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I am having an issue on the passenger side of the car, on both the top of the dashboard and on the glove box in two separate and independent spots. There are a few long streaks that are lighter than the leather...when I go to wipe them off they spread and get worse.
I have tried all of my tricks - distilled water, leather conditioner, etc - nothing seems to help and nothing appears to be on the dash that I am wiping around creating these spots. I hate the way it looks and I am open to any suggestions. Could this be a defect?
It seems like after reading the thread that Usual posted, microfiber towels are not the way to go on the dash. All of my towels are The Chemical Guys microfiber towels. What are you guys using instead?
It seems like after reading the thread that Usual posted, microfiber towels are not the way to go on the dash. All of my towels are The Chemical Guys microfiber towels. What are you guys using instead?
A microfibre towel in my case, no fancy brand name ones with no problems.
Had same type of scratches on panel above glove box ONLY.
Nothing took care of it.....so as last resort, I used 303 Aerospace protectant.
Magically disappeared....very natural appearance....not oily or shiny after using.
I would not want to use it on entire dashboard unless really needed.....as in your situation.
Your scratches look like someone rubbed too hard, must use micro cloth very lightly.
I use this product to protect all the black plastic on both NX and RX, apply monthly after washing car.
You can find smaller quantities, however i bought gallon since I also use on back yard spa cover regularly.
303 is also available at most marine and boating stores in a spray bottle. I have not used it on the dash but it might restore your dash--the usual "test first in a small non-visible area".
Personally, I just use a damp terry and nothing has marked the dash. The manual says "Wipe dirty surfaces with a cloth dampened with lukewarm water." There are many grades of micro-fiber, lots of articles on the internet on how to tell quality if you trust one, but I have not used them on a dash. Third recent Lexus, no issues.
i have one of these scuffs above the instrument cowl, on the matte black surface. I tried Meguiar's detailing wipes, but they had no effect. However, over the summer the scuff has become much less obvious. There is a thread in the Highlander forum suggesting heat may help, and my black dashboard gets smoking hot on hot sunny days.
I would guess that the dash was already like that when you got it... someone just used a product to cover up as much of the blemishes that they could. By the way, 303 would probably work, but only to cover it up. The damage will come back once it wears off. Using the interior cleaner is likely just removing the cover-up that was applied to the already damaged area.
Whatever the case though, it really doesnt matter. I read through the link as well. The response of the dealer to, "just dont clean it"... That is a joke. The manual says to wipe with a soft cloth. Those blemishes are not your fault. That is a defect in materials and is unacceptable. Contact lexus corporate. Send them the photos. Advise them that you need THEM to approve the repair or replacent of the dash.
I don'y think that is a defect in the material. It is a scratch/scuff. Something rubbed against the dash and scuffed it. Also, using a microfiber too aggressively can burnish the non-reflective coating and can leave an uneven appearance. I suggest using a 100% cotton cloth for both cleaning and buffing. Be gentle. Now to hide that scuff you are going to need something that leaves a coating. Preferably a coating that is not overly glossy or shiny to cause glare. I'd start with Meguiar's Quik Interior Detailer and if that fails, move on to try Meguiar's Natural Shine. There is no real home remedy for this so you will be retreating this for as long as you own the car unless you tale it to a local leather/vinyl specialist. Whatever you do, don't use anything abrasive like a magic eraser.
I hear what you're saying, and I understand that it didnt come that way... It has been scratched or scuffed. I just think that is a defect in materials if it scuffs that easily. It should be able to stand up to a microfiber cloth and more without being damaged. I feel that doesn't meet the bare minimum quality a consumer expects in a car if it can be damaged that easily. I don't care if its a $20k Kia or a $60k Lexus, that just doesn't seem right to me.
I hear what you're saying, and I understand that it didnt come that way... It has been scratched or scuffed. I just think that is a defect in materials if it scuffs that easily. It should be able to stand up to a microfiber cloth and more without being damaged. I feel that doesn't meet the bare minimum quality a consumer expects in a car if it can be damaged that easily. I don't care if its a $20k Kia or a $60k Lexus, that just doesn't seem right to me.
I would agree and on that part of the dash, if you just run your finger over it it leaves a mark. Conversely, if you do that on the drivers side, it does not leave a mark. There is some type of defect in the durability of the material.
The car cant be so delicate that it cannot be wiped and I haven't used anything outside of the regular/ high end car products I have used on past vehicles.
Possible Leather/ Dash Defect
