Console R&R Help??

[marcjac]

Hi all;

I recently purchased light poplar wood to replace the dark burlwood trim. I read and re-read the instructions for removing the center console, but I think I've royally screwed up big time! I need your help.

I got the thing loose, but there were wires leading to the rear heating unit, cigarette lighter and heated seats switches. I could only find one connection that I could remove, so as I'm trying to lift the console, the remaining connected wires are preventing me from going more than a few inches. I read that i needed to remove 2 screws from the rear unit, and they were quite a problem (assuming I was doing the correct screws). That didn't help one bit, so I just started removing every screw I could find, but with no difference. I'm VERY concerned I won't be able to put this thing back together!

Meanwhile, I had the X in "D" to facilitate the removal, but when I put it back in Park I couldn't get the key out! I really had to work to get the console in a position where the key would come out.

I'm at my wit's end, and will probably end up paying a stealer to finish this "easy" project. I just don't understand what I'm missing here... those of you who've done this make it seem rather easy. But I wonder if having the cold weather package (and heated rear seats) is complicating things??

Geez, all I wanted to do was change out my trim

Any suggestions before I have a stoke?? TIA

Marc

[marcjac]

Update:

I didn't have a stoke or a stroke (yet). I may have pulled a few muscles in my back, but I realized the 2 screws in front of the rear heat assembly mentioned in the instructions were NOT the 2 screws in the sides of the storage area, rather they were the 2 screws on the hinge mechanism for the console lid. I had ASSumed those were for the hinge itself, but nooooooooo. Wrong again

Anywho, I removed those 2 screws and was able to pry out the rear heat assembly. It's too late in the evening for me to get into trying to finish this project, but I still see wires attached to the assembly. I'm going to ASSume the rear cupholder mechanism will come out as well, leaving the rest of the console free to move up and out? It would be great if anyone who's done console work could take a picture of the rear of the console after it's been removed, along with pics of the other rear parts. I've got so many screws laying around.... sheesh....

Still open to any suggestions or tips. Thanks.

Marc

[mrbmwx5]

You have to remove all the screws on the left and right side of the rear air,cups holder take out the rear air vent first so you can able to lift up the console.
Put the car in drive and lift up the hand brake, once the console is up about 3-5 inches there is one big fat cable that run from the front cigarette lighter ( unplug the white connector ( three pins)near by the shifter and unplug the connector from cigarette lighter)to the rear you have to unclip that cable on the driver side located in side the the console.
pull the console back toward the rear seat.

[mrbmwx5]

[marcjac]

Good morning, Mr BMW:

I knew if there was anyone here that would be able to help me out, it would be you! Thanks for the heads up on the various screws. The ones you put arrows on are the last ones I decided to remove, which allowed me to take out the rear air vent. Per the online article by Loophole, I disconnected 3 sets of wires on the driver's side, including the cig lighter, an ELO 18 pin connector, and the phone antenna. If you look to the left of your orrange arrow, there's a big, fat cable running up into the console lid. I'm hoping that's the ELO cable. I think I'm almost done except for the remaining connector for the hvac controls (which I won't see till I move the console back a few inches).

Unfortunately, the rest of my story will have to wait a few days as I threw out my back trying to move the console I think this coming weekend is when I'll finish this, thanks to your help!

[marcjac]

Update;

Got the console out yesterday. My rear heat assembly has a total of 3 cables that needed to be disconnected due to having heated rear seats. Once I removed the 2 screws that MrBMW had circled above, the unit was loose and I was able to get all 3 cables removed. Beyond that, the only issue I strugged with was the big connector up front for the front heated seats (and other) buttons. I wasn't sure where it was, how long the cable was, or what kind of connector I'd find.

My opinion is that this is definitely a 2-person job. Some of it depends on what options you have. I probably removed some screws unecessarily, now that the console is out of the car.

Replacing the trim wasn't TOO difficult, there's a total of 6 torx screws to remove it. But you also have to remove the ashtray assembly (4 screws) and the cupholder assembly (6 screws) first. Most are T-20's but I also needed T-9's and T-8
s for the ashtray cover and other parts. It's not easy finding those small torx, but they can be found at Home Depot and Lowes to name a few.

I hope to put up pics later this week of the car without the console, so that others can see the various plugs and the places where the console is secured to the car.

This is NOT an easy job, IMO. Pack plenty of patience. The DYI article listed online is a good starting point, but not nearly enough info to get the job done. Pics would've been very helpful.

Finding the wood trim for the rear cupholder is my next project; seems anyone selling wood trim online has all the parts EXCEPT that one.

I have to say I dread putting the console back in, for fear of breaking some of the various plastic parts, and for fear of not being able to find and hook up all the different electrical connections. But knowing how everything looks OUT of the car makes it a bit easier to figure out what has to be done to put it back IN:-)