DIY: Step by Step Mercedes Benz Audio 10 W203 ('01-'04) Center Console Removal Instructions
Posted: Thu Dec 17, 2015 7:06 am
Firstly, the "before" pics of the unit itself.
Back view
Top view
The "before" console
OK, for the install you'll need a thin flat-blade screwdriver, a long T20 torx screwdriver, a pen light and about 40 minutes.
You'll first need to undo the silver tabs on the bottom of the silver console trim. To do this, open up the ash tray cover about halfway and shine the pen light into the gap. You will see on the far left and right sides two silver clasps holding the trim in place. Take the thin screwdriver and pry these clasps down; they are hinged in the front so pry them from further back. (I don't have photos since the gap is too small)
Next is the removal of the air vents.
Take the thin screw driver and gently push the bottom plastic tabs on the left side of each vent to the right. While doing this, push the vent upward.
You should be able to now turn the vents up even further than normal, creating a gap below them as seen below.
Shine the pen light into this gap and you should see two torx screws on the far left of the left vent and the far right of the right vent. Be sure to close the white dials on each vent (turn all the way down) so you won't lose the screws. Once this is done, remove the screws using the torx screwdriver.
Now, you need to turn the vents down to create a gap on top. Gently push the top plastic tab to the right while pulling the vent down and you should create a gap as seen here.
Shine the light into this gap and you will see two "hooks" on each side of the vents... You will need to use the thin screwdriver to pull these down. They have teeth to hold them in place; pulling them down is a bit tricky so be sure not to damage the teeth.
Here is a shot of the aforementioned "hooks" once the unit is removed. Notice the teeth.
Once these hooks are pulled down enough, you can simultaneously pull out on the vent unit and pull it out of the console. Be sure not to damage the trim when doing so, but this may take a bit of force.
Here's what the back of the unit looks like.
Here's what the console looks like when the vents are removed.
Notice the metal parts attached near the screw holes to hold the console aluminum trim in place. Pull out on the trim and it should come right off since nothing is holding it in place (you already removed the screws on top and the metal clasps on the bottom)
Here's a shot of the aluminum trim being removed.
You may have to be careful in working the trim around the shifter. Mine took a little wrestling to remove properly while the car was in Park.
Here's the cables connected to the back of the climate control unit. You may remove these to make removing the trim easier, although I didn't.
Here's the cable connected to the emergency flasher button.
Console explosion!
Once the trim is removed, unscrew the two torx screws on each side of the radio and remove it by pulling straight out.
- audio10.jpg (86.99 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Back view
- audio101.jpg (84.96 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Top view
- audio102.jpg (96.42 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
The "before" console
- central console.jpg (123.28 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
OK, for the install you'll need a thin flat-blade screwdriver, a long T20 torx screwdriver, a pen light and about 40 minutes.
You'll first need to undo the silver tabs on the bottom of the silver console trim. To do this, open up the ash tray cover about halfway and shine the pen light into the gap. You will see on the far left and right sides two silver clasps holding the trim in place. Take the thin screwdriver and pry these clasps down; they are hinged in the front so pry them from further back. (I don't have photos since the gap is too small)
Next is the removal of the air vents.
- air vent.jpg (123.22 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Take the thin screw driver and gently push the bottom plastic tabs on the left side of each vent to the right. While doing this, push the vent upward.
- air control.jpg (92.16 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
You should be able to now turn the vents up even further than normal, creating a gap below them as seen below.
Shine the pen light into this gap and you should see two torx screws on the far left of the left vent and the far right of the right vent. Be sure to close the white dials on each vent (turn all the way down) so you won't lose the screws. Once this is done, remove the screws using the torx screwdriver.
- air vents.jpg (105.54 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Now, you need to turn the vents down to create a gap on top. Gently push the top plastic tab to the right while pulling the vent down and you should create a gap as seen here.
Shine the light into this gap and you will see two "hooks" on each side of the vents... You will need to use the thin screwdriver to pull these down. They have teeth to hold them in place; pulling them down is a bit tricky so be sure not to damage the teeth.
- air vents1.jpg (103.27 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Here is a shot of the aforementioned "hooks" once the unit is removed. Notice the teeth.
- air vents2.jpg (103.53 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
- air vents3.jpg (80.37 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Once these hooks are pulled down enough, you can simultaneously pull out on the vent unit and pull it out of the console. Be sure not to damage the trim when doing so, but this may take a bit of force.
Here's what the back of the unit looks like.
- trim.jpg (113.93 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Here's what the console looks like when the vents are removed.
Notice the metal parts attached near the screw holes to hold the console aluminum trim in place. Pull out on the trim and it should come right off since nothing is holding it in place (you already removed the screws on top and the metal clasps on the bottom)
- frame.jpg (117.76 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Here's a shot of the aluminum trim being removed.
You may have to be careful in working the trim around the shifter. Mine took a little wrestling to remove properly while the car was in Park.
- audio 103.jpg (101.74 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Here's the cables connected to the back of the climate control unit. You may remove these to make removing the trim easier, although I didn't.
- air control1.jpg (102.51 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
- air control2.jpg (100.93 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Here's the cable connected to the emergency flasher button.
- emergency light.jpg (100.76 KiB) Viewed 12421 times
Console explosion!
Once the trim is removed, unscrew the two torx screws on each side of the radio and remove it by pulling straight out.
- benz radio.jpg (133.07 KiB) Viewed 12421 times