A thick, good gage, coat hanger is a good way to go.
Each hook needs to be about 8 inches or more long. A 90 deg bend is not quite enough b/c it will bend back. Try about a 120 deg bend with the hook being about 1/2 inch long.
Pull very hard alternating left and right.

I made a loop at the other end of my 'tool' and place a screwdriver in each as a handle. Once the cluster starts to give, pull it slowly out.

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2008 S550
2010 GLK350
1997 E420 (retired)
2005 CLK500 (retired)