Hi everyone. I recently purchased an '09 IS350 here in socal (black int.) and noticed a 6-7 inch scuff-like horizontal line across the driver's side dash. I also found it on three other random IS's I checked in parking lots/dealerships, so this may be a factory issue I'm guessing. (checked on a 2009 is250, 2006 is350, 2008 is250 -- did not find it on 5 other 09's checked) It is usually visible if you park under a flourescent light roughly 6 or more feet above the car (i.e. dealership lights) or if you use a flourescent flashlight and hold it slightly above the windshield indoors. When you look at it at an angle through the windshield leaning towards the drivers seat standing next to the side view mirror, it can be seen clearly. It is roughly the thickness of a wedding ring band and it runs across the dash about 6-7 inches long. You can also see it under sunlight when the sun is at an 70 degree angle above the car, otherwise you won't see it at all which is the strangest thing about it. Any ideas on what it is & how to get rid of it? I have searched the boards & have not found any info regarding this...Please check out my pix. Thanks.


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Could be the weak point in the dash panel for the airbag, i can't tell where on the dash it is though.

If you're sitting in the driver's seat, it's directly above the center of the instrument panel ending slightly to the right of it. (it's at the base where the dash curves upward toward the driver).

Do you think it's an imperfection in the dash vinyl material or an actual scuff?

As I mentioned in my post the line was nearly the same in the few cars i've seen it on.

approx area in photo is between the dots. (not my car in the picture, though)


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Hmm, definitely doesn't sound like the airbag marks, as those would be found on the passenger's side.

I would ask the dealer what's up. They might replace the dash for you if that is indeed a defect...

My guess is its a scuff made when removing some sort of protective material put on the dash from the factory, and it very commonly scuffs which is why you see it in many cars...weird...

So do you think it might possibly be adhesive residue embedded in the dash after the plastic protective material was removed (sort of like when you remove adhesive stickers from Cd's or other products...) or an actual scuff? Thanks.

Could be either. Sometimes when that black material gets scuffed it stays scuffed. What have you tried to use to remove it?

What you see in the photos is the after using water and a sponge sparingly, simple green wipes & Meguiars interior detail spray treatment applied with a sponge. So basically minimal if any improvement...

Hello,

the mark could a problem in the mold. I worked the molds for about 10 years, if a mold is not repaired correctly it can leave this kind of mark. The mold may have had some weld repair and it wasn't "color matched" properly. Could have been a problem with the "grain" in the mold. Looks like the mold had a bad "color match" and tried the cover it up when they repaired the grain. I"m a welder with over 30 years experience and seen this a lot. Hope it's just a scuf.

Tim

Thanks Tim... Sounds like a definite possibility.

Unfortunately, I have not found out for sure what it is, or if it can be corrected.

I have informed the dealer & they have not helped out in any way...

The fact that you state you saw this identical mark in identical places tells me it's not a "random" scuff. Like SW said, it could be caused by someone doing the "same thing" to each car...

Either way, you gotta figure out how to remove it.

Can you tell if it's the type of scuff that removed/defected the material in that area? Or is it just the color that's removed along the line? You might be able to have the leather guys from lexus just spray some dye in that area and blend to get rid of it... But if material is removed, you'll still see it...

The dealer should do something about it though, if you got it like that in the first place. I wouldn't live with that, especially if i didn't cause it.

Ask if they can have their leather/vinyl guy take a look at it. They wouldn't refuse that... If at that point he can't fix it, then tell the dealer to replace it.

There may be no way to remove it. I have a couple scuffs on my dashboard caused by people crossing their legs and bumping the dash with their shoes that are irremovable. (why do people do that, has it ever occurred to you to cross your legs in a car?)

The dye is the best bet probably but you want someone who knows for sure how to do it, like cduluk said the dealer is worth asking as are local detailers. I have been meaning to do that myself and have never gotten around to it...

Here in RI the leather guy the lexus dealer uses is the same leather guy every other dealer uses and most of the auto body shops here too. They've got SO much experience...

Upon closer scrutiny, it does not look like a physical scuff, more like the paint is not matching in the area in the photo. Also as SW suggested, I looked into the plastic protective possibility, and was told by one dealer that that is not an area that had one.

At this point, I've visited another dealer since mine was not so cooperative. They suggested a dye specialist, but I think the risk at making it look worse than it is is too great to take a chance on something that cannot be seen at all times. (during bright sunlight you can't see it, and I don't think you want to see my face when and if they f*** it up) The dealer manager did not know what it was however, and was also surprised when we walked out onto the lot and found another car with the same issue.

I also wonder if any work is done to the dash though, successful or not by a third-party, would that make the Lexus warranty void? I'm guessing yes.

So this puts me in a crappy situation, do I take the chance to have it painted by a third party, or do I take the chance on a new dash under warranty with the possibility of that not working out either. (new noise rattles, not aligning correctly, etc., let alone the abuse to the leather & other parts of the car by the mechanics) As you can tell I do not trust the dealer service guys one bit and the car is too new for this kind of overhaul at this point. (my bad for not discovering it at delivery)

I was looking for a non-abrasive, minimal type fix with over-the-counter sprays...i guess an easy fix that I can do myself.

Thanks for your ideas, and don't get me wrong, I am *BLEEP*ed that this was overlooked by lexus on a brand new car and "they should do something about it", but I don't also want to make a decision I could regret.

If the dealer does it...it won't void the warranty...

Have the dealer hire their leather guy to try to dye it. If the results aren't 100% up to your standards, tell them to replace the dash.

Like sw said, anything the dealer does is covered.

Absolutely, once you take matters into your own hands and try and fix it you remove any leverage you can use against the dealer to make it right.