458 - How difficult is it to remove all of the sticky buttons? | FerrariChat

458 How difficult is it to remove all of the sticky buttons?

Discussion in '458 Italia/488/F8' started by ekosan, Oct 27, 2020.

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  1. ekosan

    ekosan Karting

    Apr 25, 2006
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    #1 ekosan, Oct 27, 2020
    Last edited: Oct 27, 2020
    Preface: I knew about sticky button issues with older cars like 360, 430, etc; however, when I was in the process of ordering the F8, I asked about that and the sales person said, "no...it's not an issue anymore." I might have even asked that when pivoting to the 458 Speciale.

    Prior to purchasing the car, I saw pics of the HVAC and it looked pretty rough. I asked about it, and the sales person said, "Usually when it's an issue, the black comes off on your finger when you touch it..." Needless to say, almost everything, with the exception of the controls on the headliner, is tacky and some is downright worn off (the reverse button is mostly shiney plastic with a ring of goo on the circumference). The service manager said Ferrari's stance is to clean it to where it gets stripped off or I can send it to stickyrx. Estimated labor is 10 hrs at $265/hr to remove and reinstall the pieces (not including stickyrx's fees which appears to be around $8k...I guess one benefit to the Speciale is no glovebox controls or seat controls, eh?). My car will be up on a lift, sleeping away for the winter, so I'm inclined to remove the pieces myself and send it off. For those who have done it, are the whole modules sent (entire HVAC unit, steering wheel, etc)? Any links to writeups? I'm not shy about working on my cars and have replaced suspensions, clutches, set the timing on my M3, etc.

    TIA!
    Chester
     
  2. FFan5

    FFan5 Formula Junior

    Jul 7, 2018
    533
    I plan on doing the same this winter, but going with the middle road. I bet I can find someone to come to my house and do this for way less than $265/hr. The only question for me is Carplastix or StickyRX. For the life of me, I cannot understand StickyRx's prices. $400 for just the three PS/Auto/R buttons? But then $800 for the entire HVAC? I mean, $400 for three buttons (with lasering) seems outrageous, but the entire HVAC for $800 seems like a fair deal. Weird.
     
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  3. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    Well, I had the same issue. I just cleaned the the buttons with alcohol just to remove any surface dirt and I used a flat water based varnish
    brushed on and after 5 or six coats, no more sticky buttons and there is no residue or filminess.
    It worked for me and I am very happy with the result.
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  4. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    I forgot to mention that this can be obtained through Amazon.
     
  5. ekosan

    ekosan Karting

    Apr 25, 2006
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    Yeah, I found the pricing a bit strange. Of course, I had the price sheet for a 458, so things might be different for the Speciale. For example, the fuel door and trunk switches: $400. Maybe it's different on the 458, but they are two afterthought buttons thrown onto the door card. I've seen their videos and it seems that each item is carefully placed in a vise instead of a jig being used to hold it in the same position every time to speed things along. I have a thought of seeing how difficult it would be to have all of these control surfaces machined out of billet and anodized. It wouldn't cost nearly as much as the price to refinish.


     
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  6. VelocityTexas

    VelocityTexas Formula Junior
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    Do you have any before and after photos?
     
  7. DoubleD33

    DoubleD33 F1 Rookie
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    The price of Sticky RX correlates to their work.

    I can’t speak for Sticky No More quality but I can say they have my directions on 458 button removal on their website. (Willingly gave it to them)

    I am anal and went with Rx.
     
  8. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    I do not have any before photos. The buttons were just sticky. They didn't look bad at all.
    So I am not sure whether this fix is good if you happen to be dealing with surface disintegration or what appears to be pitting in the rubber coating.
    I will take some pictures and post them.
    Again, I was not dealing with a really serious issue. It was just a matter of the buttons being irritatingly sticky.
     
  9. VelocityTexas

    VelocityTexas Formula Junior
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    Oct 21, 2019
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    My 458 has very, very little stickiness to the soft parts. I am on Maserati forums and folks are always looking for solutions there as well and wanted to know if this really works. If it does I'd share there too.
     
  10. MalibuGuy

    MalibuGuy F1 Veteran

    Sep 18, 2007
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    I think if they are just sticky maybe just live with it.
    When they become opaque, then I’d use one the cleaning methods which will remove the surface coating but not disturb the letters or icons.
     
  11. ferrariblue

    ferrariblue Formula Junior

    Jun 12, 2007
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    I have a '14 458 Italia and recently began treating my buttons to prevent a sticky type deterioration. Some surfaces were starting to get slightly "tacky". What I experimented as far as a solution with was very simple, it was Mineral Oil. I simply rubbed in the mineral oil with the tip of my fore finger. It returned the rubber to its normal feeling. Do not use cotton, etc. It worked well and the rubber absorbs the oil. It seems to act as a preservative to the rubber. I'm still testing / monitoring the effects and I'm still pleased. It's been about 4 to 5 months with good results.
     
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  12. Chadly

    Chadly Formula Junior

    Mar 21, 2010
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    I just removed the coating completely myself on my F12. Buttons are shiny now but thank God I bought my car to drive it and not show it. I think climate has a huge impact on how bad they get. My 458 is 4 years older with triple the miles and it has zero sticky button issues but it spends most of its life in Philadelphia. My F12 "which the dealer sold me as a CPO" showed up with horrendous buttons. They were sticky and looked terrible. I guess they CPO the cars even with jacked buttons. The car spent its entire life in Florida. If you are patient and careful I think one could easily remove everything with out beating up the buttons like I did. I was in a hurry to get it off so I could enjoy the car.
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  13. kiryu

    kiryu Formula Junior

    Mar 28, 2016
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    90% of the buttons and bezels are easy to remove. The toughest is the center menu button for the radio, whole dash has to come out. HVAC isnt as bad as I recall, just the glove box area and lower carpets. I removed them all myself a couple of years ago. If you work on clutches etc. it's easy for you. My handiness doesnt go beyond brake flush and oil changes
     
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  14. HBCarman

    HBCarman Rookie

    Dec 22, 2021
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    Dear Michaelo, has your varnish solution held up well since you posted this? I am asking as I plan to do the same. Thanks.
     
  15. craze

    craze Formula 3

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    Is it hot where you live??
     
  16. HBCarman

    HBCarman Rookie

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    Thanks Ferrariblue and craze. I just purchased a 2013. It’s life has been in AZ and Northern Cal. I am in So Cal. Mine are very dry slightly tacky. My impression is it will go bad almost anywhere over time. It’s not that hot here and most Ferraris seem to develop the problem that I see around here. I think heat just brings it faster maybe. Maybe I am wrong? I was thinking Michaelo’s solution would be a good way to seal off this material and preserve for the long run before it gets bad. Your solution seems good as well. It certainly seems easiest.
     
  17. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    There has been no deterioration at all.
    I live in Tennessee, so the summers get pretty warm. However, I have a climate controlled garage. I also put at least ten thin coats of varnish over a few days so I am not expecting to have any problems for a while.
    I would thoroughly clean the surfaces before you apply the varnish. That process has been discussed in these forums and there seems to be a few product options.
    I would add that when you put the varnish on, the surface will look slightly different, which doesn’t ruin the look in my opinion.
    The inherent tackiness of the surface will be gone. For me, having to remove all of the pieces to be refinished seems too much trouble. But the company that does this is pretty incredible.
     
  18. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    If you do that plan on keeping it a long time, the next owner will basically have to get all new buttons, that varnish cannot be removed ever without destroying the parts. Spend the money and do it right, it is a Ferrari, not a Toyota....
     
  19. veelangs

    veelangs Formula Junior

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    didn't realize i was responding to a sticky button sponsor, I'll respectfully withdraw my comments
     
  20. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    It's still seems to be a Ferrari with the varnish. (-:
     
  21. 285ferrari

    285ferrari Two Time F1 World Champ
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    Still also would be a Ferrari if you smeared doodoo on them, but hey whatever....
     
  22. SDSferrari

    SDSferrari Karting

    Apr 2, 2014
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    I'm not sure I would be taking your approach if I was trying to grow my business with all the prospective customers on here. Just sayin'.
     
  23. michaelo

    michaelo Formula Junior
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    I did exactly that last week and I intend to wash it in urine this week.
    By the way, I am kidding around. And as far as keeping the car, that is what I intend to do.
    If I decide to sell, I am sure there would be a discussion about this with the prospective buyer. But I would wait until I had
    that conversation to see if the buyer cared that much about preserving the original feel of the buttons or not.
    We aren't talking about a rare, multi-million dollar historic car that needs to be preserved perfectly in order to get top dollar.
    If and when I am ready to fix this problem, you will definitely get my business since you do stellar work.
    It is truly first rate!!!!!
     
  24. Borrow’d Mine

    Borrow’d Mine Formula Junior
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    When you remove with alcohol, are you removing the entire soft coating? Seems to me you'd have to. Does it leave a shiny button that looks ok but isn't sticky?
     
  25. up4speed

    up4speed F1 Rookie
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    I found a solution to sticky buttons on a Mercedes forum (apparently, they also suffer the sticky button issue).
    I have not tried it, but figured I would pass it along, because they were saying that it works better than alcohol, and also doesn't take off white lettering as easily as alcohol. It's called Dunlop 65, it is intended to clean guitar fret boards. Like I said, I never tried it, but I would love to hear the results from someone who is willing to experiment, lol

    https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0002OOMW6/?coliid=I3DSSAGJGK3CN0&colid=S41A7QZI04LD&psc=1&ref_=lv_ov_lig_dp_it
     
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