I am trying to update the radio in my 95 500SL Roadster. I am having trouble removing the center console cover. I have removed the gearshift rubber and popped the ashtrey end of cover loose but can't get the top loose. I don't want to break the cover.

Hi,

If it is a 124 series car (or works like one), you may not need to remove the wood trim around the shifter. If you can, remove the ashtray holder by taking out the ash insert, and removing the two internal screws. You may then be able to remove the ashtray holder. This provides access to the bottom of the radio, where you need to pull down two plastic catches.

You may need to remove the trim around the shifter to get the ashtray out, however. To do this on my car I had to remove the carpet and the screw that holds the wood trim down under the carpet. You then pull up on the area around the switches. On mine, the mirror adjustment switch and the volume fader switch pulled up with the wood piece.

You are right that it is easy to damage the wood cover in this process. You may be able to rock it back and forth to loosen the switches.

If you have a stock radio, you also either need the mercedes radio removal tools you can purchase online or from an audio store, or you can make them out of various materials. I used thin sheet metal, around 3/8 " wide and 3" long. I cut an angle across perhaps the last 3/4" of each piece. See if you can find a picture of one of the tools online to give you an idea what they should look like.

Push in the tools and then pull down on the plastic catches directly under the tools. You can hopefully then slide the radio out.

It is a huge help to buy (or find online) the mercedes service manual CDs for your car. Many times it is very difficult to figure out how to remove one of the interior covers to get at something you want to replace. If you do it wrong you will very likely break some piece of plastic or wood.

Max Behensky

__________________
1981 Datsun King Cab Diesel pickup
1982 240D 4 speed manual
1987 300TD wagon
1991 300D 2.5 turbo

If it's like the ones in 126s, it'll slide forward (or it is supposed to) and then lift up. You might ask on the SL forum, too. I'm sure somebody over there will know.

__________________
" We have nothing to fear but the main stream media itself . . . ."- Adapted from Franklin D Roosevelt for the 21st century

OBK #55

1998 Lincoln Continental - Sold
Max 1984 300TD 285,000 miles - Sold
The Dee8gonator 1987 560SEC 196,000 miles - Sold
Orgasmatron - 2006 CLS500 90,000 miles
2002 C320 Wagon 122,000 miles
2016 AMG GTS 12,000 miles

Videos are posted on this site that show the removal process.