Did a search but no luck. Am trying to remove the ashtray housing from the console. The ashtray itself is out, but can't figure out how to remove the ashtray housing and the attached lighter socket.

I need to remove this unit for 2 reasons:

1) I dropped a screw at the bottom of the housing (When the ashtray was removed) and now the ashtray won't close.
2) The ashtray's light-bulb socket, with the light-bulb still attached fell out of its mounting hole, and I need to reach it to push it back.

Help

Thanks

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

I'm pretty sure you have to remove the glovebox, and then the wood infront, to get to it. (change the trans. position indicator bulb, while you have it apart).

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It is a truism that almost any sect, cult, or religion will legislate its creed into law if it acquires the political power to do so. Robert A. Heinlein


09 Jetta TDI
1985 300D

Phil

I have a '91 124 and have the entire dash and heater core out at this moment! What a sight!!
To get your ash tray out, open ash tray(natcherly!), slide lever to right, ash tray pops up. Remove chrome ash tray from housing, looking down inside, you should see 2 phillips screws. Remove these screws and your ash tray assembly should come right out.
Hope this helps.
Rick Hall

What he said.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

Hi Rick,

That's part of my problem. I removed those two phillips screws, except that one of them fell behind the ashtray housing, and is jammed in such a way that the ashtray won't close anymore. With the two screws removed, I tried to pull out the ashtray housing but it won't budge. What am I doing wrong? Is there anything else holding the ashtray housing in place, or do I need to use more force?

Does the lighter assembly pop-out together with the ashtray housing, or is that a separate part?

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

That one screw has to be, excuse the pun, screwing things up. Shake, jiggle, pound, but use excessive force only as a last resort. I can't think of any other way to get that out, as it pretty much needs to be out to get the rest apart.

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95 SL500 Smoke Silver, Parchment 64K
07 E350 4matic Station Wagon White 34K
02 E320 4Matic Silver/grey 80K
05 F150 Silver 44K

...unless you want to remove the radio...then you have rear access to the ashtray cavity.

I'm between radios right now, so ashtray access is easy.

Cig lighter is integrated in the ashtray housing and will come out with the ashtray assembly. Then you can disconnect the electrical connection and remove.

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2009 ML350 (106K) - Family vehicle
2001 CLK430 Cabriolet (80K) - Wife's car
2005 BMW 645CI (138K) - My daily driver
2016 Mustang (32K) - Daughter's car

Would a magnet help?

Just removed the dumb thing. The two screws were only part of the story. I also had to remove the wood trim around the shifter so that the ashtray housing can come out.

All is well

Thanks

Phil

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'95 E300 Diesel, 264,000 Miles. [Sold it]

Removing the wood from the center console will give you a little access to the bottom of the ashtray.

To remove center console wood:
1- Pry up black plastic moulding at shifter.
2- Remove console glove box [2 screws in bottom at front]
3- Remove large screw / bolt under console
4- Lift / wiggle wood at back pulling up and rearward
NOTE MB Switches have large pins to connectors. The switches are attached to the wood, so you're slowly disconnecting them.

I once removed the ashtray surrounding wood, but can't remember if the securing screws are both top and bottom. If both, then you'll have to remove radio. Instead of the radio removal tool, I used 2 small steak knives to release the radio clips.

Bob