Cleaning 458 guage rubber housing area?

In general I always try to start with a damp cloth and only move to something else unless that doesn’t work or to condition leather to keep it from drying out

 

You mention the base of the Cluster Instrument housing as being rubber. It feels like that famous Ferrari Soft Touch mess. Are you sure? Asking as I am having the Sticky's removed, the Instr. Cluster replaced by Carbon Fiber. I surely hope the base is rubber.

 

Are you talking about this part.
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It’s the soft touch paint that fails, it’s not a rubber part. Some think it’s cleaners or oils off your skin from touching but I think it just chemically breaks down with age no matter. See the pic that is the back side of the cluster surround, probably never touched by hands since built and it’s just as sticky as the front.
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You can replace, or send it to one of the sticky repair places discussed here, or just clean the sticky off like I did and respray. There are lots of discussions on the forum. One topic you will see are theories in how to make the sticky go away by applying some magical formula, but in reality you just have to live with it or take the soft touch material off.

 

I cleaned my “starting to get stuck buttons” with Swissvax leather cleaner. It’s made to remove oils and grime form leather before treating. It seams to have taken the stick away after a few cleans with the soft touch still in place.

I noticed this first with my Cali T when I used the same cloth to clean the car steering wheel and cleaned the indicator switches. They were less stick after a day or so. Seems to have a reaction.

I used it on my 458 now and seems to have done the same preserve the soft touch.

I know Ferrari has a foam cleaner that helps save the soft touch and remove the stick feeling.


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Don't waste your time or $ on the expensive Ferrari stuff solution to rectify their lack of concern nor the little time they expend regarding why this chemical Rx happens on your very expensive beautiful car. They have neglected their product since the time of the 348in this area. Only solution is remove,repair & forget!
Do not let anyone Clean your Interior,Dealership or other with some sort of Antiviral Covid disinfectant or you will be Sorry! Any viral particles related to Covid are dead within 1/2 min. with exposure to sunlight.
Dr F

 

Hello,

What year model is your car? I have a 2015 458 Italia and the dash binnacle is not covered with the soft touch finish.

I wonder if Ferrari changed the binnacle material at some point during the production life of the model? Parts of the lower dash do have the soft touch material... Luckily, no sticky goo as yet.

My 458 is garaged in a HVAC controlled car park at 74degrees, hopefully that will lengthen the service life of the soft touch material? Fingers crossed!!!

Cheers!