Matt,

I was working from memory this morning when I laid everything out for you. I forgot about the two screws at the bottom of the ACC panel. After the radio is out, possibly even if just the face plate is off, you will see two screws holding the bottom of the ACC panel. I plum forgot about them.

Also, when I was pulling and reinstalling my console today I found an easier way around the fresh air slider. Forget the way I told you to do it, try it this way:

Pop the slider knob off and then pry the vent panel off. Now just remove the two phillips head screws and let the assembly lay there loose, do not remove the cable. Once you pull the rear screw under the carpet of the console, you can lift slightly and the assembly will come out the bottom, still attached to the cable. It should look something like this.



Trust me, it is much easier this way. I was having fits trying to get it back together, learn from my mistake.

As for my console, it is in much straighter, but still a minor cant toward the driver's seat. I'm not going to try to straighten it any further, perhaps it is just my anal retentiveness driving me and in reality no one will ever notice. I finished off the console by installing the stereo and checking it for function - it works and sounds good. After what now almost two months I did have a bit of a time remembering where the wires went . Now after a couple times of pulling/installing, I had the console out in about 15 minutes.

Hope you caught the update in time.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Thanks Mike, yes I did catch it in time. I probably won't get my console out for another week or so. My seems to be creaking at the left hand front side when I brake moderately hard - is there anything obvious to look for when I am in there?

hello matt

the up-grades look excellent!
the tailights still have a little red and how about the side markers/repeaters.

keep it up

peter

__________________
*92 400e 124.034, SOLD

*92 300e 124.030, SOLD

Creaking at the left hand front side, like in the area where the console meets the dash?

Hmmmm, have your passengers been using the console as a grab handle, hehehe. Could simply be that the attachment screw on the passenger side has worked loose, allowing the console to rub against the dash under the stress of braking, which could cause the squeak/creak. Or in the worst case scenario, the bar the spans the gap between the two sides of the console has cracked/broken. I have heard of people taking a thin strip of metal, heating it and pressing it into the plastic, in effect repairing the break. Haven't tried that yet myself though.

If you don't find anything loose, you might try a couple thin felt pads where the two parts meet. They would have to be very thin though.

__________________
Mike Tangas
'73 280SEL 4.5 (9/72)- RIP
Only 8,173 units built from 5/71 thru 11/72

'02 CLK320 Cabriolet - wifey's mid-life crisis

2012 VW Jetta Sportwagon TDI...at least its a diesel

Non illegitemae carborundum.

Peter, thanks for your help with the side markers, and Mike thanks very much, I feel much more in charge now. I was worried that it might end up being one of those jobs where you spend ages attempting to take it apart and don't acheive anything before you have to put it back together. It's hard with it being a daily driver.

Matt.