SL/R230: Question for the 2009 Owners
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Question for the 2009 Owners
Does your center console lid stay open? Mine does not, I have to hold it up, and it's pretty awkward when you're trying to grab something. On a car so well thought out, it seems like an obvious oversight. I can't find anything that is obviously either broken or missing.
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From: USA Tennessee
2008 SL550 R230, 2004 E320 W211
@onewhippedpuppy I have a 2008 SL550, but I'm pretty sure its the same (maybe someone else has more accurate info)
The spring in @DavidCA's post above is a small gas strut that supports the lid. Yours is probably due for replacement (unless of course the 2009 is different). Let me know if this information does not apply to your 2009.
Open the center console, and there should be screws in the back of the compartment near the courtesy light, take these out and then shut the center console lid. Now you should be ale to lift the rear section of the center console (the part to the rear of the console lid, lift from where you removed the screws and then slid it forward). Now you should see the gas strut. I attached some pdf instructions for removing a module under the rear center console, but these instructions might help you understand how this rear console cover comes off.
Here is a thread on replacing the gas strut: https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...placement.html
I purchased my replacement strut part number 2309800064 (230-980-00-64) from www.liftsupportsdepot.comfor about $70 (expensive, but I didn't want to try and modify a generic strut).
One tip, once the cover behind the armrest is removed, the console lid can be opened up a little further. However, at first it didn't seem like it was opened far enough to relieve all the pressure on the strut. But I kept messing with the lid and eventually it opened even further (I can't remember if there was some release to get the lid to open far enough or maybe it just pulled open further), but eventually it did open far enough so I didn't have to compress the strut to remove/replace (went in easy after the lid was open far enough). Hope this makes sense. There are some other tips in the thread link above.
Hope this helps.
Lee
The spring in @DavidCA's post above is a small gas strut that supports the lid. Yours is probably due for replacement (unless of course the 2009 is different). Let me know if this information does not apply to your 2009.
Open the center console, and there should be screws in the back of the compartment near the courtesy light, take these out and then shut the center console lid. Now you should be ale to lift the rear section of the center console (the part to the rear of the console lid, lift from where you removed the screws and then slid it forward). Now you should see the gas strut. I attached some pdf instructions for removing a module under the rear center console, but these instructions might help you understand how this rear console cover comes off.
Here is a thread on replacing the gas strut: https://mbworld.org/forums/sl-class-...placement.html
I purchased my replacement strut part number 2309800064 (230-980-00-64) from www.liftsupportsdepot.comfor about $70 (expensive, but I didn't want to try and modify a generic strut).
One tip, once the cover behind the armrest is removed, the console lid can be opened up a little further. However, at first it didn't seem like it was opened far enough to relieve all the pressure on the strut. But I kept messing with the lid and eventually it opened even further (I can't remember if there was some release to get the lid to open far enough or maybe it just pulled open further), but eventually it did open far enough so I didn't have to compress the strut to remove/replace (went in easy after the lid was open far enough). Hope this makes sense. There are some other tips in the thread link above.
Hope this helps.
Lee
Last edited by Leej; May 18, 2020 at 11:24 AM.
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Great guys thanks! I drove 2003 and 2005 R230s which both had the strut, but they also have a different console configuration with the two level deep arrangement. My 2009 is just a door with a console underneath, it doesn't have the two trays.
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Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 171
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From: USA Tennessee
2008 SL550 R230, 2004 E320 W211
Maybe yours is different? Do you have EPC? There is a form of it available online here (and other places): https://nemigaparts.com/cat_spares/epc/mercedes/ (I have no affiliation with this website), and you can enter your VIN number, and then drill down to parts. Once you select your car, you should be able to drill down to the "paneling" subgroup and see a diagram of your console housing. This MIGHT be helpful if you see a spring or strut that might hold the lid open. Good luck.
Lee
Lee
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So I looked at the parts diagram at one of the online Mercedes parts sellers, the diagram for my 2009 looks almost identical to the one posted by DavidCA but I believe I'm missing the tray (item 60). I can't see the strut but I assume it's internal. I'll try taking it apart when I get a chance and update this thread.
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Member
Joined: Jul 2018
Posts: 171
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From: USA Tennessee
2008 SL550 R230, 2004 E320 W211
@onewhippedpuppy maybe someone has removed your tray; I don't mean to ask a stupid question, but are you sure you are opening the console to get to the bottom part? Regardless, the strut is NOT inside the tray and it is NOT below the tray. If you have the strut for the lid, it is to the rear of the tray/compartment/lid under the "rear console cover"; this is why you need to remove the rear console cover.
There are the two screws inside the console compartment that need to be removed to take out the rear console cover: http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest1.jpg
Once the screws are removed, close the console lid, and then lift the "REAR CONSOLE COVER" (not the console storage lid) by lifting the cover in the front and slide it out towards the front of the car (the console lid and compartment remain in place) Here is a pic of the rear console cover completely removed:
http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest2.jpg
http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest3.jpg
Here is a picture of the console with the rear console cover removed (the closed console lid is the lower left corner of the picture, and you can see the exposed lift support strut in the middle of the picture): http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest4.jpg
Here is a link to a whole bunch of info on removing interior stuff (and where I found the links above): https://www.benzworld.org/threads/ce...embly.1688422/
Hope this helps. If yours is different, you might post some pictures of the inside of your console storage compartment.
Lee
There are the two screws inside the console compartment that need to be removed to take out the rear console cover: http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest1.jpg
Once the screws are removed, close the console lid, and then lift the "REAR CONSOLE COVER" (not the console storage lid) by lifting the cover in the front and slide it out towards the front of the car (the console lid and compartment remain in place) Here is a pic of the rear console cover completely removed:
http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest2.jpg
http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest3.jpg
Here is a picture of the console with the rear console cover removed (the closed console lid is the lower left corner of the picture, and you can see the exposed lift support strut in the middle of the picture): http://www.bynarus.com/public/car/reararmrest4.jpg
Here is a link to a whole bunch of info on removing interior stuff (and where I found the links above): https://www.benzworld.org/threads/ce...embly.1688422/
Hope this helps. If yours is different, you might post some pictures of the inside of your console storage compartment.
Lee
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Thread Starter
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From: Wichita
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Thanks Leej, that last picture was a perfect illustration. I'll go ahead and just order the PN you listed from liftsupportdepot and replace it when I have things apart.
I actually test drove several other R230s that had the tray, so I'm 99.9% sure mine doesn't have it. I'll poke around later today and make sure I'm not a moron.
I actually test drove several other R230s that had the tray, so I'm 99.9% sure mine doesn't have it. I'll poke around later today and make sure I'm not a moron.
