So....I was dusting my interior the other day and noticed that my plastic cover is already scratched to bits! 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. ?
Instrument Cluster Plastic Lens Cover...
#LFGM!
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Great to hear they replaced yours. I am about to take delivery of CX-30 Certified Pre Own from Michigan tomorrow, was it covered under warranty? What did you say to them to get it covered. I notice some scratches as well on the lens, and I thought I could just clean it up with a cleaner. There is also a service bulletin issued on it also, not sure if that means they will replace it for free.
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Hi, What did you use to fix/polish yours?
I wish you the best of luck!
I was unlucky. My brand new car was delivered with:
1) Black dirt on the headliner
2) A dent in the passenger door (high on the door, nearly behind the review mirror). I didn't notice it at first because its white. I found it while detailing the car.
3) A scratched up instrument lens cover
4) 45 psi in the tires (which I didn't notice right away
Quality control isn't what it was back in the day! I don't know if these things happened in the plant (Mexico), on the ship, on the truck or at the dealer.
The two cars on the showroom floor have perfect lens covers (a CX-50 and a CX-90).
I can tell you this, that while this is a nice car, I was very unlucky. My 2008 Mazda 3 was made in Japan and was delivered in perfect "new" condition. Oh and that car was designed in such a way that the mid day sun doesn't hit the instruments (which are properly shaded).
I got the new lens cover from the dealership. It only manually wrapped up in a plastic bag easily 3 times the size, and in a box with bubble wrap. No 'shipping' protection film like you get on phones and TVs. I mean really? They know that they have a big problem with these covers but they don't spend a nickel protecting them for shipping. There were light scratches in a small area in the center left on the back of the lens cover. Yup, I didn't get one that wasn't messed up. I let it go because I figured I'd never see them. Wrong. I figured I wouldn't be able to see while looking through the PPF (and the plastic cover) that I had a company put on the front. Wrong. But, those light scratches are in a spot that's tough to notice. Anyway, I had the dealer install the lens cover. They said that it would take long because the tech has had A LOT of practice. I got the car back, drove it in the mid-day sun and there is some large-wide-odd mark in the center right. This mark is unacceptable. Why didn't the dealership back the car out of the shop and take a look. Total fail.
The idea that the tech has A LOT of experience and that the part is backordered everywhere should be a big hint to Mazda that they should use different material.
I asked for the old (original) one back so that I could try to polish out the scratches, but they said they could only give it back to me if Mazda didn't want them to send it back (warranty item). I understand that. I might get it in about a month.
My dad once told me... if you want something done right, you got to do it yourself. So, I ordered a new lens cover online. I had ordered and received a cheap plastic protection film from China (there are several links in this thread). When I get the new (well, hopefully new and not scratched) lens cover, I will disassemble the parts of the dashboard necessary to get the lens cover off in my garage.
Then I will have options:
1) Install the newly purchased lens cover. If you only use wet eyeglass polishing cloths (and dry ones but go very lightly), you really shouldn't scratch it.
2) Put the protection film piece that I got from China on the newly purchased lens cover and install it.
3) Use 'Novus 2 Fine Stratch Removal' on the back of the lens cover that's in the car now to try to remove the light scratches that it came (shipped) with. Look for the mark in the center right (the one that I couldn't see while throughly and repeatedly examining the part). See if that mark is on the back or if its a result of what ever "glue" that might have been used by the PPF company (if that's the case, remove the PPF), and install this part.
I've had to resort to putting a small black folded up hand towel on top the dashboard, extending it about 1.5 inches over the edge to block the sun from hitting the lens cover which is made out of the softest plastic around. Yup... its a brand new car!
I am also wondering what would happen if we applied the solution that we use to restore plastic headlights! Each year I have to restore the headlights of the 2008 Mazda 3 (the sun is tough on them over the years). I have used the Sylvania kit (the headlight coating is applied with a small cloth) and the Meguiar's kit (the headlight solution is sprayed on). The reason I wonder if this stuff can be used on the lens cover is because in the case of the headlights, you sand them with 2000 and/or 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper which makes them so cloudy that you can't really see into them. Then you apply the headlight solution and the headlights become crystal clear! Could it be a solution to restore a scratch up lens cover, I don't know.
I don't know when I'll get the new lens cover that I ordered... but I will post the results after I'm done.
I was unlucky. My brand new car was delivered with:
1) Black dirt on the headliner
2) A dent in the passenger door (high on the door, nearly behind the review mirror). I didn't notice it at first because its white. I found it while detailing the car.
3) A scratched up instrument lens cover
4) 45 psi in the tires (which I didn't notice right away
Quality control isn't what it was back in the day! I don't know if these things happened in the plant (Mexico), on the ship, on the truck or at the dealer.
The two cars on the showroom floor have perfect lens covers (a CX-50 and a CX-90).
I can tell you this, that while this is a nice car, I was very unlucky. My 2008 Mazda 3 was made in Japan and was delivered in perfect "new" condition. Oh and that car was designed in such a way that the mid day sun doesn't hit the instruments (which are properly shaded).
I got the new lens cover from the dealership. It only manually wrapped up in a plastic bag easily 3 times the size, and in a box with bubble wrap. No 'shipping' protection film like you get on phones and TVs. I mean really? They know that they have a big problem with these covers but they don't spend a nickel protecting them for shipping. There were light scratches in a small area in the center left on the back of the lens cover. Yup, I didn't get one that wasn't messed up. I let it go because I figured I'd never see them. Wrong. I figured I wouldn't be able to see while looking through the PPF (and the plastic cover) that I had a company put on the front. Wrong. But, those light scratches are in a spot that's tough to notice. Anyway, I had the dealer install the lens cover. They said that it would take long because the tech has had A LOT of practice. I got the car back, drove it in the mid-day sun and there is some large-wide-odd mark in the center right. This mark is unacceptable. Why didn't the dealership back the car out of the shop and take a look. Total fail.
The idea that the tech has A LOT of experience and that the part is backordered everywhere should be a big hint to Mazda that they should use different material.
I asked for the old (original) one back so that I could try to polish out the scratches, but they said they could only give it back to me if Mazda didn't want them to send it back (warranty item). I understand that. I might get it in about a month.
My dad once told me... if you want something done right, you got to do it yourself. So, I ordered a new lens cover online. I had ordered and received a cheap plastic protection film from China (there are several links in this thread). When I get the new (well, hopefully new and not scratched) lens cover, I will disassemble the parts of the dashboard necessary to get the lens cover off in my garage.
Then I will have options:
1) Install the newly purchased lens cover. If you only use wet eyeglass polishing cloths (and dry ones but go very lightly), you really shouldn't scratch it.
2) Put the protection film piece that I got from China on the newly purchased lens cover and install it.
3) Use 'Novus 2 Fine Stratch Removal' on the back of the lens cover that's in the car now to try to remove the light scratches that it came (shipped) with. Look for the mark in the center right (the one that I couldn't see while throughly and repeatedly examining the part). See if that mark is on the back or if its a result of what ever "glue" that might have been used by the PPF company (if that's the case, remove the PPF), and install this part.
I've had to resort to putting a small black folded up hand towel on top the dashboard, extending it about 1.5 inches over the edge to block the sun from hitting the lens cover which is made out of the softest plastic around. Yup... its a brand new car!
I am also wondering what would happen if we applied the solution that we use to restore plastic headlights! Each year I have to restore the headlights of the 2008 Mazda 3 (the sun is tough on them over the years). I have used the Sylvania kit (the headlight coating is applied with a small cloth) and the Meguiar's kit (the headlight solution is sprayed on). The reason I wonder if this stuff can be used on the lens cover is because in the case of the headlights, you sand them with 2000 and/or 1500 grit wet/dry sandpaper which makes them so cloudy that you can't really see into them. Then you apply the headlight solution and the headlights become crystal clear! Could it be a solution to restore a scratch up lens cover, I don't know.
I don't know when I'll get the new lens cover that I ordered... but I will post the results after I'm done.
It was covered under warranty.
2022 CX-30 in premium trim. Deep crystal blue mica, white interior.
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1,254 Posts
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...$$$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.
2022 CX-30 in premium trim. Deep crystal blue mica, white interior.
Joined
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1,254 Posts
Water bottle will not remain clear long, sunlight will deteriorate this light film plastic quickly, and heat will deform it easily. The bottles start out as a film and vacuum formed. A tennis court is easy on these bottles, throw it in the back of your pickup
.That is an awesome idea!!! A tint film with a very very low light rejection so that the instruments are still bright enough. It should hid some of the imperfections that are there for most of us and it would be easier to clean for sure.
When I've put screen protectors on iPhones and iPads (black backgrounds), with patience, they come out perfect. It never felt like there was any "glue" on the underside of the screen protectors.
I had the PPF people put PPF on the hood of my CX-30 and the lens cover. I was originally told that they would use a different PPF on the lens cover than on the hood. When I went back to them after the air bubbles got out of the film on the lens cover, I asked them about the marks in the lower right and lower left corners. They said it was the "glue". Huh, what "glue". I should have inquired further, but I didn't. I figured that those locations would be ok. They offered to redo it, but said that those marks may show up elsewhere. They examined it with a bright light and my black towel behind it and they didn't see "glue" marks in the middle (only the light scratches that the "new" part came with). So, why I have a mark (spot) in the middle right after installation, I just don't know.
I wonder if there is "glue" on the back of window tint? I had the front windows of the CX-30 tinted and there are no "glue" marks! I think they used about a 28% film (28% of the light gets through). I wonder if the tint guy has something significantly lighter. Maybe when I take out my lens cover that is installed in the CX-30 (and has the PPF on it) and when I get the new one, I'll go and ask the tint guy.
There certainly are adhesives on window tint and PPF....something's got to make it stick. Also, most modern cell phone screen protectors use adhesive.
Also, the tinted film would further reduce/diffuse the incoming sunlight glare that causes every imperfection on the virgin gauge cluster cover to stand out like a sore thumb. Think I will try this approach to my gauge cluster also, when I get some free time.
Also, I use a lightly-tinted specialty heat-rejection film (that allows 70% of light through) on my front windshield, & windshield is still perfectly clear & the film is basically unnoticeable/invisible, so it shouldn't affect cluster visibility/clarity at all (even if it was 50% light pass-through). I have seem some poor tint film jobs though in the past on windshield & windows where certain types of tint will somewhat distort your view through the glass & such.
So, be sure to use a quality film.I am no expert on window tint, but a quick Internet search seemed to indicate that most window tint is designed for glasses. Tinting plastic is different because plastic can have off-gases. There probably is tint that's made for plastic. I know that my prescription sunglasses (over priced plastic) have tint applied to them although I don't know if it's "painted on" or a film. We are going to have to ask a tint shop.
I've seen tinted protective films for plastic headlight housings (I have the clear version on my CX-30 headlights to prevent hazing & pitting from UV/Sun & road debris). I believe that sort of film is thicker & more durable than glass window films.
I recently got my used CX-30 and was absolutely shocked at the scratches in the insturment cluster lens, especially when a direct light source shine on it. Looks like my previous owner cleaned it with aluminum foil.
Tomorrow I will try to polish out the scratches with Novus 2. I will report on the result.
This Image is iluminated with a flashlight from the top. In real light conditions the scratches are not so bad as it looks here.
![Image]()
Tomorrow I will try to polish out the scratches with Novus 2. I will report on the result.
This Image is iluminated with a flashlight from the top. In real light conditions the scratches are not so bad as it looks here.
I have now achieved very satisfactory results with Novus 1 + 2. Under direct lighting with a workshop lamp, fine scratches are still visible, but no comparison to before.
Under realistic lighting conditions, no scratches now visible now. Not even in direct sunlight.
I am really very happy with the result.
I can therefore recommend the use of "Novus 1+2".
iluminated from top with a flashlight (like the picture before application of polish):
![Image]()
with Sunlight from side:
![Image]()
with sunlight from front:
![Image]()
Under realistic lighting conditions, no scratches now visible now. Not even in direct sunlight.
I am really very happy with the result.
I can therefore recommend the use of "Novus 1+2".
iluminated from top with a flashlight (like the picture before application of polish):
with Sunlight from side:
with sunlight from front:
I have the exact same thing that just happened today. It is horrible. I tried using Maguiar's Pastix and it still looks really bad if not worse. I can't seem to attach a photo here or I would show you.
I tried it and it did not help at all
This is how mine turned out after using Maguiar's Plastix
Please let me know if you got yours replaced. This is what mine looks like after trying to use Meguiar's Plastx.
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