C230 Sport Coup

I should have said pre-facelifted coupe.

The lid on my center console broke as in the black plastic piece under it
that holds the latch mechanism in place seperated from the top.
Nothing a little glue probably won't fix, but I'm just trying to figure out how to get it out of the car.
There's no screws obvious to remove.
Anyone done this? I could glue it in the car, but man that's gonna stink, and
hard to really get a good look at it, clamp it, that sort of thing.
Here's a diagram from parts.com
Wow, only 250 for a new one....no thanks. We're looking at #17.



Here's a pic from the epc...there's a screw #200 but how to get to it?
Do I have to remove the vent ashtray assembly from the rear?
If so there's bound to be a trick to it. Interesting that it's all one assembly vs.
the fronts where you pop out the vents.

tommy

If you had searched, you would have found my most excellent writeup of switching over to the updated armrest (with even more excellent dark pics which don't show crap) that I did, which could have helped.

The rear of the lid is basically a piano hinge; you're right, no screws to worry about; just wedge a thin blade in the back and pop out (a putty knife or paint scraper would do well), like you're shucking an oyster.

The good news is that it's already broken, so if you do anything more, it's still broken.

C230 Sport Coup

What the shuck? Can you link me my blue NJ friend?
(You from Joisey, I'm from Joisey! Well not born there, but lived 7 years by the 'swhore' )

I don't get it. Piano hinge? Putty knife? Where? Huh?
I don't want to break it anymore.
The black plastic piece has only a few small contact points, don't need
to make it any worse. What are the 'shark gill' like slits in it for?

tommy

Hmmm, after a 2 second search, here's the thread in question.

https://mbworld.org/forums/c-class-w...r-armrest.html

C230 Sport Coup

Smarty Pants

Thanks.
That helps.
I might have been tearing the rear vent and ashtray out to get to it.

TALKIN-KRAUT

replaced alot of them covered in glue,epoxy,polymers,etc. it's good for a giggle but usually a waste. save up all the spare change usually spent on glue for the updated rest.

tommy

That's what I'm here for; it certainly isn't my mechanical skills.

C230 Sport Coup

Wow, your directions suck Tommy!
Well, from what I saw, you need to pry the trim for the rear vent back a bit, then you can access the parts that hold the armrest in.
It's got little to do with anything in the center, it's the downward facing teeth on each side that hold it in. I managed to break one of the teeth, and also somehow damaged the clip mechanism on the front, see pic.
So now, how do I fix the issue with the clipping mechanism in the front? It obviously had to be assembled, but trying to pull it the rest of the way apart it's only getting worse, I can't get it to go back together.
No, I won't be spending $250 to solve this.

FrankW

those two slot on the inside of the compartment or the outside? I'm lazy to do this since i have the sos wire and the stupid fan motor in there.


I still dunno if i should just get a new lid or re-cover it.

C230 Sport Coup

Well I got apart. I ALMOST (attempt 109.2) got it back together...the spring wants to pop out, as you can see in the photo, and damn, it flew out somewhere in my bedroom/office.
Sheeeet. I saw it roll on the floor and now it's gone....
(me crawling around looking under everything...) arrrg.

Whats the best type of epoxy or glue for this application?

tommy

Sorry, was on Cape Cod for a long birthday celebration. (# 46! )

Looks like my ability to write directions is slightly better than your ability to not f*ck up your armrest.

A strong two-part epoxy would probably work best, but i'd say that getting a salvaged one would be a better alternative assuming you can find one, of course.

C230 Sport Coup

The armrest latch is back together.
Finally on like try # 327.
Funny, you know people say, oh you KNOW how to work on cars?

Really, sometimes, it's just a matter of having the patience
to do something you know is possible,
but eludes you 300 tries until you finally get it.

Like trying to thread screw in a hard to reach place.
Try, drop, pick it up; Try, drop, pick it up; repeat X1000 as long as it takes.
Trying not to scream in anguish.
All the while, laying on your back, uncomfortable position until you finally get it.
Remembering how much it would cost for someone else to do it.
175 an hour? Well, that would be fine if they didn't inflate the hours
and wind up charging 500 or 1000 an hour to unsuspecting suckers.

The epoxy lays in wait, just haven't glued it yet.