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You are not alone in having this sticky/tacky experience. I, as well, on my 550.

Spray some silicone on a Q tip or finger and cover lightly? Top of mind thought. Don't know if help or hurt.

Others experience this? What stopped the deterioration?

Thanks.

The sticky residue is from age and continuous use of the clear protective rubber/film on the buttons. Just rub it all off with your finger...I took mine off both buttons in a couple of mins by scraping it with a coin.

I have not heard this before .Well, I use wet towel to clean off the residue from perspiration and works well .However, applying too much pressure can cause that soggy element intruding inside the buttons and it might havoc electronics in long term

OP: if yours are really bad (as they sometimes get with age and use) it is a fairly simple DIY to replace those button circles with new ones. I believe there is an FYI DIY on the website showing how it's done

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I am going to replace mine as well. They aren't anywhere near as bad as those, but enough to bother me. I was quoted $258 from MBenzNL from the forums for both.

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I had the same problem. I used a rag dampened with Formula 409. It took some rubbing and multiple tries. I finally got them clean. This happened about nine months ago and they have been fine since then.

yea, I dont know why anyone would bother replacing these buttons. Especially at over $250 dollars. Insane IMO. Just rub off the rubber and you have the buttons clean and fresh. Only without the rubber coating which served little to no purpose IMO other than for grasp or friction when using the buttons.

Agreed. Yours have not actually worn through like I was thinking, your film has just come off.

You can rub that off and be set

I used a microfiber towel and hand sanitizer, worked amazingly. No color transfer or discoloration of buttons, and didn't take long.

I just use clear nail polish and brush it.

Just use clear nail polish and brush it on.

Like many I have long been trying to find a solution. Mine is on a W208 CLK. No doubt the problem is age related and a breakdown of the materials used.

My local Mercedes dealer could order new buttons but for around £200 and then they need fitting. And, they would only be in black so of no use as I have a Designo interior.

Have tried several cleaning agents but nothing so far; then as an experiment, I dusted the offending buttons with a little (cheapest, unperfumed) talcum powder. As far as I am concerned, problem solved and no damage to paint or materials. Well worth a try.

Goo Gone

I would recommend not using any cleaner on then and keep the air on the cabin dehumidifier with the A/C on most of the time. Just gently wipe off any dirt.

This doesn't help after the buttons become gooey. Heat will break down that thin rubber membrane over time. If you don't want to fork out the money on new buttons, spray some Goo Gone on a rag, then hold that down on the buttons for a couple of minutes. You can then scrape the gooey stuff off with your finger nail. Probably takes about 5-10 minutes for each button. Be sure to also hold down the buttons on the edges to lift the opposite side and scrape the goo off the sides too. After you're done, use a little soap and water to wipe off the Goo Gone off your steering wheel. Your buttons will look like brand new when you're done.

Here's what the buttons look like after the Goo Gone and finger nail treatment. It's also a good solution for the shift buttons on the back of the steering wheel:

Thank you so much. I followed your directions today hoping I didn't have to spend $300 for new buttons. My buttons now look new again.