XC60 Glaring mistake

[bobuilt]

I took delivery of a 2011my XC60 D5 SE Premium on Friday and have already noticed a major design flaw with the aluminium effect trim around the centre consul. Every time there is the slightest hint of sun, the glare from the top of the trim is so bad, it completely blinds the radio and phone display rendering it unusable. It is so bad I am going to have to stick a piece of black tape over the trim just so I can see it. Is anyone else having the same issue?
The XC replaces a V70 I had for 3 years, so far it appears to have been a good choice, it has its first real run tomorrow, a 250miles round trip, so I'll see how I feel after that.

[robg]

abit of dirt / tarnish it will be fine in a month i am sure! fingers crossed.

[Vecais]

I haven't noticed the problem. I wear polaroids in bright sunshine. Perhaps these dull the glare?

[Daleman]

I was hoping my choice of classic wood trim for the centre consol will alleviate the in your face brightness and reflective qualities of the standard aluminium trim.

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by bobuilt

I took delivery of a 2011my XC60 D5 SE Premium on Friday and have already noticed a major design flaw with the aluminium effect trim around the centre consul. Every time there is the slightest hint of sun, the glare from the top of the trim is so bad, it completely blinds the radio and phone display rendering it unusable. It is so bad I am going to have to stick a piece of black tape over the trim just so I can see it. Is anyone else having the same issue?
The XC replaces a V70 I had for 3 years, so far it appears to have been a good choice, it has its first real run tomorrow, a 250miles round trip, so I'll see how I feel after that.

I wonder if you have a sunroof fitted to your car? This is certainly not an issue that I have had in the 9 months of ownership (no sunroof).

I do have an issue in that at certain angles the sun reflects from the instrument cowl making it impossible to see through the windscreen screen. I solved this issue in the same way that I did on my v70 and v40 - a bit of black cloth laid over the instrument cowl when required, works 100% of the time (I sew a bit of non-slip onto the back which holds it firmly in place)

[nosmoking]

bobuilt:
Never noticed this until I read your post, now I see it all the time! Thanks a heap!! (tbh, only just started driving in bright sunshine...)

Daleman:
Perhaps it's different on MY11, but on MY10 that strip is still aluminium effect even with classic wood trim.

[wimorrison]

Originally Posted by nosmoking

bobuilt:
Never noticed this until I read your post, now I see it all the time! Thanks a heap!! (tbh, only just started driving in bright sunshine...)

Daleman:
Perhaps it's different on MY11, but on MY10 that strip is still aluminium effect even with classic wood trim.

Solid alumimium on an MY10 205 SE Lux Premium with nordic wood

[Daleman]

Originally Posted by nosmoking

bobuilt:
Never noticed this until I read your post, now I see it all the time! Thanks a heap!! (tbh, only just started driving in bright sunshine...)

Daleman:
Perhaps it's different on MY11, but on MY10 that strip is still aluminium effect even with classic wood trim.

Oh dear ,i had best get my sunglasses on then !

[r-designbob]

]'m hoping this won't be a problem on the R Design as it's more a Matt (striped) Ally, plus I've ordered a sunroof.

[Daleman]

Originally Posted by r-designbob

]'m hoping this won't be a problem on the R Design as it's more a Matt (striped) Ally, plus I've ordered a sunroof.

My previous car had a sunroof and I nearly always ended up wearing a baseball cap to keep the sun out of my eyes in certain directions because it shone down at an angle into the cab more often than not. I am not sure about this reflection problem in the XC60 if it is the alloy surround to the center console we will all potentially have the problem in the right conditions but if it is the flat aluminum face of the center console then the wood fronted consoles should be ok to a degree and probably the R Design as it has a matt finish .More clarification is required on exactly what area is reflecting .