Those instructions are for the front panels - I was struggling with the rear, which doesn't get pulled upward as step 7 of your instructions describe. Once I got the panel that holds the window shade off (sure wish I had known about this before I started this job - I wouldn't have destroyed my panel if I had), and removed the screw behind it, the panel pulled out very easily without any need to pull up on it.

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2003 X5 4.4i
1992 Porsche 968
2007 328i
2014 Subaru Forester XT