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Subject: Photos and directions for disassembly of the center console Author: davidc (moderator) : member since December, 2003 : 10074 posts Posted on: 2004-01-31 20:15:19

If you ever need to service the ashtray mechanism or snake a wiring harness from the back to the front (such as for retrofitting a navigation system), or if you're simply curious as to what is underneath all that expensive wood veneer, the directions and photos herein should help.


First, remove the gearshift knob and leather boot. To remove the knob, put the car in neutral, depress the button and pull up. It helps to have someone help, otherwise its very easy to bloody your own nose. Once the boot is out of the way, remove the black plastic trim with the leather boot from the wood by gently pulling up on the inside edges where the leather meets the black plastic. The wires are short so be careful not to break them (they can be unplugged). There are two philips screws along the front edge that must be removed.


Next, slide the armrest console all the way forward and remove the trim panel cover. The cover is held in place by several plastic tabs and can be removed by prying up gently with a small flat-blade screwdriver. Once the cover is removed, use a philips screwdriver to remove the two large screws.


After the screws have been removed, slide the entire armest assembly forward then up to get it out of the way.


Remove the two screws that attach the wood console to the center armrest.


Now that the four screws have been removed (two front, two back), gently pull up on the wood console by putting your fingers beneath the rear edge of the shifter hole. The wood console has several plastic tabs underneath it which hold it in place against the console (as depicted in the two photos below):





David Cecil
'97 740iL, 117k miles
'86 735i, 91k miles

www.e38.org has links for everything about your BMW 7-series automobile

• Photos and directions for disassembly of the center console (pic) - davidc 2004-01-31 20:15:19 (31620 views)
  • awesome post - will be very helpful! (nt) - boson69 2004-02-01 11:42:28 (1065 views)
  • So that's how I get those biz cards and crumbs out! (nt) - erikdg 2004-02-01 01:59:35 (1182 views)
  • Very nice! (nt) - tompass 2004-01-31 21:24:37 (970 views)
    • Re: WOW! I just got an ounce of POT from under mine! - mancho 2004-02-01 16:32:11 (1607 views)