StratfordShark

I'm displaying my S4 at the premier UK classics event in a few weeks.

Was cleaning interior today (glass, dash, conditioning leather) and sitting in passenger seat, noticed for first time stain/paint on LHS of centre console. Have had this car for 5 years and done lots of work on it, but never noticed this before! I can only think that in past when I've been sitting in left hand seat (passenger this side of pond), it's been under garage lighting and the discolouration hasn't been obvious enough for me to spot. Right now car is outside in daylight.

A previous owner had mounted a cellphone there, so I wonder if this was a clumsy attempt to paint over the holes which are filled?

So my question is more domestic than mechanical. Any suggestions for what to use to remove that stain/paint, without making things worse by taking the original grey out of the console plastic (my interior is classic grey I believe)?

Thanks a lot

wpgshark

I think that you are correct that it was an attempt to cover the holes.

Leatherique has a prepping agent that would probably work, just make sure that you take your time and don't go too far.

I'm also redoing a volvo convertible the tonneau cover had been sprayed to cover a few blemishes. The result was worse than the blemishes, I used simply green HD at a 6:1 water to cleaner mix, and was able to get much of the spray off' although that panel was vinyl.

I don't know if either product is available directly in Europe, I'm sure they'll ship the leatherique.

Good luck.

martinss

My guess would be that it was a coverup of the area using a vinyl dye. So in that sense it is not a stain, but it would be correspondingly harder to remove.

It also looks like you have some colour change to the original vinyl of the surrounding areas from aging. The touch-up dye that was used might actually more closely match the original colour of your vinyl than its current aged state.

There are agents that can remove leather and vinyl dyes, but they would likely remove both the touch-up and the original dye, although perhaps you could get lucky and they have a different formula or the touch up dye did not adhere well. If you were really, really lucky you might remove the top discoloured layer of original dye as well.

If it were me I'd seriously consider leaving it alone. If you do anything, you would have be willing to redye the whole console if things don't work out, and then you might have to continue redying elsewhere to get a perfect match. The alternative is to get a used replacement console without the holes but in the same aged colour...

StratfordShark

Thanks for all advice. I think I am going to keep eyes open for replacement console!

dr bob

So until you got your face right down there, you didn't notice. And neither will others looking at the car. That area sits in a shadow for the most part, so slight differences in shade disappear. For the display, I'd be inclined to leave it as it is. It fooled you for five years, it will fool non-experts for five minutes.

The plastic console is the same color throughout, while the paint or dye is just on the surface. In the US, we have a product called "Goo Gone" that's excellent at removing paint from surfaces that weren't supposed to be painted. I've seen it used to remove spray-paint vandalism damage from cars with little effect. I'm sure there's a similar product in GB. Works best when the offending material is still fresh, but with some care will work for your issue. Remove the carpet panel, and mask around the treatment area at a defined break going over the edge to the front face. Follow the directions on the product, perhaps working in shorter time periods/multiple steps. The dye will come off. After it does, you can deal with the shrunken hole repairs, and come up with an appropriate color match/finish to hide your work.

Kevin in Atlanta

You could clean the three holes with lacquer thinner, apply a dab of bondo and use a pick to mimic the grain and re-dye the console. I have had great results with ColorPlus dyeing my shifter surround and ashtray in burgundy. The color does not come off.

StratfordShark

Thanks Dr Bob for post full of wisdom.

Actually no one will see the interior unless I invite them! I am guilty of getting too obsessed with having her looking great for the show, but you have provided valuable perspective.

Have heard of Goo Gone. I will seek out same or similar here, but am now not concerned about cleaning the vinyl to any deadline.

The Fixer

Goo Gone and similar products on the market contain mostly xylene which is a very slow evaporating solvent (xylol)

Xylene is used as a solvent. This mixture is often referred to as xylenes or xylol.

Solvent xylene: the mixture is colorless, sweet-smelling (very), and highly flammable !

Use in the printing biz, rubber, and leather.

It is a common component of ink, rubber, and adhesive and why it removes these.

In thinning paints and varnishes, it can be substituted for toluene for slower drying.

It is used by me to tell if a painted object is water based or oil based.. Also by art conservators for the same reason.

It is a cleaning agent for steel, silicon wafers, and integrated circuits.

In the petroleum industry, xylene is also a frequent component of paraffin solvents, used when the tubing becomes clogged with paraffin wax.

For similar reasons, it is often the active ingredient in commercial products for Goo Gone and ear wax removal.

So Buy a gallon of Xylene you'll get a lot of use out of it i can tell..

It's is all that you need and will be much safer than lacquer thinner.


But if i were you i'd leave it alone. It really doesn't look bad at all.