Automotive Interior Upkeep and Maintenance Advice

For me, the most important styling aspect of any car is the interior. As a kid, I would sit up late researching car interiors, looking over photographs and browsing the internet in search of "The perfect interior." Several cars ended up on my list of "Cars I'd like to own when I'm a grown-up". Lucky for me, I currently own number 1 on that list.

But as the years wear on, and my dream car reaches the 25 year mark, I have started to notice that certain materials on the interior are starting to degrade. This is typical with age and use and can't really be avoided, but certain practices and products can help stave off the degradation of your interior materials, and keep your car looking factory original, even decades later.

Harmful UV rays enter your car during the day

I will start this list with the single most important thing you can do to protect the interior of your vehicle. Unfortunately, in some cases, it can throw off the exterior appeal of your car, depending on color scheme, body shape, and your own personal preferences. Window tinting with proper materials and professional installation can vastly reduce the harmful UV rays entering your interior during the heat of the day. High temperature and UV bombardment is a leading cause of material decay in almost anything that stays in the sun for extended periods. Patio furniture, left untreated, will soon become sun-damaged and look awful. The same is happening to the interior every time your car is left out roasting in the sun in the mall parking lot, or at your work place or home, if you don't have a garage. Leather seats will dry and  crack, vinyl seats may discolor, and wood paneling or thin plastic trim pieces can crack and warp. Speak with a local window tint shop to find out what offers they have, and be sure to specify that your main concern is UV penetration, as different tinting materials protect at different levels. Also be sure to have your vehicle tinted within the legal limits of your jurisdiction - tinting too dark in some areas can earn you a ticket and keep your vehicle from passing an inspection.

I have seen dashboards damaged from chemicals designed to enhance their appearance

Another major point in maintaining your automobile interior is to not destroy it yourself. Certain harsh chemicals are often used to give interior plastics and leather surfaces a rich shine, but are often doing more harm than good. While these chemicals are advertised to keep your dashboard and console looking fresh and supple, be sure that they are not drying the material out underneath. I have seen many a dashboard damaged from the use of chemical products designed to enhance their appearance. Most of these products come in liquid or cloth wipe form, and are an easy solution for interior detailing after washing your car. However, as most DIY people know, the easy way is often the most difficult way to do something. Research any product you are considering before letting it touch your interior materials. Make sure that leather conditioners and chemical products are safe for leather and leatherette surfaces (And be sure you know what you have - some leatherette seats are hard to distinguish from the genuine article).

Extra weight can damage a tumbler over time

Lastly, it is very important to not inadvertently damage the interior just by being inside of it. I have seen instances where poorly tanned belts on a driver's trousers have stained the seats of a new Mercedes beyond repair. Also, sliding in and out of a seat is a surefire way to tear and distort the seating surface and break down the foam block inside. Keep keys to a minimum on your key ring, both to protect your dashboard from unnecessary scrapes and dings, and as a courtesy to your ignition tumbler - extra weight can damage a tumbler over time. If you or your passenger wear shoes with heels, you might consider getting a thick padded floor mat to protect the original carpet from digging (or, you can do as I do and keep a shoebox in the back seat to put your shoes in while driving.)

The interior is where you and your passengers will spend the most time enjoying your car. With a little bit of upkeep, and some practical upgrades, you can keep even an old car looking and feeling brand new.

Aftermarket radios all look the same

At this point, I would like to pose a question to the FCP Euro community. I believe that one of the most damaging things you can do to a finely designed and beautifully maintained interior is to install an unsightly, bright and otherwise ugly aftermarket radio unit. The vast majority of aftermarket radios look more or less the same - shiny bright plastic, chrome or grey trim, bright buttons that flash in a million colors, and a display that's louder than the speakers. Some vehicles actually have quite similar interiors, and so the contrast is not so stark. However, many older Volvos, Mercedes, BMWs, Jaguars, etc. look a bit strange with a radio that differs so greatly from the original design. Have you or someone you know come across an aftermarket radio that is more understated? One that might be a better fit for the factory interiors on most European luxury cars? If so, I'd love to hear from you, and I'm sure many other readers would as well! Please share your experience in the comments section below.

---

Written by :

Dan Bullmore

Dan Bullmore is a physicist and engineer from Houston, TX. Preferring the old to the new, Dan has owned many examples of Mercedes and Volvo vehicles and has devoted much of his time to maintaining and understanding them.