fingerprint like smudges on nav screen...

MisterM3 · 12-20-2011, 08:08 AM

so a few weeks back i took my car into a shop to get my front bumper repainted. when i got my car back i noticed marks on my screen. didnt think to much about it cause they look like fingerprints, so i left it unitl i cleaned my interior. today i tried cleaning it off, but i cant. i even opened up my nav to clean the inside plastic , but still no luck.

its very annoying looking at my screen cause it looks "foggy" at certain spots. its like fingerprint smudges. anyone else experienced this before and how did you fix it? what can cause this too?

i brought it back to the shop and they have no clue not to mention its been a few weeks, so i have no case with them.

DivideBYZero · 12-20-2011, 08:24 AM

Isopropyl alcohol.

rdollie · 12-20-2011, 10:51 AM

Are you sure? I haven't checked but is the screen glass (doubtful) or some sort of plastic/eisenglass? If the latter it may very well have a special anti-glare coating and alcohol would only be advised if you're planning to strip ALL the coating off (I learned this the hard way with a marine chartplotter unit on our boat.)

Quote:

Originally Posted by DivideBYZero

Isopropyl alcohol.

DivideBYZero · 12-20-2011, 03:55 PM

It'll be fine.

Space Ghost · 12-21-2011, 08:42 AM

Plexus works great.

KIS · 12-21-2011, 10:11 AM

I had a similar problem with a plastic cover on a stereo unit. I used a 2 step process from Meguiars. A plastic cleaner followed by their plastic polish, both from their Pro line.

MisterM3 · 12-21-2011, 01:10 PM

thanks for your input guys, but i what about the anti glare? when i took apart the plastic to clean the inside i noticed there are wires connected from the nav to the plastic screen.

M3PO · 12-21-2011, 03:21 PM

Any anti-glare coating would be on the inside correct? If it is on the inside, I would use some Meguiars Plastx to polish out the marks because my guess is that they are collections of fine scratches.

MisterM3 · 12-21-2011, 04:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by M3PO

Any anti-glare coating would be on the inside correct? If it is on the inside, I would use some Meguiars Plastx to polish out the marks because my guess is that they are collections of fine scratches.

makes sense that the anti glare would be on the inside. i will try the plastic polish process. hope it works...

rdollie · 12-21-2011, 07:53 PM

That's counter-intuitive to me. I would expect an anti-glare coating to be on the outside like it is on my sunglasses, marine navi, etc. Not saying it couldn't be done by putting it inside but the physics are slightly more involved dealing with glass refraction that would happen before the inner substrate layer would be hit with photons. Not my speciality but I'd be surprised to hear the coating is on the inside for our cars.

Quote:

Originally Posted by MisterM3

makes sense that the anti glare would be on the inside. i will try the plastic polish process. hope it works...

MisterM3 · 12-21-2011, 08:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdollie

That's counter-intuitive to me. I would expect an anti-glare coating to be on the outside like it is on my sunglasses, marine navi, etc. Not saying it couldn't be done by putting it inside but the physics are slightly more involved dealing with glass refraction that would happen before the inner substrate layer would be hit with photons. Not my speciality but I'd be surprised to hear the coating is on the inside for our cars.

damn, you make sense too lol. well, im gonna try it still

M3PO · 12-21-2011, 08:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by rdollie

That's counter-intuitive to me. I would expect an anti-glare coating to be on the outside like it is on my sunglasses, marine navi, etc. Not saying it couldn't be done by putting it inside but the physics are slightly more involved dealing with glass refraction that would happen before the inner substrate layer would be hit with photons. Not my speciality but I'd be surprised to hear the coating is on the inside for our cars.

I suppose that does make sense. What prompted me to suggest that is that I am familiar with the coating on the inside of plastic headlight lenses. I sort of assumed/asked/suggested that this would be the same to prevent damage to the coating.

OP, you said that there are wires connected to the plastic. What side are the connected to? Front or back? That should give you your answer I think.

MisterM3 · 12-21-2011, 09:02 PM

the front plastic comes apart from the actual nav screen. the wire is connected from the bottom on the inside.

12-20-2011, 08:08 AM	#1
MisterM3 not so newbie 9 Rep 207 Posts Drives: VTEC to V6 to V8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	so a few weeks back i took my car into a shop to get my front bumper repainted. when i got my car back i noticed marks on my screen. didnt think to much about it cause they look like fingerprints, so i left it unitl i cleaned my interior. today i tried cleaning it off, but i cant. i even opened up my nav to clean the inside plastic , but still no luck. its very annoying looking at my screen cause it looks "foggy" at certain spots. its like fingerprint smudges. anyone else experienced this before and how did you fix it? what can cause this too? i brought it back to the shop and they have no clue not to mention its been a few weeks, so i have no case with them. Last edited by MisterM3; 12-20-2011 at 08:15 AM..
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12-20-2011, 08:24 AM	#2
DivideBYZero Never underestimate the Home-Bowl 484 Rep 821 Posts Drives: F87 M2<E92 M3<E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00] 2016 BMW M235i [0.00] 2012 BMW 120d M Spo ... [0.00] 2010 BMW M3 - SOLD [10.00] 2002 BMW Z3 2.2i Sport [0.00] 2001 BMW M3 - SOLD [9.00]	Isopropyl alcohol.
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12-20-2011, 03:55 PM	#4
DivideBYZero Never underestimate the Home-Bowl 484 Rep 821 Posts Drives: F87 M2<E92 M3<E46 M3 Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2017 BMW M2 [0.00] 2016 BMW M235i [0.00] 2012 BMW 120d M Spo ... [0.00] 2010 BMW M3 - SOLD [10.00] 2002 BMW Z3 2.2i Sport [0.00] 2001 BMW M3 - SOLD [9.00]	It'll be fine.
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12-21-2011, 08:42 AM	#5
Space Ghost Captain 11 Rep 619 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Join Date: Aug 2008 Location: USA-PA iTrader: (5)	Plexus works great. __________________ 2008 E92 M3, ESS VT-1, AA Full Exhaust, Volk TE-37, PSS10, ST BBK, ARKYM Motorsport Spliter, Vorsteiner Diffuser, BMW Edition Grill/Gill's, BMW Performance Spoiler, AUTOcoture Blacked Out Headlights, LCI Tail lights, Vorsteiner Carbon Fiber Center Dash Insert, Ultimate Racing Pedals (Because Race Car), AA SSK, Speed Cloth.
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12-21-2011, 10:11 AM	#6
KIS Lieutenant 39 Rep 543 Posts Drives: 2015 Jaguar F Type R Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Houston, Texas iTrader: (0)	I had a similar problem with a plastic cover on a stereo unit. I used a 2 step process from Meguiars. A plastic cleaner followed by their plastic polish, both from their Pro line.
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12-21-2011, 01:10 PM	#7
MisterM3 not so newbie 9 Rep 207 Posts Drives: VTEC to V6 to V8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	thanks for your input guys, but i what about the anti glare? when i took apart the plastic to clean the inside i noticed there are wires connected from the nav to the plastic screen.
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12-21-2011, 03:21 PM	#8
M3PO Colonel 90 Rep 2,792 Posts Drives: '08 IB E92 Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: OC iTrader: (7)	Any anti-glare coating would be on the inside correct? If it is on the inside, I would use some Meguiars Plastx to polish out the marks because my guess is that they are collections of fine scratches.
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12-21-2011, 09:02 PM	#13
MisterM3 not so newbie 9 Rep 207 Posts Drives: VTEC to V6 to V8 Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Toronto iTrader: (1)	the front plastic comes apart from the actual nav screen. the wire is connected from the bottom on the inside.
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