BMW Blog

I have never applied any formula to my dash or any of my interior for that matter. I have always just wiped off dust with a moist rag. Recently I have been compelled to add a little shine to my dash and interior plastics.

So, my question is whether anyone on this board uses Armor All? I have heard from several people that Armor-All induces cracking and fading and should be avoided. This seems like a meritless claim in my opinion geven that they never provide facts to ever support this claim. Anyways, I would like to know what your opinion's are on the product and any other futher recommendations you might have for interior care products.
Thanks




i used to use armor-all on my f-250 and the dashboard never looked to pretty toward the end and it made the truck smell like ass (of course that may just be Ford engineering)...ne ways i use BLACK MAGIC on my dashboard and it stays fine for weeks, there is absolutely no fading...it also works great on cleaning the mudflaps,mirror covers, door handels, etc. (if u have the black plastic non-trd like myself).....i still do use the armor-all to clean the bed (i believe thats the only part of the truck it should be used for only because it's so cheap)
I use that armor all tire spray. Its got a thicker oily base to it and will not leave streaks, smells better too
Dash mats for the win!

Everything else that claims to moisturize the vinyl just seems to dry it out in the long run unless you ALWAYS use the stuff on it. Just cover the dash to keep the UV off of it.
I use the Black Magic Pro Shine Protectant too. I`ve tried different tire shine products thinking that being thicker they might work but nothing seems to hold a shine long on this stuff. I don`t know what it`s made out of but it`s not like the dashes and door panels of old.

After a short while it fades back to the same dull matte kind of finish you get w/the damp rag.

At least the Black Magic gives the dash and the tops of the door panels/glovebox etc. that dark black look and like tacoma88 said it works great on all the other parts + the bed & tailgate caps too.

If anybody has something better to use let me know.
Dash mats for the win!

Everything else that claims to moisturize the vinyl just seems to dry it out in the long run unless you ALWAYS use the stuff on it. Just cover the dash to keep the UV off of it.

Yeah, you`re right. You have to keep applying it to keep it looking good. Even more so with this material for some reason.

I`ve been thinking about that (the dash mat) but I love the look of the shiny black dash.
Where`d you get yours?
Got a pic?
I use that armor all tire spray. Its got a thicker oily base to it and will not leave streaks, smells better too

You use the tire spray for your interior?
Yeah, you`re right. You have to keep applying it to keep it looking good. Even more so with this material for some reason.

I`ve been thinking about that (the dash mat) but I love the look of the shiny black dash.
Where`d you get yours?
Got a pic?


I don't have one yet... (I don't even have the truck.) It's one of the first things I'm going to buy though. My mom got one from the dealer... I think it was like around 90 bucks. (they can be had for MUCH cheaper) It's almost the same color as the interior grey so it matches really well.
303 Aerospace (http://www.autogeek.net/303.html?gclid=CPiKzbXO2ZECFRciFQod6y4eeQ) protectant on the interior. Not greasy, and won't attract dust. You can also use 303 on tires, but on tires I prefer something with a little more shine, but not too much shine, like Adam's VRT (http://www.adamspolishes.com/p-101-vrt-vinyl-rubber-tire-dressing-12oz.aspx)
I just have to pipe in here. All the folks that have posted thus far live at or near sea level. You really do not have a problem with UV as compared to living at high elevation.

Modern vinyls, especially those that are designed for exposure to the sun all have UV stabilzers in them. I had a '92 Explorer that I never did anything to the dash aside from dust it or wash it with some mild soapy water. The dash was still fine when I got rid of it in '05. No cracks or noticeable fading.

I have all vinyl windows in my house and they are as good as the day they were installed and they have a lot more exposure to UV than the dash.

The glass on our trucks is a pretty efficient UV filter. Heat, on the otherhand, will kill the plastics more than anything else. Have you ever noticed the film that developes on the inside of the windows? It is something (not sure what, not a chemist) that basically cooks out of the plastics in the heat and gets deposited on the windows. Keeping a window cracked or using a sunscreen in the truck when you are parked will do more to help the dash than Armor-All or other solutions.

My 2 cents, for what it is worth.
^ Sounds Logical.

Using a windshield sun shade, and keeping your vehicle parked in a garage, when possible, is probably the best thing you can do for your vehicle.
I don't have one yet... (I don't even have the truck.) It's one of the first things I'm going to buy though. My mom got one from the dealer... I think it was like around 90 bucks. (they can be had for MUCH cheaper) It's almost the same color as the interior grey so it matches really well.

Sorry, don`t hang out regularly enough anymore to stay up on everyone. Good luck to ya getting your truck and I`m sure you`re going to have fun with it if you`re already hanging out here and you don`t even have it yet.

Just wondering because some mats look cool and some look like crap also some come down over the vents and some just cover the dash itself. I haven`t researched enough to know which are which. A lot of times there`s just a generic pic in the ad. Guess that`s why I haven`t gotten one yet.

Thanks for the tips PB & X2 on the sunshade/garage thing, it gets really hot here in the summer, the sunshade makes a huge difference and this is the first time ever I`ve had a garage to park in. I even put a 220 AC unit in it :D

hey, we`ve wondered about that film Chalkie, that does make sense.

Sometimes I just miss that old school vinyl shine.
PB mentioned 303 protectant, and it is a superior product but hard to find; I've always had to order it on the internet. Before I found 303, I used Armor all in all my cars/trucks for 30 years. The interior looks new when you trade in if you use it regularly (not that it adds that much value to a trade but it is nice to drive a new looking vehicle until you get a new one). I agree that keeping heat out of the vehicle is key also, and that is where weathertech window shades help out. Still an occasional (90 day) treatment with 303 or similar protectant will definitely keep your plastics looking new.
Another vote for 303 -- I've been using it for several years and am very pleased with the results. My local NAPA store always has it.
303 is great stuff. I use it on my dash too.