SL/R230: Need to remove centre console/COMAND - Please Help...!!!
01-25-2005, 10:26 AM
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'02 SL500, '95 500SL & '98 SLK230 (not all mine!)
Need to remove centre console/COMAND - Please Help...!!!
I need to remove the COMAND unit in a MY2002 SL500...
The unit has a CD read error that is displayed when I put in the navigation CD and I have found a specialist that will look at it. The only problem... he's 400 miles away.
All I know is that the fixing screws are located either side of the unit, behind the wood trim.
Any help on which bits to pull off first and where any screws are located would be very much appreciated. Photos would be a bonus!
Wish me luck!
The unit has a CD read error that is displayed when I put in the navigation CD and I have found a specialist that will look at it. The only problem... he's 400 miles away.
All I know is that the fixing screws are located either side of the unit, behind the wood trim.
Any help on which bits to pull off first and where any screws are located would be very much appreciated. Photos would be a bonus!
Wish me luck!
01-25-2005, 10:42 AM
#2
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by Silver Star
I need to remove the COMAND unit in a MY2002 SL500...
The unit has a CD read error that is displayed when I put in the navigation CD and I have found a specialist that will look at it. The only problem... he's 400 miles away.
All I know is that the fixing screws are located either side of the unit, behind the wood trim.
Any help on which bits to pull off first and where any screws are located would be very much appreciated. Photos would be a bonus!
Wish me luck!
The unit has a CD read error that is displayed when I put in the navigation CD and I have found a specialist that will look at it. The only problem... he's 400 miles away.
All I know is that the fixing screws are located either side of the unit, behind the wood trim.
Any help on which bits to pull off first and where any screws are located would be very much appreciated. Photos would be a bonus!
Wish me luck!
The USA model year was 2003 but I am guessing outside the USA it is 2002.
Please confirm this is the new body style (R230) and I will tell you exactly how to do it. It is tricky.
01-25-2005, 10:57 AM
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'02 SL500, '95 500SL & '98 SLK230 (not all mine!)
LovinSL600, many thanks for the offer.
It is indeed the R230.
PS. had a LONG read of your efforts on your SL600 - very impressive attention to detail.
It is indeed the R230.
PS. had a LONG read of your efforts on your SL600 - very impressive attention to detail.
01-25-2005, 11:05 AM
#4
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by Silver Star
LovinSL600, many thanks for the offer.
It is indeed the R230.
PS. had a LONG read of your efforts on your SL600 - very impressive attention to detail.
It is indeed the R230.
PS. had a LONG read of your efforts on your SL600 - very impressive attention to detail.
01-25-2005, 12:45 PM
#5
MBWorld Fanatic!
Instructions to remove COMAND unit as I have experienced doing it myself. These are not by any means official Mercedes Benz instructions but are only a description of how I removed my Navigation unit on my 2003 SL500.
1. Move both seats all the way back to their farthest back position. Make sure you lower them all the way to the ground as well.
2. You need to expose the screws that hold in the wood. To do this you need to remove the panel on both sides of center console. These panels are held on by clips.
3. You remove the side panels by first starting to pull toward you the lower end corner of the panel that is by the center unit where the phone is located. If you are doing the drivers side it will be the lower right corner. of the panel and on the passenger side the lower left corner of the panel.
4. Gently pull pack that corner making sure not to pull to hard to bend or break the panel. As you pull back you will start to automatically release the other clips. Keep pulling back until you work your way to the dash. The final two clips are located in the dash so once you get to the dash you don't pull back toward the seat. you pull back toward the back of the car to release those clips. It sounds a little hard but it really isn't that difficult.
5. Once you have removed each side panel you now have to remove the screws that hold on the wood. There are two different sets of screws. One set holds on the leather dash that goes along the center console and the other set of screws holds on the wood. Both sets of screws are located immediately below the leather on the side of the exposed console. The screws that hold on the wood are the screws with the smalller head. Only remove these screws and not the screws with the larger head that hold on the dash. If you accidently remove those screws it won't hurt anything but you will need to put them back and that does you no good. There are 4 srews that hold on the wood on each side. Three of them are along the flat part of the console and the 4th screw is up towards the sections where the units starts to curve upward.
6. Once you have removed these 4 screws on each side you are now in the position to remove the wood.
7. Before you can remove the wood you need to remove the gear shifter knob. Depending on your build date this can be alot easier or not. On the later models you can remove the gear shift boot from the top of the wood to get to the release nut. If you can't do that, then you have to raise the wood to get to the release knob underneath the boot.
8. Here is how you tell if you have a removable boot from the top. Gently pull up on the leather boot on the long side. If the leather raises itself then the boot is removable from the top. If the leather does not budge, then it is not. It will be obvious. Give it a gentle but good tug to see if the bottom of the boot where it is attached the silver bezel raises or not.
9. If you can raise the side of the boot at all, then it is removable fromthe top. What you do to remove the boot at this point is take a very blunt plastic instrument and push it inward under the section where you have raised the side of the boot. This will cause that section of the boot to realease. Do this along one long side of the boot and you will be able to pop out the entire base of the boot. Once the base of the boot is released, pull the leather completely upward over the gear shifter knob. This will expose the ring that holds on the gear shifter knob. Turn this ring counter clockwise and loosen it up. Once the ring is completely loosened by turning counter clockwise, lower the leather around the boot so the top of the gear shift knob is exposed. The gear shift knob is leaning toward the front of the dash so you want to put in the ignition key and turn it so you can release the gear shifter knob and put it in neutral or drive so it is facing directly upward or slightly toward the back of the car. Once you have done this, gently yet firmly pull up on the gear shifter knob to release the knob from the rod below. Once this is done you can remove the wood as I will explain later.
10. If you can not remove your boot from the outside, you will need to release the wood in order to get to the bottom of leather around the shifter knob to release the ring. To do this, first put your key in the ignition and move the shifter knob to the Neutral or drive position so the shifter knob is either straight up and down or leaning slightly toward the read on the car. Once this is accomplished, gently start lifting the wood up by starting to lift the wood at the end where it is next to the center console compartment/phone area. If you have removed all the screws the wood will come up with a gentle but firm pull. As the wood starts to come up gently work your way to the front of the console where the wood is around the Navigation unit. This too will come up but you will most likely have to wiggle the wood to loosen the wood around the Nav. unit. There are no clips and if you removed that upper screw on both sides the wood will release. Make sure you cover the top of the center console as to not scratch it because you want to gently pull the unit an inch or two toward the back of the car to it is away from the navigation unit.
11. You will now have to raise the wood to get to the ring under the gear shifter knob but before you can do that you will need to remove all the electrical connnections to the controls on the center console. Pull of the wood enough so you can get to these connections and start releasing the connectors to each of the controls. Each control has a connector and each connector has either a tap or some type of lock to hold the connector in place. Look at each on carefully and determine how to release the connector from the control wire. Look carefully and be gentle. It is not that difficult to figure out how to release the connector. You not only have to remove all the connectors to the control units on the flat part of the console but to the A/C controls on the slanted portion of the console. You should be able to release the wood enough and have enough give to get to all of these parts. The shortest wire is wire connected to the Park, Neutral, Drive module so I would remove that first. That will free up alot of room as the other wires are quite long. This connector is horrizontal to the console and you just have to pull back on it horrizontally. I suggest you have two people. One to hold the wood while the other disconnects the connectors.
12. Once the connectors are all disconnected you will have the wood completely free except that you still have the gear shift knob connected which is connected to the wood. Lift the wood high enough so that the leather around the boot is pulled up over the gear shifter knob and the ring is exposed. Loosen the ring as per the instructions above in #9. Once the ring is loose, lower the wood and gently pull on the gear shifter knob until the knob is released from the rod. You are now free to lift the wood out of the car.
13. If you were able to remove the boot from the top and release the shifter knob, then follow the instructions above and remove all the connectors. Once you have removed all the connectors, you will be free to remove the wood as well.
14. Now the wood and gear shifter knob are gone. You will see the cup holder and the navigation unit.
GO TO NEXT POST FOR CONTINUATION.
REMEMBER, I AM NOT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I AM ONLY GIVING YOU MY EXPERIENCE AS I HAVE HAD WHEN I REMOVED MY NAVIGATION UNIT. DOING THIS WITH SOMEONE THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH IT WILL MAKE IT ALOT EASIER AND DEMINISH THE POSSIBILITIES OF MESSING SOMETHING UP.
YOU ALSO NEED TO SEE IF DOING THIS YOURSELF WILL VOID ANY WARRANTY.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND REMEMBER YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE AND MESS SOMETHING UP.
I BELIEVE THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT BUT REMEMBER, IT IS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE AND I AM NOT A MERCEDES AUTHORIZED MECHANIC. YOU ARE PROCEEDING AT YOUR OWN RISK. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ALSO DEALING WITH ELECTRICAL PARTS AND THE INHERINT DANGERS IN THAT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMEND THAT YOU HAVE AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DO THIS WORK AS THEIR COULD BE RISK INVOLVED IN THE OPERATOIN OF THE VEHICLE IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE OR IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT ACCURATE OR COMPLETE WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
1. Move both seats all the way back to their farthest back position. Make sure you lower them all the way to the ground as well.
2. You need to expose the screws that hold in the wood. To do this you need to remove the panel on both sides of center console. These panels are held on by clips.
3. You remove the side panels by first starting to pull toward you the lower end corner of the panel that is by the center unit where the phone is located. If you are doing the drivers side it will be the lower right corner. of the panel and on the passenger side the lower left corner of the panel.
4. Gently pull pack that corner making sure not to pull to hard to bend or break the panel. As you pull back you will start to automatically release the other clips. Keep pulling back until you work your way to the dash. The final two clips are located in the dash so once you get to the dash you don't pull back toward the seat. you pull back toward the back of the car to release those clips. It sounds a little hard but it really isn't that difficult.
5. Once you have removed each side panel you now have to remove the screws that hold on the wood. There are two different sets of screws. One set holds on the leather dash that goes along the center console and the other set of screws holds on the wood. Both sets of screws are located immediately below the leather on the side of the exposed console. The screws that hold on the wood are the screws with the smalller head. Only remove these screws and not the screws with the larger head that hold on the dash. If you accidently remove those screws it won't hurt anything but you will need to put them back and that does you no good. There are 4 srews that hold on the wood on each side. Three of them are along the flat part of the console and the 4th screw is up towards the sections where the units starts to curve upward.
6. Once you have removed these 4 screws on each side you are now in the position to remove the wood.
7. Before you can remove the wood you need to remove the gear shifter knob. Depending on your build date this can be alot easier or not. On the later models you can remove the gear shift boot from the top of the wood to get to the release nut. If you can't do that, then you have to raise the wood to get to the release knob underneath the boot.
8. Here is how you tell if you have a removable boot from the top. Gently pull up on the leather boot on the long side. If the leather raises itself then the boot is removable from the top. If the leather does not budge, then it is not. It will be obvious. Give it a gentle but good tug to see if the bottom of the boot where it is attached the silver bezel raises or not.
9. If you can raise the side of the boot at all, then it is removable fromthe top. What you do to remove the boot at this point is take a very blunt plastic instrument and push it inward under the section where you have raised the side of the boot. This will cause that section of the boot to realease. Do this along one long side of the boot and you will be able to pop out the entire base of the boot. Once the base of the boot is released, pull the leather completely upward over the gear shifter knob. This will expose the ring that holds on the gear shifter knob. Turn this ring counter clockwise and loosen it up. Once the ring is completely loosened by turning counter clockwise, lower the leather around the boot so the top of the gear shift knob is exposed. The gear shift knob is leaning toward the front of the dash so you want to put in the ignition key and turn it so you can release the gear shifter knob and put it in neutral or drive so it is facing directly upward or slightly toward the back of the car. Once you have done this, gently yet firmly pull up on the gear shifter knob to release the knob from the rod below. Once this is done you can remove the wood as I will explain later.
10. If you can not remove your boot from the outside, you will need to release the wood in order to get to the bottom of leather around the shifter knob to release the ring. To do this, first put your key in the ignition and move the shifter knob to the Neutral or drive position so the shifter knob is either straight up and down or leaning slightly toward the read on the car. Once this is accomplished, gently start lifting the wood up by starting to lift the wood at the end where it is next to the center console compartment/phone area. If you have removed all the screws the wood will come up with a gentle but firm pull. As the wood starts to come up gently work your way to the front of the console where the wood is around the Navigation unit. This too will come up but you will most likely have to wiggle the wood to loosen the wood around the Nav. unit. There are no clips and if you removed that upper screw on both sides the wood will release. Make sure you cover the top of the center console as to not scratch it because you want to gently pull the unit an inch or two toward the back of the car to it is away from the navigation unit.
11. You will now have to raise the wood to get to the ring under the gear shifter knob but before you can do that you will need to remove all the electrical connnections to the controls on the center console. Pull of the wood enough so you can get to these connections and start releasing the connectors to each of the controls. Each control has a connector and each connector has either a tap or some type of lock to hold the connector in place. Look at each on carefully and determine how to release the connector from the control wire. Look carefully and be gentle. It is not that difficult to figure out how to release the connector. You not only have to remove all the connectors to the control units on the flat part of the console but to the A/C controls on the slanted portion of the console. You should be able to release the wood enough and have enough give to get to all of these parts. The shortest wire is wire connected to the Park, Neutral, Drive module so I would remove that first. That will free up alot of room as the other wires are quite long. This connector is horrizontal to the console and you just have to pull back on it horrizontally. I suggest you have two people. One to hold the wood while the other disconnects the connectors.
12. Once the connectors are all disconnected you will have the wood completely free except that you still have the gear shift knob connected which is connected to the wood. Lift the wood high enough so that the leather around the boot is pulled up over the gear shifter knob and the ring is exposed. Loosen the ring as per the instructions above in #9. Once the ring is loose, lower the wood and gently pull on the gear shifter knob until the knob is released from the rod. You are now free to lift the wood out of the car.
13. If you were able to remove the boot from the top and release the shifter knob, then follow the instructions above and remove all the connectors. Once you have removed all the connectors, you will be free to remove the wood as well.
14. Now the wood and gear shifter knob are gone. You will see the cup holder and the navigation unit.
GO TO NEXT POST FOR CONTINUATION.
REMEMBER, I AM NOT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I AM ONLY GIVING YOU MY EXPERIENCE AS I HAVE HAD WHEN I REMOVED MY NAVIGATION UNIT. DOING THIS WITH SOMEONE THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH IT WILL MAKE IT ALOT EASIER AND DEMINISH THE POSSIBILITIES OF MESSING SOMETHING UP.
YOU ALSO NEED TO SEE IF DOING THIS YOURSELF WILL VOID ANY WARRANTY.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND REMEMBER YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE AND MESS SOMETHING UP.
I BELIEVE THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT BUT REMEMBER, IT IS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE AND I AM NOT A MERCEDES AUTHORIZED MECHANIC. YOU ARE PROCEEDING AT YOUR OWN RISK. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ALSO DEALING WITH ELECTRICAL PARTS AND THE INHERINT DANGERS IN THAT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMEND THAT YOU HAVE AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DO THIS WORK AS THEIR COULD BE RISK INVOLVED IN THE OPERATOIN OF THE VEHICLE IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE OR IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT ACCURATE OR COMPLETE WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
Last edited by LovinMercedes; 01-25-2005 at 01:07 PM.
01-25-2005, 12:47 PM
#6
MBWorld Fanatic!
15. First, remove the cup holder. To do this you have to first open the cup holders by pushing on the black face. When they open there are two screws, one on each side. Remove those screws being very carefull not to drop them in the open console below. After you remove those two screws, remove the two screws at the top corner of the Navigation unit on each side. Now both the Navigation unit and the cup holders are free to come out.
16. The cup holders comes out first. I order to remove the cup holder, you must lift upward on the Navigation unit and then pull out the cup holder. If you do not lift the Navigtation unit, the cup holder will not come out. After you lift up the Navigation unit and take out the cup holder, you are now ready to remove the Navigaiton unit. You don't have to pull out the Navigation unit to lift up on it. Once the screws are taken out, there will be enough play to lift up the unit without taking it out.
17. To remove the Navigation unit you just pull forward on it. Hold it firmly and have someone remove all the connectors in the back of the unit. Don't worry about where they go as they only fit back one way but just make sure you remove all connectors and release the tab or locks. Again, I strongly suggest someone holds the Nav unit while another releases the connectors.
18. You put everything back in reverse order of how you took it out. When you put back the shifter knob it is very important to do that correctly. You really have to push down hard on the shifter knob to get it all the way down when you are re-installing it and you must tighten the ring.
Make sure your ignition is not on when you remove all the connectors from either the center console or the Navigation unit otherwise you will have to go to the Dealer to have all the error codes erased. If the ignigiton is off and the key is removed when the wires are disconnected you shouldn't have this problem.
Please make sure that before you remove this unit you can have the unit serviced while not in the car or connected to the car. I'd hate to have you go through all of this and then find out they can't service your unit.
REMEMBER, I AM NOT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I AM ONLY GIVING YOU MY EXPERIENCE AS I HAVE HAD WHEN I REMOVED MY NAVIGATION UNIT. DOING THIS WITH SOMEONE THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH IT WILL MAKE IT ALOT EASIER AND DEMINISH THE POSSIBILITIES OF MESSING SOMETHING UP.
YOU ALSO NEED TO SEE IF DOING THIS YOURSELF WILL VOID ANY WARRANTY.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND REMEMBER YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE AND MESS SOMETHING UP.
I BELIEVE THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT BUT REMEMBER, IT IS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE AND I AM NOT A MERCEDES AUTHORIZED MECHANIC. YOU ARE PROCEEDING AT YOUR OWN RISK. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ALSO DEALING WITH ELECTRICAL PARTS AND THE INHERINT DANGERS IN THAT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMEND THAT YOU HAVE AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DO THIS WORK AS THEIR COULD BE RISK INVOLVED IN THE OPERATOIN OF THE VEHICLE IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE OR IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT ACCURATE OR COMPLETE WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
Hope this helps. It can be a big task so think about it.
Good luck.
16. The cup holders comes out first. I order to remove the cup holder, you must lift upward on the Navigation unit and then pull out the cup holder. If you do not lift the Navigtation unit, the cup holder will not come out. After you lift up the Navigation unit and take out the cup holder, you are now ready to remove the Navigaiton unit. You don't have to pull out the Navigation unit to lift up on it. Once the screws are taken out, there will be enough play to lift up the unit without taking it out.
17. To remove the Navigation unit you just pull forward on it. Hold it firmly and have someone remove all the connectors in the back of the unit. Don't worry about where they go as they only fit back one way but just make sure you remove all connectors and release the tab or locks. Again, I strongly suggest someone holds the Nav unit while another releases the connectors.
18. You put everything back in reverse order of how you took it out. When you put back the shifter knob it is very important to do that correctly. You really have to push down hard on the shifter knob to get it all the way down when you are re-installing it and you must tighten the ring.
Make sure your ignition is not on when you remove all the connectors from either the center console or the Navigation unit otherwise you will have to go to the Dealer to have all the error codes erased. If the ignigiton is off and the key is removed when the wires are disconnected you shouldn't have this problem.
Please make sure that before you remove this unit you can have the unit serviced while not in the car or connected to the car. I'd hate to have you go through all of this and then find out they can't service your unit.
REMEMBER, I AM NOT AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ MECHANIC OR ANYTHING LIKE THAT. I AM ONLY GIVING YOU MY EXPERIENCE AS I HAVE HAD WHEN I REMOVED MY NAVIGATION UNIT. DOING THIS WITH SOMEONE THAT IS FAMILIAR WITH IT WILL MAKE IT ALOT EASIER AND DEMINISH THE POSSIBILITIES OF MESSING SOMETHING UP.
YOU ALSO NEED TO SEE IF DOING THIS YOURSELF WILL VOID ANY WARRANTY.
PLEASE BE CAREFUL AND REMEMBER YOU CAN MAKE A MISTAKE AND MESS SOMETHING UP.
I BELIEVE THIS INFORMATION IS CORRECT BUT REMEMBER, IT IS ONLY MY EXPERIENCE AND I AM NOT A MERCEDES AUTHORIZED MECHANIC. YOU ARE PROCEEDING AT YOUR OWN RISK. REMEMBER, YOU ARE ALSO DEALING WITH ELECTRICAL PARTS AND THE INHERINT DANGERS IN THAT.
I WOULD PERSONALLY RECOMEND THAT YOU HAVE AN AUTHORIZED MERCEDES BENZ DEALER DO THIS WORK AS THEIR COULD BE RISK INVOLVED IN THE OPERATOIN OF THE VEHICLE IF YOU MADE A MISTAKE OR IF THESE INSTRUCTIONS ARE NOT ACCURATE OR COMPLETE WHICH IS POSSIBLE.
Hope this helps. It can be a big task so think about it.
Good luck.
Last edited by LovinMercedes; 01-25-2005 at 01:06 PM.
01-25-2005, 01:02 PM
#7
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'02 SL500, '95 500SL & '98 SLK230 (not all mine!)
Wow, thank you, that is a real help.
I have printed the instructions out and am about to retire to the garage...
I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Many, many thanks in the meantime.
Silver Star
I have printed the instructions out and am about to retire to the garage...
I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Many, many thanks in the meantime.
Silver Star
Trending Topics
01-25-2005, 01:12 PM
#8
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by Silver Star
Wow, thank you, that is a real help.
I have printed the instructions out and am about to retire to the garage...
I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Many, many thanks in the meantime.
Silver Star
I have printed the instructions out and am about to retire to the garage...
I will keep you posted on how I get on.
Many, many thanks in the meantime.
Silver Star
Sure you don't want to make a trip to the Mercedes dealer?
Good luck if you decide to do it!
01-25-2005, 02:24 PM
#9
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2006 SL600, 2001 S500, 1996 SL320
Check out the attached Link
Check out the attached web page, if you click on sample before you buy, they show a little video of talking out the command unit.
http://www.mercedestechstore.com/r230.htm
http://www.mercedestechstore.com/r230.htm
01-25-2005, 03:23 PM
#10
MBWorld Fanatic!
Whoa! Can't believe all this is required to get the COMMAND unit out. I think the info CD tells you how to remove it, but I'm not where my CD is. I'll take a look and let you know.
01-25-2005, 05:53 PM
#11
Originally Posted by blueSL
Whoa! Can't believe all this is required to get the COMMAND unit out. I think the info CD tells you how to remove it, but I'm not where my CD is. I'll take a look and let you know.
01-25-2005, 06:18 PM
#12
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02' SL 500
http://www.mercedestechstore.com/r23...ideosample.htm
here is a video of how to remove the center console
here is a video of how to remove the center console
01-26-2005, 01:55 AM
#13
MBWorld Fanatic!
Originally Posted by blueSL
Whoa! Can't believe all this is required to get the COMMAND unit out. I think the info CD tells you how to remove it, but I'm not where my CD is. I'll take a look and let you know.
What's clear from this car (and I've limited my dismantling of it to installing illuminated door sills) is that many things are designed to clip together for easy assembly. What that also means is that the clips and latches which hold things together are not intended for large numbers of assembly cycles and will wear and quickly no longer do the job. I found, for example when removing the rear compartment side panels that they are held in by some cleverly designed mounts which are they are to allow some flexing between the panel and the body to avoid creaks and rattles. Nevertheless, they are quite difficult to remove in one piece from the hole in the body.
What's described as a plastic wedge in the video is very useful because it limits the force you can apply (unlike a screwdriver) and also spreads the load on it across a wider area which reduces the risk of damage to trim and especially leather parts.
The other issue is that in order to hide fixings, there are "layers" of parts which have to be removed to expose fixings. Here, the centre console trim has to be removed to remove the COMMAND unit. If you wanted to remove the panel which runs across the back of the passenger compartment, you have to remove all of this, on each side of the car:
- the plastic rail which runs along the bottom of the door aperture
- the aluminum casting at the top of the door jamb
- screws and clips holding on the side panel which are exposed by removing the plastic rail
- the two screws on each side of the back panel which are exposed by removing the side panels
Even then you are not done because the back panel slots into retaining clips at the bottom and there's a retaining clip right in the middle, any of which will happily break if you are not careful when removing them.
