Hello all, me and my wife have been looking into purchasing a Crossfire. Every one that we have looked at have had the same issue, the black part of the center console has bits of coating flakinig off. Sort of a rubbery film, easliy scratched off with your finger. I am sure it has to do with the intense AZ heat. I am sure it could all be removed with a miracle sponge, it seems to be just plastic underneath. I am a little concerned that if I start where it will end, seems like only the sides of the console up to where it meets that dash and glove box have this treatement. Anyone had a similar problem?

 

Welcome. I have never heard of that problem. What color is underneath? Some other here have had their consoles paited to match their car color. So repainting the black is an option.

 

It is black on the sides. I searched the interior forum and found another member that had this issue and the dealer replaced it. The warranty would be expired on this car so I would rather not pay for a complete replacement, just want to have an idea if it is safe to remove the film. Underneath it is black textured plastic, same as the dash. No idea why they would coated it to begin with, unless it is to prevent fading which is my guess.

 

I think it was used to give the feeling of leather or vinyl instead of the hard plastic. I have this issue by the E-brake handle. I also have had this issue on my door handle pull on my VW Jetta. If it a used surface (door handle) or rubbed by the seats(sides of the console or scratched by finger nails previous owner in my case) it will eventually come off.

 

if it makes you feel any better its the same problem that the SLK guys have to. i have a slk32 and it happened on mine

 

Thanks! Seems pretty safe to just go ahead and remove it all, you can tell it is plastic so it may as well feel like plastic.

 

I wouldn't recommend removing it.. that's the paint that's peeling off.. it'll be ugly and sticky if you take it all off..

Dealer SHOULD replace it under warranty.

 

I'm having the same problem. I just noticed it today ...UGH! Used 2004 Crossfire Coupe, with 14,000 miles. Now I'm starting to notice all these little annoying issues. Got a 90 day full warranty from the Dealer, and paid an additional $1000 for a bumper to bumper, warranty thru a 3rd party. However, I don't think my Dealer is gonna cover this issue.

 

Im guessing this maybe the same type of film used to coat a lot of the VW's plastic interior parts over he last few years which looked great when new then slowly but surely went to $hit, my new 07 is always garaged and underneath a car cover when I take it out, so lets see what happens,

 

Yep, I've been puzzled seeing this stuff used on certain German-made car interiors for many years! I think it is supposed to reduce light reflection, and help dampen sound as well. The stuff just feels wrong in so many ways, and it may even be a sales tool to help prompt MB drivers to trade in after a few years, rather than be embarrassed by the unsightly "peeling crud" disease!

 

Saw a convertible MB 230, the platform for our car the interior (a lot due to being convertible and not taken care of) was real hard, but, I did notice that this plastic film had flaked allover the interior, I will say that never happened in my alfas and miatas, but those were obviously completely different cars. I was amazed also at the similarity between the mb and ours interior console.

 

I think I'm going to look for Suede sheet material, and try to cut out patterns to cver the bad parts. Right now the only place I'm seeing it, is on the drivers side along the center console. It may be from my legs rubbing on it....