Chalky spots on interior plastics?

JonM · 09-01-2016, 07:26 AM

Our car is a 4/16 build with ~7000 miles on it. Black interior. Once I cleaned the front door panels, glove box door, and driver's knee panel with what I would describe as a chalky-looking haze. I cleaned it with a damp (water) cloth. It has come back a second time. No chemical has ever touched these surfaces. This is a PCD car. Has anyone else seen this? Is this normal outgassing that will clear up (I assume it is).

Will post pic later when I am able.

JonM · 09-01-2016, 07:47 AM

Pics.

jugdish · 09-01-2016, 08:25 AM

that's not normal.... looks like it was hit with acetone. You can try using a deep plastic cleaner such as https://www.amazon.com/nextzett-9244...6ZEHX59KCBZ7WC

5tony · 09-01-2016, 08:34 AM

I have the same, and I have never applied any cleaners or conditioners on them.

Alan l. · 09-01-2016, 09:04 AM

Def not normal. Do you ever take your car to outside car washes? I suspect they used some harsh chemicals causing it to stain like that.

IndyJer · 09-01-2016, 09:04 AM

Maybe residue from the protective plastic film they cover the dash in for shipping? I have the same spots, but only on the bottom of the door panels, right under the handle/window control

JonM · 09-01-2016, 09:20 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Alan l.

Def not normal. Do you ever take your car to outside car washes? I suspect they used some harsh chemicals causing it to stain like that.

No. No one touches it but me.

JonM · 09-01-2016, 09:21 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by IndyJer

Maybe residue from the protective plastic film they cover the dash in for shipping? I have the same spots, but only on the bottom of the door panels, right under the handle/window control

Possibly. My plan is to clean it really well with a very mild cleaner, detergent and water.

Kzang · 09-01-2016, 02:07 PM

Get some rubbing alcohol with a damp cloth and go over it a few times...
Let us know your results.

taken · 09-01-2016, 06:50 PM

Mine is identical. It's never been cleaned by anyone. Took delivery in March. Dusted a few times. Cleaned by me this summer with various products and always comes back.

iconoclast · 09-01-2016, 07:53 PM

i had this on the lower portion of the door cards and the lower portion of glove box. 1z cockpit cleaner removed it. i originally thought it was sunscreen residue from my wife and daughter but i guess not. perhaps a side effect from off-gassing? no idea. it has not returned and didn't think much of it until i saw your photos.

RDG80M3X · 09-02-2016, 12:40 AM

I noticed the exact same issue as well. It's all over the lower door panels and dash. 11/15 build.

quad_drive2 · 09-02-2016, 10:53 AM

Ah!!!! I see the same thing in my car, I thought I was crazy :-)
Some mild cleaner and nice soft rubbing should get rid of them for good.

Doanster · 09-02-2016, 11:42 AM

+1 for 1Z Cockpit Cleaner. No oily mess and does a good job of cleaning the interior surfaces.

letsddp · 09-03-2016, 02:30 AM

I only see it when your knee has brushed it or your shoe touched the door plastic as you get out.

Van1 · 09-04-2016, 06:50 AM

I have Mocha interior but noticed this same chaulky residue on the black lower door panels a few days after I took delivery of the car in July (Mar 16 build). Don't really see it on the Mocha parts. Figured it was some kind of mold release or off gas byproduct. Cleaned it off with a bucket of dish soap and purified water a few weeks back. Doesn't seem to be coming back but keeping an eye on it.

JonM · 09-06-2016, 07:00 AM

Update: I cleaned all of my lower dash and door panel soft-touch plastics with baby wipes. So far, perfect. Will update this thread if there are any changes.

My guess is it is some sort of mold release agent.

09-01-2016, 07:26 AM	#1
JonM Lieutenant 145 Rep 409 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Sedan Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Chalky spots on interior plastics? Our car is a 4/16 build with ~7000 miles on it. Black interior. Once I cleaned the front door panels, glove box door, and driver's knee panel with what I would describe as a chalky-looking haze. I cleaned it with a damp (water) cloth. It has come back a second time. No chemical has ever touched these surfaces. This is a PCD car. Has anyone else seen this? Is this normal outgassing that will clear up (I assume it is). Will post pic later when I am able. __________________ Jon Maddux coupenut.blogspot.com x5nut.blogspot.com 16 X5d \| 08 M3 Sedan \| 06 M Coupe \| 01 M coupe \| 99 M coupe
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09-01-2016, 07:47 AM	#2
JonM Lieutenant 145 Rep 409 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Sedan Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Pics. Attached Images __________________ Jon Maddux coupenut.blogspot.com x5nut.blogspot.com 16 X5d \| 08 M3 Sedan \| 06 M Coupe \| 01 M coupe \| 99 M coupe
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09-01-2016, 08:25 AM	#3
jugdish Private First Class 35 Rep 106 Posts Drives: X5 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: WI iTrader: (0)	that's not normal.... looks like it was hit with acetone. You can try using a deep plastic cleaner such as https://www.amazon.com/nextzett-9244...6ZEHX59KCBZ7WC
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09-01-2016, 08:34 AM	#4
5tony Lieutenant 152 Rep 501 Posts Drives: '21 M5/'15 X5 35i/'88 M3 Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: Atlanta iTrader: (1)	I have the same, and I have never applied any cleaners or conditioners on them. __________________
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09-01-2016, 09:04 AM	#5
Alan l. Major General 5507 Rep 8,835 Posts Drives: 2020 F95 X5M Competition Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: United States iTrader: (9)	Def not normal. Do you ever take your car to outside car washes? I suspect they used some harsh chemicals causing it to stain like that. __________________
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Chalky spots on interior plastics?

09-01-2016, 09:04 AM	#6
IndyJer Second Lieutenant 111 Rep 256 Posts Drives: '17 F15 MSport Join Date: Aug 2015 Location: Indianapolis iTrader: (0) Garage List '16 F15 XLine [0.00] '17 F15 MSport [0.00]	Maybe residue from the protective plastic film they cover the dash in for shipping? I have the same spots, but only on the bottom of the door panels, right under the handle/window control
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09-01-2016, 02:07 PM	#9
Kzang Major General 3243 Rep 5,066 Posts Drives: 2015 X5 35i Msport SG Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: East Coast iTrader: (0)	Get some rubbing alcohol with a damp cloth and go over it a few times... Let us know your results. __________________ 2015 F15 X5 35i Msport Space Grey M Performance parts MPPK, MPE
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09-01-2016, 06:50 PM	#10
taken Private 32 Rep 95 Posts Drives: 2016 X5 xDrive50i Join Date: Mar 2016 Location: Western, MA iTrader: (0)	Mine is identical. It's never been cleaned by anyone. Took delivery in March. Dusted a few times. Cleaned by me this summer with various products and always comes back. __________________ Regards, Rodney 2016 X5 xDrive50i
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09-01-2016, 07:53 PM	#11
iconoclast Self-Deprecating Narcissist 7274 Rep 6,561 Posts Drives: Audi BMW Ferrari LR MB Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: In, Out & Around... iTrader: (1)	i had this on the lower portion of the door cards and the lower portion of glove box. 1z cockpit cleaner removed it. i originally thought it was sunscreen residue from my wife and daughter but i guess not. perhaps a side effect from off-gassing? no idea. it has not returned and didn't think much of it until i saw your photos. __________________ http://www.instagram.com/_.iconoclast/
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09-02-2016, 12:40 AM	#12
RDG80M3X First Lieutenant 635 Rep 319 Posts Drives: '23 G80X Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Los Angeles iTrader: (0)	I noticed the exact same issue as well. It's all over the lower door panels and dash. 11/15 build.
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09-02-2016, 10:53 AM	#13
quad_drive2 Private 9 Rep 51 Posts Drives: 2014 BMW X5 35i M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2016 Location: No. VA iTrader: (0)	Ah!!!! I see the same thing in my car, I thought I was crazy :-) Some mild cleaner and nice soft rubbing should get rid of them for good.
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09-02-2016, 11:42 AM	#14
Doanster Major 627 Rep 1,181 Posts Drives: 2014 F15 Carbon Black M-Sport Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: Oregon iTrader: (0)	+1 for 1Z Cockpit Cleaner. No oily mess and does a good job of cleaning the interior surfaces. __________________ A little mod here, a little mod there...
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09-03-2016, 02:30 AM	#15
letsddp Private 15 Rep 50 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Reading iTrader: (0)	I only see it when your knee has brushed it or your shoe touched the door plastic as you get out.
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09-04-2016, 06:50 AM	#16
Van1 Member 23 Rep 99 Posts Drives: BMW M2C Join Date: Nov 2007 Location: Papillion, NE iTrader: (0)	I have Mocha interior but noticed this same chaulky residue on the black lower door panels a few days after I took delivery of the car in July (Mar 16 build). Don't really see it on the Mocha parts. Figured it was some kind of mold release or off gas byproduct. Cleaned it off with a bucket of dish soap and purified water a few weeks back. Doesn't seem to be coming back but keeping an eye on it. __________________ ‘20 BMW M2 Competition ‘24 BMW i4 xDrive40 ‘22 Ford F-350 Platinum Power Stroke Super Crew ‘22 Jayco Pinnacle 32RLTS
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09-06-2016, 07:00 AM	#17
JonM Lieutenant 145 Rep 409 Posts Drives: E90 M3 Sedan Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Update: I cleaned all of my lower dash and door panel soft-touch plastics with baby wipes. So far, perfect. Will update this thread if there are any changes. My guess is it is some sort of mold release agent. __________________ Jon Maddux coupenut.blogspot.com x5nut.blogspot.com 16 X5d \| 08 M3 Sedan \| 06 M Coupe \| 01 M coupe \| 99 M coupe
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