560SL - How to remove console sides?

[cbdo]

My '89 560SL suffers from the dreaded Wet Right Foot disease. There was an earlier post on replacing the drain hoses, but it simply said "pull the console side panel". I've pulled the center wood before but don't know the drill for the side panels (or, if it's all one unit, the console shell)--any and all guidance most welcome!
TIA-

[JFawcett]

If your drains are plugged - there are 2 ways to clear.
1 is to crawl under the car and locate the 4 drains on either side of the transmission. The other way is to remove the console side panels.
Unfortunately, I have not found a real easy way. The console sides are held in by tabs that probably used to release easily, but age has caused them to "weld" to the center console. There are 3 tabs that have to be released. There are 2 on inline with the rheostat for the climate control system and one down by where your knee would be while driving the car. The last on is down by the gas pedal. Take out the mats and the carpet first. Then start working on the tabs. Start with the gas pedal one first. Then start pressing on the other 2. It is not an easy removal. The piece has to bend to come out. I have found mine to be quite flexible. The passenger side has a screw in the panel. Also,on the passenger side be VERY careful as there are a whole lot of expensive electronics on the floor board on the passenger side.....just don't hit/disturb/play with them.
Once you get the side panel off, there are 4 black rubber tubes (2 on each side of the console - 2 driver and 2 passenger) that come off. Unhook and pull up through floor board. Then clean out the hoses. I actually got a wet dry vac and vacummed up in the core to clean out as much debris as I could. LOTS of stuff up in there from 20 years. Hope this helps!

[cbdo]

Thanks--sounds like a weekend project!