sticky steering wheel button
Thread Starter
Super Member
Joined: Nov 2004
Posts: 689
Likes: 26
From: So Cal
07 GL450, 91 NSX, 12 Prius
sticky steering wheel button
2002 s430 after wiping down my steering wheel. The 4 buttons feel sticky. It seems like some coating is dissolving away and created a sticky film on the buttons.. Anyone have this issue and have a cleaning solution that will take away the sticky film? thanx
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: Aug 2007
Posts: 1,311
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From: Cleveland, Ohio
2003 Cl 500
You're not the only one. I haven't cleaned my wheel all winter and when my spring clean up came around, that was the time to clean it. Now it feels like I was eating a lolipop or something and I got it all over the buttons.
I want to clean it but do NOT want to make it worse.
ALi
I want to clean it but do NOT want to make it worse.
ALi
Junior Member
Joined: Jun 2007
Posts: 54
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I got rid of the problem by peeling that coating with my fingernail and a plastic retractable pen (retracted of course) and a damp cloth with windex to remove the residue, its time consuming and still have to do it on my glove box button! ARGHH!
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Member
Joined: Aug 2008
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02 S500
Yea nails work fine on 'em and then little cleaning. lol
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Junior Member
Joined: Apr 2009
Posts: 30
Likes: 0
From: Japan
S500L
I had a sticky button when I first got my car.
I read on a MB forum that Windex did the trick.
I didn't have any on hand so I used alcohol and just kept on rubbing until that sticky crap came off.
Worked fine for me.
I read on a MB forum that Windex did the trick.
I didn't have any on hand so I used alcohol and just kept on rubbing until that sticky crap came off.
Worked fine for me.
Junior Member
Joined: Nov 2006
Posts: 41
Likes: 0
W220 S500
Hey what's the update on this issue. MB wants close to $300 special order for these buttons, and if I can clean them first then that will be fine.
Some have used Greased Lightning apparently with success, so a citric based degreaser such as Goo Gone might do the trick?
Some have used Greased Lightning apparently with success, so a citric based degreaser such as Goo Gone might do the trick?
Last edited by ALEV8; Oct 7, 2009 at 01:40 PM.
Senior Member
Joined: Feb 2010
Posts: 390
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From: SoCal
CL65, FJ80, Sportsmobile 4x4, Model X Plaid
Don't use Goo Gone, it turns it yellow permanently. Going to have to order new buttons. And then seal the new ones.
Junior Member
Joined: Oct 2011
Posts: 43
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From: Norway
S320
mine was sticky too, I tried with citrus cleaner but that started to remove the gray paint so I had to stop. Had to use the fingernail and a microfiber cloth with interior cleaner to remove the sticky stuff in the end.
So it was a little work but well worth it, no more stickyness, except for the glove compartment button which will need the same treatment soon.
So it was a little work but well worth it, no more stickyness, except for the glove compartment button which will need the same treatment soon.
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 42
Likes: 0
From: Spain
2003 S320 CDI
mine was sticky too, I tried with citrus cleaner but that started to remove the gray paint so I had to stop. Had to use the fingernail and a microfiber cloth with interior cleaner to remove the sticky stuff in the end.
So it was a little work but well worth it, no more stickyness, except for the glove compartment button which will need the same treatment soon.
So it was a little work but well worth it, no more stickyness, except for the glove compartment button which will need the same treatment soon.
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 137
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From: Redondo Beach, CA
'05 S430 4MATIC Sport, 2009 GT Zaskar MTB
Newbie
Joined: Jul 2014
Posts: 1
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2004 S500
Sticky Steering Wheel Buttons
WD-40, a old wash cloth type of rag and about 30 minutes is all it takes to soften the sticky film..... use your fingernail to simply scrape the gummy stuff and wipe it off with the rag. Keep changing which part of the rag as the residue is stuck to it so clean and damp with WD-40.
Trust me on this one.... tried goo gone, alcohol, another goo remover but good old trusty WD-40 worked again!!!!
Trust me on this one.... tried goo gone, alcohol, another goo remover but good old trusty WD-40 worked again!!!!
Junior Member
Joined: Aug 2011
Posts: 35
Likes: 1
CL600
happens as a natural deterioration of the material used for and/or on the buttons. goo gone works really well to dislodge the goo. i followed up with 91% isopropyl alcohol and the goo gone and the goo came off easily. typical 70% alcohol sold in drug stores won't work, needs to be 90+%, also can be purchased at the drug store. now good as new!
Member
Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 137
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From: Redondo Beach, CA
'05 S430 4MATIC Sport, 2009 GT Zaskar MTB
Whatever you going to use to clean the sticky residue won't ever be perfect, and the paint will eventually start coming off. $150 for new set of buttons is the way to go. Just make sure it's never cleaned with strong chemicals.
Super Member
Joined: Sep 2012
Posts: 690
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From: Montreal, Quebec
2009 E350 4M Avantgarde;mistress 2002 S600; wife 2014 C300 4M
Where do you get the buttons for$150.00??
MBWorld Fanatic!
Joined: May 2008
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2016 C300
On my S500 I bought the buttons (actually a single assembly that has the left and right side buttons on it.) On my S430 I went the solvent and rubbing route, on the buttons and the headlamp control bezel. It's a little nerve wrecking at first because it feels like the buttons themselves are made of the gummy stuff, but there are actual perfectly preserved clean plastic buttons under the goo, and they look brand new when cleaned up. Just some mildly tedious work and patience involved.
