1987 260E: Floor Shift Wood Trim Panel doesnt have hold down screw
 

1987 260E

Well I am looking to replace the radio with an MP3 now that summer is here. Since the carpet has already been removed, I looked at the Floor Shift Wood Trim Panel (around the transmission shift stick) and notice it doesnt have hold down screw. Geez, I thought they all suppose to have one. I tried to wiggle it loose to remove it, but its stuck. How is it stuck the car without the screw? Am I missing something important? Maybe the 1987 260E doesn't use a screw to hold down the trim to the floor board? Any suggestions? Should I apply force and see what happens? Thanks!

You should find a screw holding the panel in place located in the tray under the armrest. Gently pull back the carpet in the tray from the front and you will find a phillips screw holding the console panel. If you do a search there is much info on how to remove this panel. You have to be careful since the window switches are part of the panel and there is no need to be aggressive.

I looked again and don't see any of the phillips screw u mentioned. This is all I saw, no console box whatsoever.

Seek and ye shall find....

(scroll down past the speaker removal tips)

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124Stereo

And...

http://www.peachparts.com/Wikka/W124ShiftKnob

good luck.

I used your pic...

See the two horizontal arrows?

Pull back on that carpeted area.

See the "fat" arrow pointing up?

The hold down screw should be there, visible after you pull back the carpeted strip.

Be very careful. In a car of the same vintage as yours, two things may be happening: 1. the wood may be "stuck" down due to gunk and other stuff falling there and 2. the wood and the wood's finish may be "brittle" and easy to crack. Proceed gently...

P.S. If you get frustrated by the whole process..use your cat to open a bottle of... :scream:

Hi Benz-LGB What did you mean by carpetted area? I took a look and see no carpet. The entire floor where you draw the arrows on is made of plastic. Soft plastic same color as the other surrounding. I always think of carpet as in the same fuzzy material you have in the house, that you walk on.

So the area where the wood meets the console (by console I mean that space, under the arm rest between the two front seats) (where I drew the big red arrow) is plastic???

Maybe someone replaced the carpet (is not a thick pile carpet) with plastic???

I am going to take a couple of pictures of that area in my 300TE or my 300CE (they are both the same) and i will show you the picture with the carpeted area in place and with it pulled back, to show the screw.

I cannot believe that it is that much different in your car than in any other W124.

First picture shows what the area looks with carpet piece in place.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...E/0046d2ec.jpg

Second picture shows the carpet partially pulled back.

Arrow pointing straight up shows the carpet piece being pulled back.

The arrow coming from the right shows an embossed Benz star found on the plastic area under the piece of carpet.

The arrow coming form the left shows the mounting screw that you need to remove prior to removing the wood center console.

Maybe someone removed the piece of carpet and put a piece of plastic in its place. Whatever is tehre, you need to remove it to get to the screw.

http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k1...E/20a22ac5.jpg

BTW, I really need to clean that area. I had no idea! :eek:

Martini?
 

BENZ-LGB,

Does the feline take the vodka straight or on the rocks?

Depends on its mood. :D