Gear Leather Cover has a sticky, thick, viscous liquid

[nv76]

Dear all

I have a BMW Z3 Roadster 1.9 which I bought almost 20 years ago. I adore this car thus why I still have not changed it.

Two months ago I replaced my gear stick/level.
The last week I noticed viscous liquid all over the leather cover and at the bottom of the gear knob. Attached pictures.
Not sure if it is the weather, being so hot, or something to do with the new gear stick/level or a combination of both.

Has anyone encountered something similar and if yes, what was it and how did you clear it?

Kind regards
Nana

 

[usernothername]

Hi, that's really odd. What do you mean by replaced the 'gear stick/level'? Did you replace the gear stick? Seems unusual to need to do this