Fizzy drink on BMW idrive console

Shoza · 28 Dec 2018 at 16:02

Wife dropped a fizzy drink on the centre console (with the dial near the handbrake) and whilst it all seems to be working the controls are now.. sticky!

Any thoughts on how to clean this up?

Thanks

Housey · 28 Dec 2018 at 16:03

Was it red or white fizzy?

Oh wait, that's not going to work is it. Autoglym glass cleaner, works on everything ever.

Dis86 · 28 Dec 2018 at 16:03

New wife.

Damp microfiber cloth.

Shoza · 28 Dec 2018 at 16:32

Problem is it's underneath the controls and they don't look obvious to remove - are they?

Scania · 28 Dec 2018 at 16:41

Shoza said:
Problem is it's underneath the controls and they don't look obvious to remove - are they?

Quick google return....

https://bmwi.bimmerpost.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1266881

That’s for an i3 but I’m sure you can find the relevant information for whatever model yours is.

That part is shared on the f01 and f10 and probably others.

What would worry me is how much has got inside, it may work for now but sticky liquid, time and dust will eventually bork it guaranteed.

Phemo · 28 Dec 2018 at 17:04

Not too bad to remove it, at least on my F30. Pull the trim up then unplug the cable and it’s 3 screws to undo the entire controller.

When I spilt Pepsi Max all over my Mondeo’s heated seat controls it started doing some weird things like unresponsive buttons and flickering lights. I sprayed a whole load of contact cleaner into it which did at least stop it sticking and made the passenger side work again. In your situation I’d use some contact cleaner, it won’t harm the electronics and it evaporates quickly so get some and spray away

Worst case is you’ll need a new iDrive controller but a used one from eBay isn't too expensive really.

Mark1989 · 28 Dec 2018 at 17:28

New car, blame wife if you spend extra

snapdragon69 · 28 Dec 2018 at 18:24

When I did this on my Audi, I stripped down and washed under the hot tap and then flushed with isopropyl alcohol from CPC to remove the water. Coke is bad so hurry up if it was that due to the phosphoric acid in it it can dissolve sensitive electronics tracks etc...
https://cpc.farnell.com/pro-power-chemicals/ppc103/ipa-solvent-400ml-aerosol/dp/SA01884?st=isopropyl alcohol

Nasher · 28 Dec 2018 at 18:33

Foam cleaner the crap out of it. People use it for cleaning all kinds of IT stuff.

Did it get deep inside the console itself though? Because that might stink when it goes rotten.

IAmATeaf · 29 Dec 2018 at 18:43

Surely you’d have to remove the controller and take it apart and clean it properly, just spraying stuff at it/into it won’t clean it will it?

Shoza · 5 Jan 2019 at 16:42

Update:

Bought WD Contact Cleaner which I sprayed all around the console + used a nozzle to spray into in through the gaps and it’s worked wonders. Completely back to normal, no stickiness and all working perfectly so good call on that stuff!