Late 124 passenger-side lower dash removal?
 

I'm trying to remove the lower dash on the passenger side of my '95 E300D (W124, OM606NA0 so I can access the vacuum manifold for the climate control system. On pre-airbag cars this is easy, you remove the glove box liner and the valve assembly is next to it. The later models seem to be much more work as the entire lower dash panel has to come off.

Unfortunately, my CD-ROM FSM doesn't cover airbag cars (even though you can select "1995" as the model year) and my paper FSM is pre-airbag. In addition to the screws underneath (including a hidden big one that need a 10mm socket and long extension to remove) I've found 2 more screws under the right air vent.

I'm about to remove the center vent to see if more screws are hidden there. Anyone know if there are screws I've missed somewhere else?

The battery is disconnected and the SRS unit is unplugged (red plug/socket in passenger footwell).

Jeremy

Are you still trying to get the airbag unit out? Once you remove the one hidden nut it should slide out of the dashboard.

-J

Something is stopping the airbag after it slides out about 1 inch. I finally found the procedure in the CD-ROM manual; nothing is holding it in with the big bolt removed. I'll try again.

EDIT: OK, it came loose. Not sure what was snagging, perhaps one of the one-way screws was catching on the framework. I though it might have a "press-to-unlock" safety catch or something, didn't want to break it.

Jeremy