F30POST
F30POST
2012-2015 BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum
BMW Garage BMW Meets Register Search Today's Posts Mark Forums Read
BMW 3-Series and 4-Series Forum (F30 / F32) | F30POST > 2012-2019 BMW 3 and 4-Series Forums > General F30 Sedan / F32 Coupe / F36 Gran Coupe Forum > Touch buttons deteriorating
GetBMWParts
Post Reply
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread
      12-28-2012, 02:14 AM   #1
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Touch buttons deteriorating

I'm probably being anal Like my thread on the drooping interior vision mirror

http://www.f30post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=780869

BUT has anyone noticed whether their programmable dash buttons are deteriorating like mine.

I have noticed that the more highly used ones are losing their painted finish. The numeral in the middle is transparent so they can be backlighted, but the surrounding grey/black finish is starting to display a fine crack which is allowing more of the backlighting to show through. I must it admit its only just noticable but it is there. It will probably get worse through further use.
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 02:30 AM   #2
zeezz
Second Lieutenant
10
Rep
227
Posts

Drives: F30 328i Sport Line
Join Date: Jul 2011
Location: Bay Area, CA

iTrader: (0)

photo? seems hard to believe this would start happening within the first year.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 03:35 AM   #3
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

As requested

Name:  IMG_5327_1.jpg
Views: 7196
Size:  263.6 KB
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 04:47 AM   #4
NYmsportF30
Private
31
Rep
91
Posts

Drives: 335i m sport estroil blue
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: New York

iTrader: (0)

Oh wow I see what you mean, I'm surprised that would happen so soon or at all for that matter. Everyone's hands and natural oils are different and cause different wearing. I'm pretty sure you can get the pieces replaced, I know back on my family's 2000 5er the center console buttons would pop off or break rather easy and we were able to get replacements.
__________________
2013 335i ///M-Sport, Estoril Blue II, Alum Hex trim with Estoril accent, Black leatherette, Navigation system, Sport automatic with shift paddles, Heated front seats, Bluetooth, rearview camera with park distance control.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 04:48 AM   #5
RWFG
New Member
Germany
3
Rep
17
Posts

Drives: 328i M Sport Auto
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: NRW, Germany

iTrader: (0)

I have that too, on num key "7", and thought that I am the only one.

Seems to be a guarantee issue then.
__________________
You can never go plenty fast enough!
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 05:35 AM   #6
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by NYmsportF30 View Post
Oh wow I see what you mean, I'm surprised that would happen so soon or at all for that matter. Everyone's hands and natural oils are different and cause different wearing. I'm pretty sure you can get the pieces replaced, I know back on my family's 2000 5er the center console buttons would pop off or break rather easy and we were able to get replacements.
It's good to hear the buttons can be replaced. I'll wait to my first service to have the problem rectified. The buttons function perfectly well.

I think my skin oils are quite normal and I don't use any cosmetic hand creams or moisturisers. Nothing else I touch has undergone the same changes
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 08:23 AM   #7
ES_TRADER
Colonel
343
Rep
2,928
Posts

Drives: 328i, 335i, M3, 535i, X5, 36M
Join Date: Oct 2010
Location: OC

iTrader: (3)

Garage List
2014 Ford Raptor  [0.00]
2012 328i E92  [10.00]
2013 X5  [0.00]
2013 335i F30  [8.00]
1990 Toyota Previa  [0.00]
1997 E36 M3  [10.00]
2011 E92 M3  [0.00]
2011 535i  [0.00]
Do you wear hand lotion? Some have reported this happening on e9xs as well when wearing lotion.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 08:26 AM   #8
Elk
Major
32
Rep
1,285
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: *

iTrader: (0)

The buttons appear cracked. This is very odd as a wear pattern.

I hope getting new buttons is a trivial process for you.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 08:55 AM   #9
wdlv
Lieutenant
wdlv's Avatar
United_States
46
Rep
420
Posts

Drives: 2019 X5 40i M Sport
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: Atlanta, GA

iTrader: (0)

Strange, doesn't look cracked, just as though the paint is wearing thin with oil or petroleum. Also, perhaps oil got behind the buttons?

Try a little degreaser in a small section and see what happens.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 09:16 AM   #10
howiegu
Member
howiegu's Avatar
No_Country
55
Rep
249
Posts

Drives: 22%E2%80%99 M440
Join Date: Oct 2012
Location: New England

iTrader: (0)

That's odd...clip your nails often?-
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 09:20 AM   #11
BavarianFanatic
Too much is never enough
United_States
655
Rep
3,079
Posts

Drives: Too Many
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: SE PA

iTrader: (0)

Do you use your fingertips or nails when you depress the buttons?

I've seen this before in a few other cars. The early Cadillac CTS was notorious for this. They always replaced them under warranty. I imagine you'll get BMW to do the same.

DON'T try to use a degreaser or anything else on them. You'll just wipe out the rest of the paint and for sure be denied any sort of warranty coverage.

What's your build date?
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 09:40 AM   #12
shivaswrath
Brigadier General
shivaswrath's Avatar
United_States
649
Rep
4,323
Posts

Drives: 2012 335i
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Lost in NJ

iTrader: (3)

I hardly use mine, but that's disconcerting for sure...
__________________
CURRENT: 2017 RS3 (miss you guys)
SOLD: 2012 335i Mineral Gray

M Performance Exhaust/Brakes/Suspension/LSD|Bav Stage 1/AMP||ER CP/IC/DP/OC | Dinan CAI/N55 PWG BIG TURBO|BMWF30.com
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 09:45 AM   #13
JoeyO
Captain
United_States
202
Rep
814
Posts

Drives: silver car
Join Date: Jan 2012
Location: USA

iTrader: (0)

That looks like something went wrong with the injection mold process. Not necessarily a wear problem. Maybe some usage is bringing the problem to light but those parts were never made right from the start. Maybe it was a bad batch?
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 10:00 AM   #14
The X Men
Colonel
99
Rep
2,323
Posts

Drives: 2013 X3 35i
Join Date: Mar 2012
Location: MA

iTrader: (0)

Sure looks like they use the wrong type of paint for that application or BMW didnt use enough coats. I hope they can replace just the buttons and not the whole unit.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 10:29 AM   #15
jzcrna
Captain
165
Rep
975
Posts

Drives: 2019 M2 Competition
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: NC

iTrader: (0)

That's terrible!! I miss the rubberish material of the E90s. It seemed much more durable. IMHO
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 10:45 AM   #16
tdizzle
Colonel
United_States
107
Rep
1,997
Posts

Drives: 2017 F80 ZCP
Join Date: Aug 2012
Location: Memphis

iTrader: (0)

I had that happen on my truck, but it was after about 4 years. Most definitely it was from wear. The paint they used was quite thin, I guess they wanted the numbers to illuminate but after awhile the most often touched areas wore down and the light would show through.

Yours is a bit different than my truck though. It's hard to tell if the paint is wearing off or not in the picture. In any case, in my truck, they just replaced the whole unit (6 disk in dash cd changer/mp3) and didnt bother with the buttons. I was surprised, but I guess under warranty, that's how they do things at Ford. It was a 30min process, so I can't complain. Although, it did start to happen again right before I traded it in earlier this year for my car.
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 03:20 PM   #17
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by wdlv View Post
Strange, doesn't look cracked, just as though the paint is wearing thin with oil or petroleum. Also, perhaps oil got behind the buttons?

Try a little degreaser in a small section and see what happens.
Don't think this will work as the actual paint is missing
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 03:26 PM   #18
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by howiegu View Post
That's odd...clip your nails often?-
Do YOU think my nails are too long??
Attached Images
 
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 03:27 PM   #19
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by BavarianFanatic View Post
Do you use your fingertips or nails when you depress the buttons?

I've seen this before in a few other cars. The early Cadillac CTS was notorious for this. They always replaced them under warranty. I imagine you'll get BMW to do the same.

DON'T try to use a degreaser or anything else on them. You'll just wipe out the rest of the paint and for sure be denied any sort of warranty coverage.

What's your build date?
Fingertips. March 2012
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 03:33 PM   #20
Cyberdemon
Brigadier General
Cyberdemon's Avatar
1536
Rep
3,332
Posts

Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Long Island NY

iTrader: (3)

When you wash the car, do you ever use any kind of chemical or solvent while wiping down the dashboard? (Or if you have someone else wash the car, do you know what they use to spray their rags?)

That's not wearing thin from abrasion/normal rubbing (to witness that, look at a soft touch painted mouse or cell phone after a few years) it appears that some type of oil or residue has gotten under those keys via the open area (number) and started to seep behind which is causing the paint to shrink back.

Do you have a significant other, child, guest who ever wears any hand lotions?

Otherwise do you wipe the buttons down with any type of off the shelf cleaner when detailing the car?

Either of those would be my guest - I design products with soft touch paint and this is exactly the type of failure you see after exposure to any type of oleic acid or alcohol. I see you're in Australia too so the extreme heat the car may see may also be part of the issue.
__________________
Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP
Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 03:59 PM   #21
Bmwphile
First Lieutenant
Bmwphile's Avatar
Australia
148
Rep
379
Posts

Drives: 2020 G20 330i
Join Date: Apr 2012
Location: Melbourne

iTrader: (0)

Quote:
Originally Posted by Cyberdemon View Post
When you wash the car, do you ever use any kind of chemical or solvent while wiping down the dashboard? (Or if you have someone else wash the car, do you know what they use to spray their rags?)

That's not wearing thin from abrasion/normal rubbing (to witness that, look at a soft touch painted mouse or cell phone after a few years) it appears that some type of oil or residue has gotten under those keys via the open area (number) and started to seep behind which is causing the paint to shrink back.

Do you have a significant other, child, guest who ever wears any hand lotions?

Otherwise do you wipe the buttons down with any type of off the shelf cleaner when detailing the car?

Either of those would be my guest - I design products with soft touch paint and this is exactly the type of failure you see after exposure to any type of oleic acid or alcohol. I see you're in Australia too so the extreme heat the car may see may also be part of the issue.
Thanks for your comments, Cyberdemon.

No, I am the only one who touches the keys. I rarely wipe the keys. The only gentle wiping would be done with a soft (dry) microfibre cloth.

No alcohol used on my hands.

Could be related to the heat, but I don't think our climate would be any worse than in say southern California
__________________
BMWphile
2020 G20 330iM Sport (Tanzanite Blue), Visibility, Comfort, HK
2012 F30 328i Sportline (Mineral Grey)
Appreciate 0
      12-28-2012, 04:11 PM   #22
Cyberdemon
Brigadier General
Cyberdemon's Avatar
1536
Rep
3,332
Posts

Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp
Join Date: Jun 2012
Location: Long Island NY

iTrader: (3)

It's possible it was a crap formulation of the paint then...if it is then a lot of owners will have this issue then (or it could be due to a specific vendor/batch of parts)

Will have to wait and see, not sure if the dealer will be willing to do much since it's technically just cosmetic and that most likely requires replacing the entire unit.
__________________
Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP
Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
Appreciate 0
Post Reply

Bookmarks

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off



All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:26 PM.




f30post
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.11
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions Inc.
1Addicts.com, BIMMERPOST.com, E90Post.com, F30Post.com, M3Post.com, ZPost.com, 5Post.com, 6Post.com, 7Post.com, XBimmers.com logo and trademark are properties of BIMMERPOST