Removing the ashtray cover.
 

I have a crack on my current ashtray wood and found a near perfect replacement online for very cheap. I want to install it without cracking the new one just wondering if anyone knows how to take this stuff out. There's always some special technique to removing a part in this car. I'm pretty sure I have to remove the wood surrounding the gearshift which I tried to remove before and all those online videos saying simply pull it up do not work for me I struggled for a long time and t he thing would not budge, I even went around all the edges with a plastic pry tool.

The wood panel slides into place via clips on top of the plastic frame, pull backwards on the wood towards the rear of the car it should disengage then lift up. Easier if you remove ashtray assembly.

Removal: http://workshop-manuals.com/mercedes...enter_console/

Thanks I will most likely do this method. I was attempting to remove the entire assembly but its necessary to take the wood surrounding the gearshift up as well. You wouldn't happen to have any tips on doing that? I've tried yanking straight up with full force and it doesn't budge.

If it helps photos here show underside so you can better understand how it is attached (damage most likely caused by improper removal) http://www.usedautopartsyouneed.com/...01036-850.html

Ok I see how it clips in from this. It's weird the device manual you linked me showed said to grab the top pull towards the back of the vehicle then press down and unclip. While every video I've seen has shown someone lifting it straight up in the air effortlessly.

Well I got it out and after pulling it out there is literally no way this thing could have lifted straight up like these videos show. I pulled the leather boot area up and it revealed two clips inside that need to be pushed in before the wood trim can be lifted. I still have no idea how everyone else was able to easily pull this thing up. I had to use two small flat heads to hold each clip down while I pulled this thing up.

Good info in this thread. Does the dealer drill the holes or are the bumpers installed this way from the factory? I prefer the look without the bumperettes.

huh?

Sorry I'm a little stupid and have the same problem as you, so I have to remove the leather first then the wooden part of the shift right? and I just doing that by pulling the leather part down towards the rear of the car and up then I can uncover the latches for the ashtray correct?

I just wanna make sure I do it correctly as I do have a tendency to do it incorrectly and with too much power so I don't want to break anything.