Okay, late to the party as always however, I just went through this on my 1982 240D stripper .

I hope you're flexible and have a good flashlight etc.

Before you touch the now likely dead fan switch you need to remove the passenger side under dash cover, it's dead simple, don't force anything, ask of you need .

Once that's off you can remove the glove box liner, there are multiple gray plastic expander plugs, get two thin flat bladed screwdrivers and *gently* pry up the -smaller- part of each plug, then the expanded part will fairly easily come loose, be aware they often like to come out suddenly like corks from a bottle so be ready to see where they fly .


Once all the plug are out, use the small flat screwdriver to *gently* pry down the glove box lamp, one it's loose lower it and whilst holding the copper connectors carefully wriggle the two wires loose, pay close attention to which wire goes where, maybe take a cell phone picture of it hanging by the wires .

Now you can slightly flex the glove box liner so it slides past the latch striker, I've done this so many times I no longer unload the glove box, I slide it out full of maps and crap and lean it against the back seat so it's out of the way .

Next, remove the carpets from both front footwells and slide both front seats back as far as they go .

? Are you/we having fun yet ? .

remove the ashtray by depressing the flat steel spring until it begins to tip out then lift it away and set aside (if you're a smoker, NOW is the time to wash it, it'll be dry by the time you re install it) .

Looking in the ashtray's hole you'll see dust, dirt, ashes and against the vertical back wall, two #2 Phillips head screws ~ remove these and be ready for the to try and escape, if your hands have difficulty reaching use a magnet .

Now you can pull the lower half of the console's center

__________________
-Nate
1982 240D 408,XXX miles
Ignorance is the mother of suspicion and fear is the father

I did then what I knew how to do ~ now that I know better I do better