Greetings all ,
Have any of you folks taken out the center console panel on a S500 1997. It would appear this one has been removed ,but badly (chips,cracks) found a perfect used one and want to avoid damageing it on installation.Also want to exchange the shifter stalk and can this be done without removing the whole center console panel? thanks in advance for any feedback.

 

Just removed mine on a 1995 S500 W140. Talk about a black art trying to find information on how to's on these!
Steps. 1. Remove plastic surround around gear selector. (has two retaining clips front and rear, just lift gently front and rear).
2. Open ashtray. Remove internal ash tray.
3. Note phillips head screw now visible on inside of ashtray securing exterior wood panel to ash tray assembly. (need 90 degree phillips head screw driver or very short one to loosen screw. loosen and slide wood panel off - you can remove screw totally if desired - do NOT drop it).
4. Look in below ashtray (now just black plastic in dash) in gap behind wood panel and you will see two star screws - requires special screw driver bit to remove screws. (don't drop them into the void below when removing).
5. Having removed screws put your fingers in the gap around the bottom of the ashtray hole and GENTLY -- READ GENTLY push the top edge of the Bottom wood panel outwards towards the centre console. BE CAREFUL to push far enough forward to clear the plastic switch retainers that are on the back of the wood panel- you should also have to put some downwards pressure as you push the wood outwards to clear the attached plastic on the back of this wood panel and also the back of the mirror adjusting knob switch. The plastic on the back of this wood panel IS FRAGILE.....do not put any pressure on this plastic as you remove this wood panel or the switch retaining clips could break.
6. When the wood panel clears the upper wood panel, just continue to lift backwards over the shift lever and then upwards and slightly forward to clear the two locating tabs at the rear of the wood panel that locate the panel in the back section of the console assembly.
Installation is the reverse, it is a close fit, but it just means being patient and not forcing to get things in and out. Hope that helps.

 

 

Just looking at the photos you posted. I saw them prior to the removal of my centre wood console. I do not know which model W140 you have, but there is definately no release mechanism on the underside or has there ever been on the one I removed, only two locating tabs to prevent the rear of the timber lifting out of the console. Anyone attempting the removal of the wood insert now has apparently two different ways to tackle the removal. Inspection will confirm the path specific to your W140, be guided by that.

 

I thank every one who responded to my question,now to become versed in the finer points of Mercedes black arts lol