Does your Center Console Lid pop open all the way when you push the release button? If so, close this thread and be happy it does. If it doesn't, read on. There is a gas strut (MB calls it a spring) at the rear of the lid that opens it for you. If your lid doesn't pop open all the way, the strut is bad. Just follow the videos seen in the stickies at the top of the 129 section that shows the removal of the wood and the center console lid. The part costs $70 at Parts.com and $124 from the dealer. It took about 30 minutes to replace it.
Have had two R129's and never knew it was supposed to pop up. Damn you, now that will bug me till I fix it.
I hear you. Just make sure you watch the 2 videos. You do not have to fully remove all the switch connections from the wood. You'll figure that out as you progress with the repair. Good luck.
Half an hour in a parallel universe maybe!
The damn thing took more than 4 hours of my life and a lot of irritation.
Hope i never will have to do it again...
Did you replace that strut in 30 minutes????? Excuse me if I am skeptical, I know I'm old, but slow I'm not.
Check the two videos. And then judge how long it took me. You don't even have to take the wood all the way out. 11 screws and bolts and two clips holds the strut in place. In and out and it's done. And I can assure you I'm no youngster either. Good luck.
BTW another testimony to the value of this forum! I would never had known mine was bad if I hadn't seen this thread! Is there also supposed to be a light in this storage box in the center console?
The slow downloads are free.The high speed downloads are not.Also agree that 30 mins seems a little quick for total job when you have to remove the radio,controls,etc to remove wood panel.Maybe he meant 30 mins once all the stuff is removed.
No need to remove the wood console (at least on a 2000 SL) Just remove the 4 screws inside the box, remove the release button on the side, pull the lid and frame up and disconnect the vacumm line and the electric plug. Remove the gas spring and put in the new one. 30 minutes is tight even for that much, but it gets worse, when you find not enough slack in the wire on the plug and you must loosen other parts so you can pull the wire up so you can plug it back in the lid and don't loose the cir-clips. Fun
Vehicle: 2000 SL500 Black Diamond Designo, 1987 Porsche 944, 2005 Chrysler Pacifica
Location: Camillus, NY U.S.A
Posts: 150
Quote:
Originally Posted by jaybro
No need to remove the wood console (at least on a 2000 SL) Just remove the 4 screws inside the box, remove the release button on the side, pull the lid and frame up and disconnect the vacumm line and the electric plug. Remove the gas spring and put in the new one. 30 minutes is tight even for that much, but it gets worse, when you find not enough slack in the wire on the plug and you must loosen other parts so you can pull the wire up so you can plug it back in the lid and don't loose the cir-clips. Fun
K...got it out, new one in...now I don't have enough slack in the wire for plugging it back in? How do I get more slack in the wire? I'm afraid to pull on it with any force as I may break it.....HELP!! PLEASE!!!
Huge thank you for getting this part number! I just got the part in and removed my center console. Must be different for 2001 year, because I was able to take the whole assembly out only by removing 4 screws and then disconnecting the electric / vacuum
__________________
2006 S430; 84,260 miles
2009 C300; 64,800 miles
Previous cars
2001 SL500; 114,032 miles (sold)
1986 560SEL; 150,276 miles (hit by drunk driver)
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Center Console (storage box) Lid Spring 
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