SLK/R171 Center console storagebox

Jan 4, 2006 | 10:42 AM

L.I.T

Thread Starter

Junior Member

Joined: Jan 2006

Posts: 20

Likes: 0

From: Corner of nowhere Utah

2020 SLC43

Center console storagebox

Also, has anyone had difficulty with their center console storage box? When I received my used SLK yesterday (from Tucson to Dallas), I realized the center console storage is faulty. It only opens from one side, and sometimes won't open at all. To access the bottom portion is actually painful because of the strength required to pull the top up.

I'm not certain if this is something common, or if mine simply arrived broken. Also unsure if it is covered under warranty.

Thanks again!

LIT

Jan 4, 2006 | 01:28 PM

RoadkingHI

Member

Joined: Dec 2004

Posts: 132

Likes: 0

From: Hawaii

05 SLK 350, 97 S420, 92 Jeep, 04 Kia, 28 Ford Tudor, 51 Ford F3, 01 Harley, 03 Harley

Take it in as this is not how it is supposed to work. Mine is relatively easy to open both sides and from bottom.
Should be still under warranty.

Jan 4, 2006 | 05:39 PM

Duo-Art

Senior Member

Joined: Aug 2004

Posts: 306

Likes: 0

From: Skokie, Illinois

There have been numerous posts on both forums about center console problems. Many are defective and should be serviced as a warranty item.

Jan 11, 2006 | 08:30 PM

bmwnomore

Member

Joined: Oct 2004

Posts: 141

Likes: 0

From: ivyland,pa

slk 350

There is a TSB (Technical Service Bulletin issued by Mercedes about the center console sticking and won't open). I have the same problem. It'll open if you give it a good wack. I brought my car in for it (and inspection) and told the idiot advisor that there was an issued TSB for the problem and he gave me a curt nod saying that they aware of the problem. When I picked my car up later that day, the first thing I did after I started the car was try to open the center console. IT DIDN'T OPEN!! I marched right back in and asked the guy what was done and he said he wasn't sure. I reminded him about the TSB I informed him of when I dropped off the car and he said he was sure that this was done. Well, I checked and it wasn't. The TSB basically says that there are two liitle holes in the rear of the compartment that hinge pins slide in that lock and unlock the lid. I think it's a great idea that it locks when you lock the car (with the top down,especially) but apparently the pins can stick in the little holes and not retract to allow the lid to open freely. The fix is to truncate the holes a bit using a chamfering tool to help the pins pop in and out more easily. It also mentions that the customer should close the lid with more force to ensure proper seating of the lid. The idiot at my dealer said he was going to order a new lid for me. I told him that he could install a new lid only after the recommendations of the TSB were complete and did not work. I'm afraid of a color mismatch or something wacky like that. So my recommendation is bring it to the dealer and get him to do the right thing.

Jan 11, 2006 | 09:51 PM

wingless

Super Member

Joined: May 2004

Posts: 911

Likes: 1

From: Rhode Island

Debadged 6-Speed '05 C320 Sports Coupe

Check for items in the storage box that could interfere with the mechanism.

Mine stopped working properly because a thin card obstructed a pin, permitting the box to close, but not letting the pin to enter the opening. My phone was stuck in the cradle until I fixed that problem.