Sorry to hear about your instrument cover being scratched but thanks for the heads up. I had a few rain drops that had spotted mine and I was going to wipe with a microfiber cloth but fortunately read your post first. I ended up using a cloth I use to clean my sunglasses with a bit of cleaning fluid sprayed on the wipe - looks like it did the trick without scratching but put very little pressure on it while wiping. It is a pain when manufacturers use inferior products for something you look at regularly. Scratches would drive me nuts, but your right if you asked to get it replaced, something else would likely get mullered in the process.

 

Manufacturer might be constrained by EPA restrictions, clear plastics are difficult to formulate and remain glass clear. There are hard clear plastics, carbon based, poly carbonate for one, not very flexible, expensive, brittle in thin sheets. However, I can't see why it need to be thin where it is at, and would seem be easy to install in assembly process. It would take a mold to form it and tooling to make it...$$$

 

I noticed this as well it does have surface scratches easily when dusting. I was thinking about carefully sticking a layer of car wax on it... sounds silly but it should cover the hairline scratches and protect it from future ones. Since it’s on the inside out of the elements the wax should last a long time too.

 

THAT'S....pretty bad for microfiber use. NEVER had one that scratched this easily. Looks absolutely dreadful in the sunlight.

 

THAT'S....pretty bad for microfiber use. NEVER had one that scratched this easily. Looks like absolute shit in the sunlight. View attachment 288

HOLY *&$#!
If mine looked like that I would be taking it straight back to the dealer. Looks like someone wiped that with SAND! Plastic X works, I have used it on my helmet visor and it did a good job. I have no idea what results you would get with your dash though as the plastic used looks very soft. I would want to try something though - that looks like crap!

 

I use "3M clear plastic polish" to buff it out.

 

What kind of success have you had with that? I've read positive things about the Meguiar's Plastic X too but am too chicken to try it. Not looking to haze the entire plastic panel.

 

I hand buff it (instead using polisher because of limited working area) and it works well. It's always scary on the first try but I hate looking at the scratch everyday

 

I had a similar problem with my CX5 which I managed to polish out with plastic polish, although it was hard work and frightening at first. I have been extra careful with my CX30 as I suspected it would be just as easy to mark. This problem is not just Mazda's, a Nissan Qashqai I previously owned also had a soft plastic facia.

 

what about a screen protector film that is available for tablets and laptops - would that help?

Any product could be tested on a plastic pop bottle first to see if any scratching occurs.

 

The plastic used for pop bottles is not the same used for your instrument panel. The plastic used for your screen is soft because it does not reflect as bad as a harder plastic. There is a screen protector available for the cluster cover and is not to hard to apply as you m ight think, just make sure the screen is CLEAN before applying.

 

So....I was dusting my interior the other day and noticed that my plastic cover is already scratched to shit! Now I realize this plastic is made up of some of the softest plastic known to man, but this is a bit ridiculous. My guess is that some prep tech used the same dirty wet rag to wipe across the oh so delicate plastic as they used to wipe down the wheel wells for delivery. I'd have the dealer replace it, but then you run the risk of them damaging all the other things in the process. ?

Hi, I had the same issue with my CX-30 and a friend of mine had the same with his Mazda3. I'm going to the dealer tomorrow to complain about that. I think that Mazda Canada has to advise al the dealers ASAP. Very unpleasant to see those scratches all the time.

 

hi, I tried Novus 2 fine scratch plastic polish, which made the panel look worse. also tried a TPP silicone screen protector, but this was a mission to fit and bubbles everywhere. so now, I'm stuck without a solution like you and many other owners! mazda japan should take note of this or be made aware of the poor quality.........good luck to us all

 

Let me know what they say. I'm sure they'd swap it out under warranty but who knows how much would have to be taken apart.

 

Sure I will.

 

So....I was dusting my interior the other day and noticed that my plastic cover is already scratched to shit! Now I realize this plastic is made up of some of the softest plastic known to man, but this is a bit ridiculous. My guess is that some prep tech used the same dirty wet rag to wipe across the oh so delicate plastic as they used to wipe down the wheel wells for delivery. I'd have the dealer replace it, but then you run the risk of them damaging all the other things in the process. ?

Sure I will.

Finally, my dealer has ordered the polycarbonate lens cover and they will replace it !

 

That's fantastic. Let me know how it turns out please.

 

The replacement has been done and I'm totally satisfied now.

 

In my case there are no scratches but it was slightly dirty on delivery, at the bottom. I thought its just from dirty cloths ad would clean later not to touch with fingers. Now when i tried to clean with glass wet wipe it looks to be from the inside, so probably smb in factory spoiled it when installing.
I do not think I can somehow remove and clean it, also I am in a doubt if it worth it to ask dealer to disassemble whole dash for that - what if they damage anything else ?!

 

Any idea of what all they had to take apart to replace the plastic?

 

I'm wondering what a product like Plastx would help?

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I tried it and it did not help at all

So I tired this plastics cleaner which is available in stores like Canadian Tire or Amazon and it worked for me, compare yourself:
View attachment 469 View attachment 470

Unfortunately the marks that look like dirt appear to be not a dirt, i tired removing them with water, glass cleaners etc. and then this one I linked above.
Just a note, it worked but left really small hairline scratches that are visible from very close distance and under certain light conditions, yet that's ideal in comparison to what it was.

 

Why are you having people tear apart a dash? To replace something you can polish in 60 seconds.

 

My first thought when initially reading the OP, was to polish vs. replacing but the scratches appear to be substantial. I wouldn't trust someone from a dealership to attempt it and most people would not be comfortable attempting to do such by themselves on a new vehicle.

 

I had the same problem... Purchased plastic polish, took 60 seconds with a rag. Just like waxing a car very simple.

 

What was the plastic polish name please

 

I used the Plastx yesterday. Worked well. Need to touch up a few spots I missed. I was very careful doing it being the plastic is so soft to begin with.

I wonder how they replace it? I assume the dash has to be removed to some extent.

 

Fine polishing compounds for paint will work also. I use it on interior plastics, head lights, and tail lights.

 

So I tired this plastics cleaner which is available in stores like Canadian Tire or Amazon and it worked for me, compare yourself:

Unfortunately the marks that look like dirt appear to be not a dirt, i tired removing them with water, glass cleaners etc. and then this one I linked above.
Just a note, it worked but left really small hairline scratches that are visible from very close distance and under certain light conditions, yet that's ideal in comparison to what it was.

 

^ I had the same exact results. I'm happy with how it turned out. It removed 90% of the scratches, however there are very very small hairline scratches noticeable only under certain light and angles.

Still a significant improvement without having to remove the dash.

 

If you want to avoid schratches on instrument cluster and on piano black central console, you must ask at the Car Wash to clean the interior with vaacum cleaner ONLY, not to touch the center console and the instrument cluster. It takes five minutes to do this by yourself with a soft cloth or glasses cloth ( very gently ). My car is already 5 months at me and not scratches at all.
They are happy, I am happy.

 

I live in Switzerland and bought a CX-30 nine months ago. I am struggling with the same thing. I called my dealership and said this part could not be replaced, but I see through your experience that this is not true. I am really dissatisfied with the overall quality of the car's materials and finishes. They are really poor. I am now pushing to get the plastic cover changed. I cannot really stand it.

 

I live in Switzerland and bought a CX-30 nine months ago. I am struggling with the same thing. I called my dealership and said this part could not be replaced, but I see through your experience that this is not true. I am really dissatisfied with the overall quality of the car's materials and finishes. They are really shitty. I am now pushing to get the plastic cover changed. I cannot really stand it.

Hi. Yes, the dealer has change it but I still have the issue. Here is what Mazda answered me when I sent a complaint: We are sorry to hear of the issues you are facing with scratches on the plastic casing of your instrument cluster. This was caused by external factors and will not be covered by your 3-year Unlimited Kilometre warranty. These surfaces are very delicate and can scratch easily. You should use a clean fine cloth such as those used to clean eye glasses. We are unsure of how to go about removing those scratches. At your own risk, you can try using an interior detailer such as Meguiar’s Quik Detailer Interior Cleaner to see if it helps remedy the situation. Always when using a product you are unsure about, apply to a small section to see the results before applying to the full instrument cluster. We would suggest contacting a car detailing centre near you to see if they can provide solutions or products which may help with the scratches.

So, it looks like we will have to fix it using a light scraches remover. Not impressed.

 

I tried using meguires PlastX but it didn't really do much if anything maybe made it worse. I think there's such a high gloss finish on it and its a soft plastic so any tip of rubbing is leaving marks. I was only ever wiping with a thick pile clean microfibre too!

 

So...had mine replaced. Even the new one does not come crystal clear from the factory or wherever. I've simply learned to live with it. What I do now in an attempt to minimize the swirls is use only water and a lens cloth...that's it. As our Swiss friend pointed out, it's a very very shitty piece of material. It will literally scratch just by you sneezing on the thing. I've had cars that I've used gas station paper towels on to wipe clean the cluster that still be brand new YEARS later. No idea wth happened with this particular one.

 

Obviously, the Mazda employee responsible for the purchase of this part chose the supplier with the lowest price!

 

100% agree. We use all sorts of top notch glass on phones. Why not cars?