days in a closed up vehicle it will "gas out" and redeposit itself on other surfaces inside the car, most notably seen as a film on the inside of the glass.... It also shows up as a sticky film on the outside of the plastic item...

Over time, when enough of the plasticizer is driven out of the plastic, the piece becomes brittle.... Cracks in plastic dashboards show up as a result...

On most hot summer days I'll lay a white towel over my dash to lower the temperature.... Lowering the windows a 1/4" also helps to lower the temperature...

 

It may have been you got something on it that softened it. I had the soft touch finish on my mouse do the same thing after my wife used it. I think it was some kind of hand lotion.

With Ferraris and some other cars it's an additive in the plastic leaching out. Like the film that gets on the inside of the windshield.

 

Ummm....Sticky to the touch??? You better

 

I was reading on one of the camera forums that people who use bug spray with DEET are having the plastic on their cameras melt from the stuff.

 

This happened to my glove box cover. The cover started peeling, felt sticky and looked like crap. I had it painted at my paint shop when they did my roof. It looks great now!

 

You could take it apart, clean the old stuff off and spray it with plastidip.

 

I often find myself outgassing. Do I put that towel over my forehead?

 

I've found that most kinds of hand moisturizers and sunscreens also do not play well with automotive plastics - make sure you clean your hands well before touching any of the controls.

 

Never heard of the happening had that has not happend on my car.

That's a new one.

 

Never seen it on a MINI, but very familiar with it on Ferrari's. I've seen Mercedes steering wheel controls with that problem, too. I've had it removed/cleaned, but it came back after a few months.:mad2:

 

Sometimes you can find used ones for sale on M\A or the NAM.

 

That's a very interesting theory, but perhaps there's a better, quicker, easier answer: Hey, caseydog - Where was your hand before you grabbed the knob? :eek6:

 

Another great point.

I stay away from super-oily sunscreens and bug repellent with DEET anyway.

 

You need DEET at the Dragon when those little biting nats are out. They will eat you alive.

 

I have some high DEET bug juice I got in Canada a long time ago for fishing. You don't let it get on your rain suit or your line.

 

Yep. As well I know from my years in Canada, that it 100% true.