Hi all. I'm a brand new owner as of yesterday (SRT-6 Roadster - Sapphire Blue), and I couldn't be happier. However, as many have pointed out there are issues with deterioration of the interior trim and flaking of the center console. It seems that most posts are concerned with fixing this problem after it has occurred or referring the member to the Mercedes forum to address the problem. It has been my experience that German manufacturers contemplate owners' lack of interest in conditioning interior trim and thus they design it so it does not need it. Not only that, but to condition the interior with protectants yields very negative results - premature deterioration and flaking. That whole "no need to do anything but wipe with a damp cloth" is all good and fine, but after several years, UV rays will have taken their toll on the interior no matter what. So my question is, "What can we do as owners to condition and protect the interior without negative consequences?" And please do not direct me to the Murphy's Oil posts; Murphy's isn't designed for the plastics making up the interior trim and protecting against UV rays. As for the silver painted console, I've thought that perhaps a very gentle, high quality car wax like Pinnacle might protect the silver paint from discoloration and deterioration. Please let me know your thoughts. Let's put the info here so owners can prevent the problems from happening instead of worrying about fixing them after they've occurred. Thanks everyone. Great forum!!

Matthew

 

i am not a fan of interior protectants... most have a gloss/shiny appearance... are dust collectors and have a greasy feel.
i clean the plastics with 409 and wipe them dry...

i do however use leather conditioner.

as for the rubberized coating coming off the interior plastics... this is usually the case when something aggressively rubs against them (loosening the coating)... the only solution for this is replacement.

 

I have never had this problem and my interior looks close to brand-new. Any high quality interior CLEANER, followed by a high quality PROTECTANT should keep the interior looking great. As for the silver trim, I like to use Klasse All In One. Sonus, Sonax, Pinnacle, Detailer's Pride, Wolfgang, and 303 all make great interior products to preserve your interior without a greasy, Armor-all finish.

 

Thanks Golfdude. Klasse ALL IN ONE Polish sounds terrific! I just received some products from autogeek.net (Pinnacle, Wolfgang, 303, etc.), and I wish I had known about this beforehand. I'll just have to place another order. Thanks again!!

Matthew

 

Enjoy! I bet you will not be able to find a slicker product on the market then Klasse All In One all by itself. I've tried to find others, but the only product that comes close is Menzerna's Full Metal Jacket. Keep in mind though that Full Metal Jacket does not have any chemical cleaners. Please feel free to consult any of us on the forum for future product suggestions/consultations.