Cleaning The Buttons on Comand Nav?

joelreznick · 08-16-2007

Has anyone had any luck cleaning behind the buttons on a Comand Nav if they are sticky?

Seems like something(coke or other sticky beverage) was spilled from the cup holder down onto the Comand buttons. They are really sticky and have to be pushed really hard to unstick them each time I want to press one. Anyone had the problem and resolved it?

Thanks in advance for your help!

DansSlk · 08-17-2007

Ouch

Try some warm water on it you cant actually get it wet but just use enough water to get a cloth damp then try and clean it up.

Don't use any detergents or similar because it will ruin it.

You should probably be OK but if the coke or whatever has got behind the buttons then your going to need a new headunit.

Maybe you should avoid using the cupholder again in future since a headunit will cost you in excess of a grand.

**etyu** · 08-17-2007

You might try a damp (not soggy wet) baby toothbrush and gently scrub at the edges of the affected button(s) and wipe the bristles often unto a clean dry cloth/cotton towel to see if the bristles will pick up the sticky stuff. Have a small cup of clean water handy so you can dip the bristles and wipe to almost dry for the next try. Repeat cycle as often as needed. Work on one edge at a time. Let us know if you're successful.

Connecticut Roy · 08-19-2007

I would like to replace the cup holder as I will never use it. Is there a covered holder or anything else that I can put in its place?

**etyu** · 08-19-2007

There's a storage unit with a cover that lifts upward that can fit instead of the cupholder. It is from European spec R171.

Part No. A 171 680 00 52 9116 (last 4 digits is for black color).

This is quite small and is good for one pair of medium- to small-sized sunglasses or a radar/laser detector.

joelreznick · 08-22-2007

I tried the tooth brush, and it got some of the stuff out, but my fear of getting too much water into the head unit held me back. Then I tried a thick piece of paper, like a heavy card stock, cut it into little strips, applied a tiny bit of 409 to the corner, and while holding the button down squeezed the paper in between the button and the button hole. It seems to have worked. Lots of brown stuff was on the paper once I pulled it out, and I just used a new piece each time. Seems simple, but the buttons are better now!

DansSlk · 08-22-2007

Cool glad its sorted for you

**etyu** · 08-22-2007

Thanks joelreznick for that tip and technique.

08-16-2007	#1 (permalink)
joelreznick SLK World Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks, California Vehicle: 2005 SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 66 Ford Bronco, new 351W and almost everything else Posts: 10 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	Cleaning The Buttons on Comand Nav? Has anyone had any luck cleaning behind the buttons on a Comand Nav if they are sticky? Seems like something(coke or other sticky beverage) was spilled from the cup holder down onto the Comand buttons. They are really sticky and have to be pushed really hard to unstick them each time I want to press one. Anyone had the problem and resolved it? Thanks in advance for your help!

08-17-2007	#2 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Ouch Try some warm water on it you cant actually get it wet but just use enough water to get a cloth damp then try and clean it up. Don't use any detergents or similar because it will ruin it. You should probably be OK but if the coke or whatever has got behind the buttons then your going to need a new headunit. Maybe you should avoid using the cupholder again in future since a headunit will cost you in excess of a grand. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

08-17-2007	#3 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	You might try a damp (not soggy wet) baby toothbrush and gently scrub at the edges of the affected button(s) and wipe the bristles often unto a clean dry cloth/cotton towel to see if the bristles will pick up the sticky stuff. Have a small cup of clean water handy so you can dip the bristles and wipe to almost dry for the next try. Repeat cycle as often as needed. Work on one edge at a time. Let us know if you're successful. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

08-19-2007	#5 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	There's a storage unit with a cover that lifts upward that can fit instead of the cupholder. It is from European spec R171. Part No. A 171 680 00 52 9116 (last 4 digits is for black color). This is quite small and is good for one pair of medium- to small-sized sunglasses or a radar/laser detector. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

08-22-2007	#7 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,752 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 221 Times in 173 Posts	Cool glad its sorted for you __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

08-19-2007	#4 (permalink)
Connecticut Roy SLK World Member Join Date: Jan 2007 Location: Connecticut Vehicle: 2005 MB SLK 350 Everest Green Metallic (6 speed manual] Posts: 52 Country: Thanks: 2 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I would like to replace the cup holder as I will never use it. Is there a covered holder or anything else that I can put in its place?

08-22-2007	#6 (permalink)
joelreznick SLK World Member Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Thousand Oaks, California Vehicle: 2005 SLK55 AMG Other Toys: 66 Ford Bronco, new 351W and almost everything else Posts: 10 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 0 Times in 0 Posts	I tried the tooth brush, and it got some of the stuff out, but my fear of getting too much water into the head unit held me back. Then I tried a thick piece of paper, like a heavy card stock, cut it into little strips, applied a tiny bit of 409 to the corner, and while holding the button down squeezed the paper in between the button and the button hole. It seems to have worked. Lots of brown stuff was on the paper once I pulled it out, and I just used a new piece each time. Seems simple, but the buttons are better now!

08-22-2007	#8 (permalink)
etyu Founding Member #2 / Ambassador Of Good Will Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Orange County, CA Vehicle: 2008 SLK 55 Posts: 5,279 Country: Thanks: 376 Thanked 277 Times in 168 Posts	Thanks joelreznick for that tip and technique. __________________ *Eddy* To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Pewter/Beige, PIII package, Airscarf, Hands-Free Communication System, Lighting package Designo Black Leather Cover on e-brake handle, ( To view links or images in signatures your post count must be 5 or greater. You currently have 0 posts. Bill T), SmartTop v1.0, Kleyman 3BFM (NoRegret Custom), Green Air Filters, *Mod. R170 ant.*, EuroClear sidemarkers w/PIAA PlasmaIon lamps, chromed front & rear turn indicator lamps, PIAA SuperPlasmaGTX front parking lamps, bilateral rear fog lamps enabled.

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