Help with removing head unit from 06 clk 500
06-25-2009, 04:29 PM
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2006 CLK 500
Help with removing command unit from 06 clk 500
I am trying to remove my head unit from my 2006 CLK 500. The previous owner spilt soda or something sticky all over the head unit and some of the buttons are sticking. I can see how this happened considering the bad placement of the cup holder. I could really use some help.
1) What are the steps required from removing the head unit?
2) Do the telephone buttons pop out of the head unit?
Any help would be grateful. I have looked on the forums and have seen tons of pictures on people installing after-market radios.. but haven't see anything too detailed showing how the original head unit gets removed. I'm sorry in advance if I over-looked something.
Thanks
1) What are the steps required from removing the head unit?
2) Do the telephone buttons pop out of the head unit?
Any help would be grateful. I have looked on the forums and have seen tons of pictures on people installing after-market radios.. but haven't see anything too detailed showing how the original head unit gets removed. I'm sorry in advance if I over-looked something.
Thanks
Last edited by waterlover112; 06-26-2009 at 11:18 AM.
06-25-2009, 06:35 PM
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2004 CLK 240
Hi wl112
I think that it would help everybody if you used the right terminology. To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as the 'head unit'... I suspect you mean the center console.
Could you identify which panel you are referring to from the drawing below?
I think that it would help everybody if you used the right terminology. To the best of my knowledge, there is no such thing as the 'head unit'... I suspect you mean the center console.
Could you identify which panel you are referring to from the drawing below?
06-25-2009, 07:42 PM
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06-26-2009, 11:15 AM
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2006 CLK 500
Sorry. Yes I mean the Command Unit (I Guess that's the official MB term) or the radio 
It would be number 5 in your picture.
Thanks again
It would be number 5 in your picture.
Thanks again
06-26-2009, 03:57 PM
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2004 CLK 240
Hi wl112
The task looks like quite a lot of hassle, as to remove the existing comand/radio you have to remove the cover on the center console.
To get to the right screws there, you first have to remove the ashtray housing. And to achieve this, because the shift lever in Park is in the way, you must:
1) remove the gearshift lever cover.
2) move the shift lever from Park to Drive by means of the Shift Lock override - accessed via the center armrest.
I am willing to post up some relevant WIS pages, but to perfectly honest I'm not sure that I would do this job myself - especially messing with the shift lever. However if you have a manual gearbox, all you do is select second gear, which does make things simpler.
Let me know if you want to see the WIS drawings. There will be about 8 pages altogether.
The task looks like quite a lot of hassle, as to remove the existing comand/radio you have to remove the cover on the center console.
To get to the right screws there, you first have to remove the ashtray housing. And to achieve this, because the shift lever in Park is in the way, you must:
1) remove the gearshift lever cover.
2) move the shift lever from Park to Drive by means of the Shift Lock override - accessed via the center armrest.
I am willing to post up some relevant WIS pages, but to perfectly honest I'm not sure that I would do this job myself - especially messing with the shift lever. However if you have a manual gearbox, all you do is select second gear, which does make things simpler.
Let me know if you want to see the WIS drawings. There will be about 8 pages altogether.
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06-26-2009, 04:09 PM
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2004 CLK 240
06-27-2009, 04:07 PM
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2004 CLK 240
OK - here goes for the 'mechanical' part of the job - not for the faint-hearted 
note: I am assuming no major design changes occurred after this WIS instruction in 2004.
The diagrams are not in job order. My understanding is that to get access to the hidden bolts shown in 1, you have to perform 6,5,4,3,2 in that order.
1. remove/install radio. AR82.60-P-7502 QA. (images 1 & 2)
2. remove/install upper control panel control unit. AR54.21-P-1262 Q (images 3 & 4)
3. remove/install push button control unit. AR83.40-P-6350 QA (images 5 & 6)
4. remove/install cover on shift lever. AR68.20-P-2310 QA (images 7 & 8)
5. remove /install ashtray. AR68.20-P-2400 P (images 9 & 10)
6. perform shift lock override. GF27.10-P-3023 Q (image 11)
continued below...
note: I am assuming no major design changes occurred after this WIS instruction in 2004.
The diagrams are not in job order. My understanding is that to get access to the hidden bolts shown in 1, you have to perform 6,5,4,3,2 in that order.
1. remove/install radio. AR82.60-P-7502 QA. (images 1 & 2)
2. remove/install upper control panel control unit. AR54.21-P-1262 Q (images 3 & 4)
3. remove/install push button control unit. AR83.40-P-6350 QA (images 5 & 6)
4. remove/install cover on shift lever. AR68.20-P-2310 QA (images 7 & 8)
5. remove /install ashtray. AR68.20-P-2400 P (images 9 & 10)
6. perform shift lock override. GF27.10-P-3023 Q (image 11)
continued below...
06-27-2009, 05:12 PM
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It may seem hard but it is very easy to remove. I luckily got to mess with a totaled 06 clk350 so I didn't have to worry too much about all the fittings but it still was easy.
1. Pry open the shift knob selector (at the bottom), it’s the whole unit that sits on the wood. Use something soft or wrap a small flat head with a towel.
2. Once that is off there is a little twist lock on the shift knob, loosen and lift off. That will take a little force.
3. The wood panel under the shift knob just lifts up as there are no screws holding it in.
4. There will be two torx screws holding the ashtray in. Once you take out the screws just pull out the ashtray and maneuver it out.
5. There are two more torx screws holding in the climate control, once those are out again just pull out that section.
6. On top of the head unit/cd player/radio (what ever you want to call it) pry out the top panel, (the one with the door locks, emergency lights, etc.) use something soft again so you don't ruin the trim.
7. Once everything is out there will be 4 more torx screws (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and just pull out. The unit will take a little force to take out.
It may seem like a difficult task to take out but honestly it wasn't that difficult. There were only 8 total torx screws and everything else just snapped into place. I have never worked on or honestly touched a Benz before. My girlfriend's Benz was deemed totaled and I had to take off the Ipod adapter so when she gets a new one she wouldn't have to spend $300+ to get a new one. Hope this helps. I would have taken pictures but I was in a hurry so I didn't have time.
1. Pry open the shift knob selector (at the bottom), it’s the whole unit that sits on the wood. Use something soft or wrap a small flat head with a towel.
2. Once that is off there is a little twist lock on the shift knob, loosen and lift off. That will take a little force.
3. The wood panel under the shift knob just lifts up as there are no screws holding it in.
4. There will be two torx screws holding the ashtray in. Once you take out the screws just pull out the ashtray and maneuver it out.
5. There are two more torx screws holding in the climate control, once those are out again just pull out that section.
6. On top of the head unit/cd player/radio (what ever you want to call it) pry out the top panel, (the one with the door locks, emergency lights, etc.) use something soft again so you don't ruin the trim.
7. Once everything is out there will be 4 more torx screws (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and just pull out. The unit will take a little force to take out.
It may seem like a difficult task to take out but honestly it wasn't that difficult. There were only 8 total torx screws and everything else just snapped into place. I have never worked on or honestly touched a Benz before. My girlfriend's Benz was deemed totaled and I had to take off the Ipod adapter so when she gets a new one she wouldn't have to spend $300+ to get a new one. Hope this helps. I would have taken pictures but I was in a hurry so I didn't have time.
Last edited by Javmp; 06-29-2009 at 02:20 AM.
06-28-2009, 04:49 AM
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I was looking for that, which is easier to find on other cars, but I didn't have a lot of time to look for it. I was able to get it out with the car being in park. It would have been easier if it was out of park as there would have been more room to get it out, but it can be done with it in park.
06-28-2009, 03:46 PM
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CLK500 SPORT
It may seem hard but it is very easy to remove. I luckily got to mess with a totaled 06 clk350 so I didn't have to worry too much about all the fittings but it still was easy.
1. Pry open the shift knob selector (at the bottom), it’s the whole unit that sits on the wood. Use something soft or wrap a small flat head with a towel.
2. Once that is off there is a little twist lock on the shift knob, loosen and lift off. That will take a little force.
3. The wood panel under the shift knob just lifts up as there are no screws holding it in.
4. There will be two torx screws holding the ashtray in. Once you take out the screws just pull out the ashtray and maneuver it out.
5. There are two more torx screws holding in the climate control, once those are out again just pull out that section.
6. On top of the head unit/cd player/radio (what ever you want to call it) pry out the top panel, (the one with the door locks, emergency lights, etc.) use some soft again so you don't ruin the trim.
7. Once everything is out there will be 4 more torx screws (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and just pull out. The unit will take a little force to take out.
It may seem like a difficult task to take out but honestly it wasn't that difficult. There were only 8 total torx screws and everything else just snapped into place. I have never worked on or honestly touched a Benz before. My girlfriend's Benz was deemed totaled and I had to take off the Ipod adapter so when she gets a new one she wouldn't have to spend $300+ to get a new one. Hope this helps. I would have taken pictures but I was in a hurry so I didn't have time.
1. Pry open the shift knob selector (at the bottom), it’s the whole unit that sits on the wood. Use something soft or wrap a small flat head with a towel.
2. Once that is off there is a little twist lock on the shift knob, loosen and lift off. That will take a little force.
3. The wood panel under the shift knob just lifts up as there are no screws holding it in.
4. There will be two torx screws holding the ashtray in. Once you take out the screws just pull out the ashtray and maneuver it out.
5. There are two more torx screws holding in the climate control, once those are out again just pull out that section.
6. On top of the head unit/cd player/radio (what ever you want to call it) pry out the top panel, (the one with the door locks, emergency lights, etc.) use some soft again so you don't ruin the trim.
7. Once everything is out there will be 4 more torx screws (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and just pull out. The unit will take a little force to take out.
It may seem like a difficult task to take out but honestly it wasn't that difficult. There were only 8 total torx screws and everything else just snapped into place. I have never worked on or honestly touched a Benz before. My girlfriend's Benz was deemed totaled and I had to take off the Ipod adapter so when she gets a new one she wouldn't have to spend $300+ to get a new one. Hope this helps. I would have taken pictures but I was in a hurry so I didn't have time.
Last edited by Flame3g; 06-28-2009 at 03:50 PM.
06-28-2009, 10:46 PM
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95civicsi, 2001 e320, 2001 integra type-r, 2005 clk500
It may seem hard but it is very easy to remove. I luckily got to mess with a totaled 06 clk350 so I didn't have to worry too much about all the fittings but it still was easy.
1. Pry open the shift knob selector (at the bottom), it’s the whole unit that sits on the wood. Use something soft or wrap a small flat head with a towel.
2. Once that is off there is a little twist lock on the shift knob, loosen and lift off. That will take a little force.
3. The wood panel under the shift knob just lifts up as there are no screws holding it in.
4. There will be two torx screws holding the ashtray in. Once you take out the screws just pull out the ashtray and maneuver it out.
5. There are two more torx screws holding in the climate control, once those are out again just pull out that section.
6. On top of the head unit/cd player/radio (what ever you want to call it) pry out the top panel, (the one with the door locks, emergency lights, etc.) use some soft again so you don't ruin the trim.
7. Once everything is out there will be 4 more torx screws (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and just pull out. The unit will take a little force to take out.
It may seem like a difficult task to take out but honestly it wasn't that difficult. There were only 8 total torx screws and everything else just snapped into place. I have never worked on or honestly touched a Benz before. My girlfriend's Benz was deemed totaled and I had to take off the Ipod adapter so when she gets a new one she wouldn't have to spend $300+ to get a new one. Hope this helps. I would have taken pictures but I was in a hurry so I didn't have time.
1. Pry open the shift knob selector (at the bottom), it’s the whole unit that sits on the wood. Use something soft or wrap a small flat head with a towel.
2. Once that is off there is a little twist lock on the shift knob, loosen and lift off. That will take a little force.
3. The wood panel under the shift knob just lifts up as there are no screws holding it in.
4. There will be two torx screws holding the ashtray in. Once you take out the screws just pull out the ashtray and maneuver it out.
5. There are two more torx screws holding in the climate control, once those are out again just pull out that section.
6. On top of the head unit/cd player/radio (what ever you want to call it) pry out the top panel, (the one with the door locks, emergency lights, etc.) use some soft again so you don't ruin the trim.
7. Once everything is out there will be 4 more torx screws (2 on top and 2 on bottom) and just pull out. The unit will take a little force to take out.
It may seem like a difficult task to take out but honestly it wasn't that difficult. There were only 8 total torx screws and everything else just snapped into place. I have never worked on or honestly touched a Benz before. My girlfriend's Benz was deemed totaled and I had to take off the Ipod adapter so when she gets a new one she wouldn't have to spend $300+ to get a new one. Hope this helps. I would have taken pictures but I was in a hurry so I didn't have time.
Hello every one!!
May I ask what kind of tool did you use to do #6?? thanks for the info
