How to remove console wood panel?
Thread Starter
Member
Joined: Jan 2009
Posts: 105
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From: Atlanta, GA
1987 300 SDL
How to remove console wood panel?
I need to remove console wood (the one with the transmission selector level) to replace a switch. How can I get it out without damaging it? Thanks...
Super Member
Joined: Aug 2005
Posts: 801
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From: Mercerville New Jersey
1991 560SEC Teal 1989 420SEL Ice Blue 1984 500SEC White
I can't totally recall but it starts with removal of the ashtray and frame to allow enough room to slide the wooden console towards the front end of the car. Take a look and do a search at mbcoupes.com.
Bruce
Bruce
Junior Member
Joined: Jul 2008
Posts: 16
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From: Melbourne, FL
2010 GL550, 2008 CLK55
Open your ashtray cubby and remove the ashtray itself. Looking down into the ashtray opening, you will see two phillips head screws securing the ashtray housing to the center console frame. remove those screws. using gentle force, pull the ashtray housing out of the center console. this may be slightly difficult, as the top half of the console is wedge mounted, while the lower half is held secure by the two screws you already removed. after removing the ashtray, you can either flip the unit to the side of the console (be mindful of doing this as the black netting around the cigar lighter element and bulb wiring is black and sticky, and can make a mess on the facing edges of your upholstered console. or you can unplug the ashtray and move it aside. next is the forward cubby. this is held in place by a tab entering the gear shift housing, so you will want to tilt it up from the console sideand remove it. if you have the heated seat option, you will need to unplug the connectors behing the seat switches, as well as your horn pitch selector (560 models only). once the cubby is removed, gently slide the gears shift panel forward (towards the front of the car). once you moved it about 1/4", lift up slightly and remove the 7 connectors underneat (the 4 individual window switches, passenger mirror switch, fader control, and window lock-out switch. the only catch on this procedure is the 1981 - early 1990 models have a rubber molding that is attached to the gear shift face panel, where late 90 and '91 models have a seperate frame that needs to be GENTLY pried out before removing the shift panel, it is wedge mounted with 4 tabs (two on each side, none at the top or bottom). you do NOT need to remove the rubber molding from earlier models, it is attached to (and will remove with) the gear shift face plate.
