R230 SL63 center panel trim removal
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Current: SL63, S550, GL450 Previously: E350, E320
R230 SL63 center panel trim removal
Hello MBWorld!
Finally, I treated myself to a personal toy and picked up 2011 SL63. The car exceeded my expectations and I am really enjoying it. It needs a bit of TLC though.
Me and a friend of mine are trying to fix the ashtray that won't stay closed and trying to remove the central panel trim and we are stuck on the step of actually pulling the trim out. We can't move the trim up because Climate Control box hits the cup holders. We also cannot move the trim back, because ashtray hits the gearshifter box. So we are trying to move it kinda diagonally but still ashtray hits the gearshifter box. According to VIN decoders my car has 722 gearbox, so I put shifter in D.
We watched numerous videos such as
, read guides, but they all show the Base model, not SL63, which me wonder if we are missing some step specific to SL63. Any hints? Thanks!
PS: apologies if I posted in the wrong section, please move this as needed.
EDIT: After multiple failed attempts to remove panel, dealer was able to remove it but they did not explain how, just smiled "technician does that a lot", oh well
Finally, I treated myself to a personal toy and picked up 2011 SL63. The car exceeded my expectations and I am really enjoying it. It needs a bit of TLC though.
Me and a friend of mine are trying to fix the ashtray that won't stay closed and trying to remove the central panel trim and we are stuck on the step of actually pulling the trim out. We can't move the trim up because Climate Control box hits the cup holders. We also cannot move the trim back, because ashtray hits the gearshifter box. So we are trying to move it kinda diagonally but still ashtray hits the gearshifter box. According to VIN decoders my car has 722 gearbox, so I put shifter in D.
We watched numerous videos such as
PS: apologies if I posted in the wrong section, please move this as needed.
EDIT: After multiple failed attempts to remove panel, dealer was able to remove it but they did not explain how, just smiled "technician does that a lot", oh well
Last edited by The Iron Wolf; Jan 26, 2024 at 06:27 PM.
Super Member
Joined: Feb 2011
Posts: 571
Likes: 5
From: Sweden
SL55AMG + SL600 + E320 + A180
If you are to do stuff like this on your car I strongly suggest you get a repair mauall ....... this is the only sensible thing .... I will guess you can buy a CD ROM at Mercedes for 100 or 150 USD .... a center piece costs in the neighborhood of 2,500 USD and is fragile like glass.
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Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 3,040
Likes: 125
From: Atlanta Metro
Current: C217 V12TT AMG Previously: C55 AMG, SL65 AMG
I don't remember if I did this on my old SL65, but on my C55 I had to pull up the gear shifter surround (it clips in) and between that, releasing the shifter boot, and moving the shifter into the N and D position, I was able to wiggle out the center piece just enough to get it out. I think I also had to release the ashtray and 12v plug in the dash before trying to get it out (but I don't fully remember on this part).
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 6
Likes: 0
Current: SL63, S550, GL450 Previously: E350, E320
Thanks guys. I ordered some CDs off ebay and FWIW below are the instructions I am following (they are closer to how my car looks, still AMG looks a bit different). We are stuck at step 10. We do have some ideas though and I will update this thread if I have news.
Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 475
Likes: 157
From: Philadelphia area
2014 SL65 AMG, 2018 S560
Your SL63 is a 2011? There was a change to the console in 2014/2015 and your document is the newer instructions. Take a look at the doc I posted above, which is for the older console configuration.
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
Posts: 6
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Current: SL63, S550, GL450 Previously: E350, E320
It is 2011 - I did take a look at your version and it does not look like my panel. My panel looks closer to what I linked, except that AMG has different buttons/metal plate and shifter is different.
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Senior Member
Joined: Jan 2019
Posts: 475
Likes: 157
From: Philadelphia area
2014 SL65 AMG, 2018 S560
Strange. The doc I pulled is for chassis "230470 SL 63 AMG". The photos in the manual are extremely low res so it's difficult to see any detail.
Can you post a photo of your console?
Can you post a photo of your console?
Thread Starter
Newbie
Joined: Jun 2023
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Current: SL63, S550, GL450 Previously: E350, E320
Thanks Joe, indeed there are so many permutations of things. Car needs multiple interior parts and getting the exact part of exact color turned out to be tricky.
My car is at dealer's for various repairs so no picutre, but mine looks like this:
except that shifter does not have leather cover and buttons are different on AMG.
EDIT: After multiple failed attempts to remove panel, dealer was able to remove it but they did not explain how, just smiled "technician does that a lot", oh well
My car is at dealer's for various repairs so no picutre, but mine looks like this:
EDIT: After multiple failed attempts to remove panel, dealer was able to remove it but they did not explain how, just smiled "technician does that a lot", oh well
Last edited by The Iron Wolf; Jan 26, 2024 at 06:26 PM.
