C30 Trim : C30 '09 Gear Stick Detail metal type?

[oneilldom]

Hi guys, bit of a random one today. On my c30 the gear stick is part leather part metal. The metal bit displays the numbers and positions of the gears.

Does anybody know what type of metal this is??

Like this one:
http://performancedrive.com.au/wp-co...gear-shift.jpg

[paddyred]

I believe its aluminium as far as I know. I have not seen one rubbed through before so I don't think its a sprayed piece of cheapo stuff.

[oneilldom]

Originally Posted by paddyred

I believe its aluminium as far as I know. I have not seen one rubbed through before so I don't think its a sprayed piece of cheapo stuff.

Mine has become pretty pitted and rubbed and so may replace.

My reason for asking is I have bit of an allergy to nickel, and my skin has become irritated in the centre palm area I often leave resting on this. However it also gets pretty bad from the goalkeeper gloves I wear. There is significant irritation on my left hand and almost none on my right and I am wondering if this metal cover is some sort of Alu-Nickel alloy or something...

[paddyred]

I thought you where going to ask if you could polish it or something! In that case it might be worth contacting Volvo UK and explaining the issue. It is most definitely an aluminium alloy of some sort as pretty much nothing is pure ally. If it gets bad you could always look at getting some two-pack lacquer and lacquering the whole metal face. You could give your old one a good clean and lacquer it as a test to see if the irritation stops. You would have to build up the lacquer in the lettering first though to keep it all level.