Spring mechanism on holder broken
 

The holder/box/compartment just in front on the centre amrest on my 1999 C280 is broken. The compartment can still open and close, but does not glide open and have no resisyance when pushing it back.

Can any one explain to me how to fix this - maybe with pictures or diagrams. Thanks a lot.

If you mean the cover on the compartment with the pop-up cup holder inside, pull straight up on the cup holder, it will come out with a little effort. With the cup holder removed you may be able to see what the problem is with the cover mechanism.
Dan

My cover was jamming up also. Turns out the cup holder assembley had broken and warped up causing the cover to face obstruction during closing. I'VE looked on the net, can't find that cup holder unit. Anyone know where to get them from?

Mine doesn't have a cup holder, its a empty compartment with a black removeable "square-ish" holder. It is easy to remove the holder, but once removed I cant figure out how to remove the top "lid" that slides open/close.