Does someone know how to remove the flap above the ashtray in a CLK320? This is the flap that when I push down, it would open up to reveal the ashtray and lighter underneath.

 

It comes out as an entire assembly with the ashtray asembly. You first have to pop the wood panel off of the center console (the part that surrounds the shifter) and then there are two plastic tabs holding the ashtray assembly in place. This should help:

http://benzbits.com/w203/radio/RemoveGearshiftPanel.pdf

http://benzbits.com/w203/radio/RemoveAshtrayHousing.pdf

 

Thanks again, Rudeney.

The procedure looks a lot more complicated that I thought. The sifter has to be removed before lifting up the center wood panel. I was hoping there is a way to pop open the flap alone.

What happened was there was a business card somehow got trapped behind the ashtray. The flap is still working, ie: it still opens and closes perfectly. I will keep the 2 pdf in case I have to work in that area in the future.

 

Not complicated at all. The shifter does not need come off. You just need to unclip the big wood section at the front and the shifter comes up with it. The whole job would take you less than a minute once you see how it works.

 

Yidney is correct - no need to remove the shifter. Just open the ashtray and then pull up firmly on the leading edge of the center console wood panel. It is easier if you put the shifter in drive, but there is enough slack in the leather boot to get the panel up enough to get to the plastic clips for the ashtray.