Valet damaged steering

[paw777]

Happy hump day all!


My 63 reg SL350 came back from a valet today, and I was a little upset to see some damage to the steering wheel.


As per the pictures, some of the “Mercedes Benz” writing at the bottom has disappeared, and some of the foil type material is now lifting.


Bar changing this whole piece of trim, does anybody have any good ideas for a good fix?


Cheers!

 

[A.J.]

I am struggling to see what you mean. If there is a problem shouldn't you be talking to the Valeter anyway ?

 

[star]

Most of these trims are plastic with a semi chrome coating that can have a sharp edge. We see lots of door levers, gear levers and seat release handles have this coating peel off and leave a sharp edge. Can not think of an aesthetically pleasing fix.

 

[mioba]

Take it up with the valeters. But it’s your word against theirs and unless you took pics immediately before you took it in then you have no chance if they say it wasn’t them.

In the meantime look if the trim is separately available from merc and replaceable

 

[star]

With these sharp edges on the trim, a cloth could catch it and pull a bit off, poor design buy mercs and not valeters fault as you would expect to wipe a “chrome” trim without it falling apart.

 

[umblecumbuz]

As above. Maybe you've talked to the valeters already, but if not, they're your first port of call.
A lot depends on what chemical stew the valeters used on your 'chrome'.

 

[paw777]

Thanks all.

Spoken to the valeters who are claiming it was like that when it came in. A Merc main dealer also washed it the day before...I know for a fact that it was fine on the weekend just gone!

Do people think glueing it down would work as a temp fix? Another idea is some sort of nice badge / stick on?

Otherwise I shall get a cost from the dealer tomorrow. Cant seem to find the version with the MB writing anywhere online...

 

[ajlsl600]

With these sharp edges on the trim, a cloth could catch it and pull a bit off, poor design buy mercs and not valeters fault as you would expect to wipe a “chrome” trim without it falling apart.

Wots new,cheapest way to produce ?on a premium car ? Now op is on way to part dept.thats the design!!

 

[Craiglxviii]

Wots new,cheapest way to produce ?on a premium car ? Now op is on way to part dept.thats the design!!

Not quite.
MB wanted a way to maintain a “cool feel” to certain areas of the car- as in, it physically feeling cool to the touch. The easiest way to do that is to have the part made from some metal, either zamac or casting grade aluminium alloy. Neither are particularly cheap. Just metallising a plastic handle isn’t enough as it feels like plastic, so an alternative solution had to be found. The only way they could get the effect was by gluing a thick stainless foil to the plastic.
It’s that that hasn’t aged well.

 

[rorywquin]

I cannot see the issue either but assume it is similar to the issue some SL owners have on the "P" button in the centre console delaminating (veneer peeling).

There are "valeters" and "valeters" (detailers???). From the recently unemployed, "I'll throw some rags in the back of my van and start a car washing business", to guys (& gals) who have clean and neat gear are experienced and are proud of what they do. I'm also always suspicious about the quality of the products some of the detailers use.

I spent my early years on industrial construction (mining, petrochem etc) sites and one of our site managers (when hiring) always told the applicant tradesmen to have their tool boxes handy. The state of the tools in that box determined whether or not the tradie got the job. That stuck with me.....I took a look in the van of the "valeter / detailer" my son uses on his cars (E53 AMG & Q8) and there is no way I'd let him anywhere near my car.

 

[Craiglxviii]

I cannot see the issue either but assume it is similar to the issue some SL owners have on the "P" button in the centre console delaminating (veneer peeling).

There are "valeters" and "valeters" (detailers???). From the recently unemployed, "I'll throw some rags in the back of my van and start a car washing business", to guys (& gals) who have clean and neat gear are experienced and are proud of what they do. I'm also always suspicious about the quality of the products some of the detailers use.

I spent my early years on industrial construction (mining, petrochem etc) sites and one of our site managers (when hiring) always told the applicant tradesmen to have their tool boxes handy. The state of the tools in that box determined whether or not the tradie got the job. That stuck with me.....I took a look in the van of the "valeter / detailer" my son uses on his cars (E53 AMG & Q8) and there is no way I'd let him anywhere near my car.

Brought home to me one day, when I saw the “executive” car wash the owner of my employers used. Top quality, these guys, he told me. I took his car around for 0800 to find the guys jet washing their microfibres cloths ready for the day’s use- by laying them out on the concrete floor to be washed.

 

[John Laidlaw]

If it's bothering you that much it's a whole new piece of trim. Before putting it in I'd 'coat' it with a good quality ceramic to stop it happening again.

 

[A.J.]

Brought home to me one day, when I saw the “executive” car wash the owner of my employers used. Top quality, these guys, he told me. I took his car around for 0800 to find the guys jet washing their microfibres cloths ready for the day’s use- by laying them out on the concrete floor to be washed.

I've seen that a lot around here. Yet another reason why I would never use such places.

 

[ajlsl600]

On older cars it was often required to use a bit of brute, to remove some trim parts they were generally tough and fit for purpose today they seem to be,no are made of brittle cheap one use plastics. 2yr ago I stripped to the shell a w168 not breaking fasteners and trim became an obsession but I would say I failed 30% of the time push in at build grand get out after not so grand

On clean car ,would,nt know ..never been to anyone,any car wash do myself at home ,rinse really well,no dry stuff then start from top work way down ,different bucket,sponge for below doors ,wheels.
I use aquawax for after, I find it good enough for me,and not an all day job.

 

[Craiglxviii]

On older cars it was often required to use a bit of brute, to remove some trim parts they were generally tough and fit for purpose today they seem to be,no are made of brittle cheap one use plastics. 2yr ago I stripped to the shell a w168 not breaking fasteners and trim became an obsession but I would say I failed 30% of the time push in at build grand get out after not so grand

On clean car ,would,nt know ..never been to anyone,any car wash do myself at home ,rinse really well,no dry stuff then start from top work way down ,different bucket,sponge for below doors ,wheels.
I use aquawax for after, I find it good enough for me,and not an all day job.

Malcolm on here used to remove all his exterior trim and refit it each year with new clips to keep the “factory fresh” tightness...

 

[mioba]

Thanks all.

Spoken to the valeters who are claiming it was like that when it came in. A Merc main dealer also washed it the day before...I know for a fact that it was fine on the weekend just gone!

Do people think glueing it down would work as a temp fix? Another idea is some sort of nice badge / stick on?

Otherwise I shall get a cost from the dealer tomorrow. Cant seem to find the version with the MB writing anywhere online...

Anything other than the original will always be an eyesore and it will alwas annoy you.
Get a new one and spray with some type of laquer and be done with it.

Cant see it costing a mountain. SAKES

 

[LostKiwi]

Unless you can prove it wasn't like that before it went in you're on a hiding to nothing.

 

[ajlsl600]

Morale of story. Learn to do it yrself. Then only pay for YR mistakes..