Leather and hand sanitiser

[salema44]

Hi I have a fabulous green GLA absolutley love it. It has 4th year Mecedes warranty. The difficulty is that when i visit the Mercedes main dealer they dont want to know me and just say its not a warrantee problem.
So what is wrong ? The leather steering wheel is comming apart! Mercedes waranty manger says ( who wont speak to me directly) its your after shave you will have to but a new steering whell @ £2400!!!!!!!! Took it to a lether specialist who says that some times the the artifical leather on the steering wheel is attacked by hand sanitiser!!! Doesnt attack my skin but false leather yes! Stain gaurd says that one part looks as this could be the answer but 80% of the damge is a manufacturing fault where it is just peeling off.

Two things 1 do not use anyform of hand sanitiser on a Mercedes. And 2 how do i get to talk to some body at the main dealers only allowed to see the girl on the desk. Who just stone walls me......

 

[Blobcat]

Hello and welcome,

The steering wheel is most likely leather (although not 100% sure on GLA's) - I'd take it into the dealership and ask them to look at it and repair it under warranty. If you don't get anywhere with them then getting it recovered will be much cheaper than a new wheel from Mercedes.

I've never damaged a Mercedes wheel and I've been using alcohol hand sanitiser for the last ~20 months - including on the wheel (mine is real leather)

 

[Craiglxviii]

I regularly use alcohol- based sanitiser to clean the steering wheel on my cars, never had a problem.

 

[Ron240]

It is well documented that alcohol based sanitiser is not good for leather surfaces on car interiors.
For this reason I have specifically told my dealer during this pandemic situation not to use any sanitiser on the interior of my car.

Coronavirus cleanliness could be damaging your steering wheel

This video demonstrates the negative effects petrolium and alcohol-based products like hand sanitizer can have on automotive leather.

uk.motor1.com

Toyota San Luis Obispo

Toyota San Luis Obispo

www.toyota-slo.com

 

[KennyN]

If this is the correct wheel then buy it and take it to a decent MB Independent garage and have them swap it over , should cost no more than one hour labour.

Mercedes Benz C Class W205, GLA, GLC, CLA AMG Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifts | eBay

<p>Mercedes Benz C Class W205, GLA, CLA AMG Line Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifts. </p><p> </p><p>The steering wheel is NEW. </p><br /><p>Next day delivery. </p>

www.ebay.co.uk

Wheel £200 , fitting £100 - just saved you £2100.

K

 

[rorywquin]

Hi I have a fabulous green GLA absolutley love it. It has 4th year Mecedes warranty. The difficulty is that when i visit the Mercedes main dealer they dont want to know me and just say its not a warrantee problem.
So what is wrong ? The leather steering wheel is comming apart! Mercedes waranty manger says ( who wont speak to me directly) its your after shave you will have to but a new steering whell @ £2400!!!!!!!! Took it to a lether specialist who says that some times the the artifical leather on the steering wheel is attacked by hand sanitiser!!! Doesnt attack my skin but false leather yes! Stain gaurd says that one part looks as this could be the answer but 80% of the damge is a manufacturing fault where it is just peeling off.

Two things 1 do not use anyform of hand sanitiser on a Mercedes. And 2 how do i get to talk to some body at the main dealers only allowed to see the girl on the desk. Who just stone walls me......

Contact MB-UK customer service. They are very responsive.

 

[salema44]

If this is the correct wheel then buy it and take it to a decent MB Independent garage and have them swap it over , should cost no more than one hour labour.

Mercedes Benz C Class W205, GLA, GLC, CLA AMG Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifts | eBay

<p>Mercedes Benz C Class W205, GLA, CLA AMG Line Steering Wheel with Paddle Shifts. </p><p> </p><p>The steering wheel is NEW. </p><br /><p>Next day delivery. </p>

www.ebay.co.uk

Wheel £200 , fitting £100 - just saved you £2100.

K

Thank you for your replys. Definitely will take up KennyN well done you. And thank you
Still hacked off by the main dealers attitude.
Also be very careful what yo do with your Mercedes steering wheel. Its not designed to be Handled

 

[mioba]

To ruin a sterting wheel with hand sanitizer your hands me full off it to the extent it drips on the wheel.
I have a bottle of spray stoff in the car and use as soon as i get in the car.
Its evaporated off in a few seconds.
Is the stuff you use pure or does ir contain some other addidtives that are causing the problem.

 

[rayhennig]

I regularly treat me steering wheel - and hands in the same operation - with Nivea cream.

Both hands and wheel seem to appreciate this!

R

 

[salema44]

UPDATE ON MY STEERING WHEEL.

Took the car to STAIN GUARD. Brilliant repair invisible and the wheel is back to normal. Well done stone guard! (£130)
It does beg a couple of comments:
1. Mercedes warranty - useless dont rely on it for piece of mind
2. Main dealer attitude - comments like - "We dont do repairs! Only replacements!" Have you thought about a steering wheel cover?
3. Will only use independant Mercedes repair shops from here on.
4 Want to get imeadiate attention at Mercedes? Park as close to the showroom - Lift the bonnet and stand their reading the handbook.

Many thanks for your help and advice

 

[Timeandleisure]

I’m going to try 4!