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So this began last year, and it's getting progressively worse. The 'menu' button is losing the black covering, and with it the wording. Anyone else experience this, and if so how did you resolve it? I've looked around for replacement buttons, but haven't found this one listed anywhere.
Oddly enough, my 2007 R56, with the silver controls/buttons, has absolutely no signs of wear at all.
Oh, I'd LOVE to do that....if only there were an actual 'salvage' yard here in Connecticut. I'm not 100% certain, but I'm guessing there's some sort of regulation that prevents the operation of a 'pick and pull' style salvage yard in this state. There are none. Any 'salvage' yard here operates as a strip/resell operation, and there aren't very many of them at all. None of them allow you to enter and remove parts yourself.
I can certainly buy a used unit, and may ultimately do so....but that inherently implies I'll be in the same boat again at some not-so-distant point in the future.
I find this sort of issue incredibly frustrating. It's an issue of the manufacturer (MINI/BMW) choosing to use a material/production design that's designed for obsolescence, without concern for replacement when that occurs. The ***** and some of the other buttons are listed as available, but not the menu/mode buttons, which of course are subject to wear due to high use. I've seen this occur in other vehicles from this era, mainly VW/Audi products.
People with cars and touch things, this is what happens, something to do with the tar(smoke)/acid in the skin. Also with certain cleaners i have seen this. I have seen it on steering wheels buttons all the time. You can get the rubber buttons but the faceplate ones its a new head unit or display used.
The steering wheel buttons really get beat up
My 2007 MINI with silver never had wear and same with my 2012, but i owned those cars since new pretty much.
People with cars and touch things, this is what happens, something to do with the tar(smoke)/acid in the skin. Also with certain cleaners i have seen this. I have seen it on steering wheels buttons all the time. You can get the rubber buttons but the faceplate ones its a new head unit or display used.
The steering wheel buttons really get beat up
My 2007 MINI with silver never had wear and same with my 2012, but i owned those cars since new pretty much.
I call BS. I've only ever seen this with vehicles that have this specific sort of black, matte finish equipment. As I said, my 2007 - with silver trim - has no evidence of wear AT ALL.
Poor design/choice of materials.
FWIW, I'd be completely fine with this IF MINI WOULD MAKE A REPLACEMENT AVAILABLE. Much like their choice on the shift boot/trim ring, it's a design/production choice driven by economics initially. Making replacement parts unavailable? That's poor brand identity.
MINI chose to change the materials for the radio controls from the silver finish to this matte, soft touch black with an inherent short use life. People didn't 'request' this. Don't defend it.
