Removing center area, storage, armrest, brake area... to repaint??!!
PLEASE! HOW DO YOU remove the whole center storage area to strip the paint. I have searched and searched... find plenty on people talking about removing it and painting it... But NOTHING on how to remove that area!..... I have a shop that is going to repaint the sucker, but they do not really want to deal with tearing it apart.... I need to remove the door handles and the area between the seat from the stick shift to the bulkhead. (the arm rest and storage section. I have a SLK230 '99.... PLEASE advice... So helpless in finding how to remove this piece in the car!~ CHeers, rich
I removed about 5 sq. inches of paint before planning to remove the console and realised that it was possible to do a perfect repair job in situ.
You can feather the offending edges with wet/dry paper and then clean with a good cleaner - finish with alcohol(meth spirit)
Paint on two coats with a brush - dry with hair dryer -not too hot
Finish by dabbing rough cloth dipped in paint (say towelling) and this will give a little texture to the finish as well as covering brush streaks that are inevitable
Brilliant finish- only limited by the colour match -- it will save you a lot of cash
If your colour is Sienna Beige I can send you some that is an exact match - flatted down to the right gloss level -- send me PM
I got used to driving with a rolled up towel on the console before I fixed it and found it very comfortable -- made a carpeted foam pad to cover console and find it very comfortable as well as protecting console -- I might take some shots and post them
Thanks for the tips.... I appreciate it! From the many, many pages I have read, I still cant decide what to do... I have the feeling I might go to the dealer and get some more clues from someone on how to remove the center piece and the door handles....
I have a guy to paint the parts after stripping them... perfect match for my grey and black interior... Just gonna have to remove the parts for him though. Thanks anyhow for the tips... Ill post some step by steps and pics if I have some success! Cheers. r
Oh man! I can believe so many people found it easy to remove the center area and door handles. There are so many tight fitting wires under that center area... After I popped off the area around the stick shift, I removed the two screws, then I removed the two nuts under the carpet inside the storage area.... BUT then I found a nightmare of tight fitting wiring... Actually, in my attept to pull out the center area, I damaged a couple things!... The wiring clips, the clips for the mechanism that signals the brake is on or off, and really scuffed the heck out of the good paint around the stick shift.... NOW it will have to be stripped and oainted too! I can't handle it! I'm a car repair whimp! As a full time magician, I really am upset to allow myslef to cut up my hands as well fighting with this peic e of plastic headache... All that said, I learned a lesson again.... Time is important and sometimes to get the job done right, you gotta do it yourself and sometime NOT... But, thank to you two guys for replying and giving me the hints you did. Im going to see this Friday if the paint guy can do some magic of his own so I can stay out of this headache. Cheers. r
Step 1: remove the Break handle grip. 2. Remove 2 screws holding on the console glove box lid. 3. Lift carpet at rear of console glove box and remove two nuts. 4 remove chrome surround fot the gear shift. 5. Gently pry up cover with the window switches in it. Lastly remove screws where forward and rear console join.
Yes, up to that point, NO problem. Straight forward and no problems. But then to get the whole unit out, there are too many wires and attached things underside of it... Locking storage system, roof switch wires, mirrors, lighter wiring, signal switch for handbrake, etc... all really tight and I can not see how to just pop them off without a bigger problem. AND the stupid center unit (the whole thing) is scratching up more paint more toward the stick shift area that WAS fine. AWE!> I am very glad you had no problems.... How did you handle all those wires and things?.... Cheers. r
Do you really need to remove the console? 
What A Pain! 
I am very glad you had no problems.... How did you handle all those wires and things?.... Cheers. r
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