Last updated: 15.09.2026

Damage to the paint coating on a plastic component of the centre tunnel in an Audi Q5. Cause: spilled car air freshener, which chemically damaged the original coating, causing it to lose its structure.

Damage to the paint coating on a plastic component of the centre tunnel in an Audi Q5

Problem

Damage to the paint coating on a plastic element of the centre tunnel in an Audi Q5. Cause: spilled car air freshener, which chemically destroyed the original coating, causing it to lose its structure.

Type of material

Soft-touch painted plastic – centre tunnel component in Audi Q5

Solutions applied

As part of the project, we carried out a comprehensive renovation of the damaged component. The process included:

  • removal of the entire centre tunnel from the interior of the vehicle,
  • chemical removal of the damaged paint coating,
  • thorough degreasing and preparation of the surface,
  • professional painting with chemical and UV-resistant paint,
  • application of a protective layer ensuring long-term durability,
  • assembly of the tunnel in accordance with factory tolerances.

The end result: the tunnel component looks like new, and the coating used is resistant to accidental spills of liquids and chemicals used in the car.

Customers also searched for this type of project by entering:

Audi Q5 centre tunnel renovation, plastic repair after car odour, Audi plastic component regeneration, Audi tunnel coating damage, soft-touch plastic renovation, damaged plastic repair Poznań, Audi Q5 interior regeneration.

Uszkodzenie powłoki lakierniczej na plastikowym elemencie w Audi Q5


Spilled air freshener chemically damaged the paint on my Audi Q5's centre tunnel - can that kind of chemical damage be fixed?

Yes, this is exactly the kind of damage we repair regularly. We chemically strip the damaged coating completely, thoroughly degrease and prepare the surface, then repaint with a chemical- and UV-resistant paint designed to withstand exactly this kind of accidental spill in the future.

What household or car products are most likely to damage soft-touch plastic like this?

Air fresheners, sunscreen, hand sanitiser, and some cleaning products are common culprits – their solvents attack the soft-touch coating and break down its structure, causing it to become sticky, discoloured, or flaking. Once that happens, the damage doesn’t reverse on its own and the panel needs a proper repaint.

Will the new coating on my Audi's centre tunnel be more resistant to spills than the original?

Yes. We use paint specifically chosen for chemical and UV resistance, applied with a protective top layer, so accidental spills of car-interior products are far less likely to cause the same damage again – though we’d still recommend wiping up spills promptly.

How much does it cost and how long does it take to repair chemical damage to a plastic interior component?

Time and cost depend on the size of the component and the extent of the chemical damage. The standard process includes removing the part from the vehicle, chemically stripping the damaged coating, degreasing, repainting, and applying a protective layer, followed by reassembly. We provide an exact quote individually after receiving photos of the damage.

Do you only repair this kind of chemical damage on Audi, or other brands too?

We repair chemically damaged soft-touch plastic on all brands, not just Audi – including BMW, Mercedes-Benz, Volkswagen, Volvo, and Porsche. The repair principle is the same regardless of brand: stripping the damaged coating and repainting with a chemical- and UV-resistant finish.