Hi all,

Took delivery of my 05 MCS today, what a great car! I'm loving everything so far. I've noticed a few small smudges/streaks on my speedo/tach gauges. On my old car, I learned the hard way that the plastic used for these types of gauges (at least on my old car) is very prone to scratching if you just wipe dust off. Is the MINI plastic any stronger? i.e., would it not cause scratches on the plastic if I simply used a soft cloth to remove any dust/smudges? If not, what could I use to clean it?

Thanks!

-mike

 

This is an excellent question, and one I was planning on asking myself, as my estimated delivery date is...er...today! (Hmmm...I wonder if that's right?)

Anyway, I hate those scratches one gets on the clear plastic gauge covers. I bought a product, some sort of clear plastic wax/cleaner, at an auto parts store a few years ago. But, it was too late already for that car, and I never used the product. (Ok, maybe I was just lazy.) I would think these micro-fiber towels that everyone is talking about might work, but they are usually used for the exterior surfaces. You could also use soft cloth specifically made for wiping eyeglasses, and there are some products that supposedly help protect, and take scratches out of, plastic eyewear.

If you check the auto detailing threads, you might come up with something a little more useful. Regardless, hopefully someone will know a good answer, and post it here.

Oh, I did end up using one of those funky looking static dusters for my car (for dust on the top of the dash, etc.), and it seemed to dust my plastic gauge covers ok, without causing visible scratching like a regular towel tends to do. Of course, the covers were already scratchy by then, but they didn't seem to get any worse. However, that wouldn't really work for thuroughly wiping down, and making look new, the plastic gauge covers, but it might be a good first step to remove some of the fine particulate matter that causes scratching when you wipe.

 

I've had good luck using a microfiber towel and "Endust For Electronics".

 

I use Windex wipes and they work pretty well.:smile:

 

Just don't use paper towels! Use cloth.

Paper towels will scratch the plastic no matter how much cleaner/etc you use.

 

I use auto glass cleaner (Eimann) and a microfiber towel. Just DO NOT dry wipe them.

 

well i have just used a duster, like the things that women use to pute makeup on their cheeks its super soft


two years old now cleans daily or 4 times a week and not a single scratch, ive seen micro fiber scratch so be shure to get the right micro fiber towel, their are different kinds, some are made for windows, those will scratch balive it or not but their are some super soft ones made for paint so please do a little check up before buying!!!

 

Microfiber or eyeglasses cleaning cloth.

 

Thanks for all the help folks.

-mike