P38A Centre console side removal -only one screw ?

Hi,

I have an early 98 Autobiography with lots of leather and walnut and I need to get into the centre console to repair some previous barbarism.

I’ve read the notes on Rave and been through a bunch of videos and they all say to remove 2 screws on each side then pop and rotate the sides towards the rear.

the problem is, I can only find 1 screw, the one that’s supposed to be down by the seat is either missing or concealed.

havr any of you fine folk encountered this before or have any ideas of how best to proceed ?

thanks in advance !

bob

The side panels would be next to your leg in seat?
There’s 2 screws - 1 by seat (set it rearmost for access), another in footwell.
The side panels comes aside then slide down an come out (they slot up into the centre console)

Use plastic trim pry bar or rag over your screwdriver not to scratch panel like ^^^ him

Does anybody still have the little balls(for want of a better description) on the dash end of the side panels? according to Rave there should be a type of ball and socket joint,
mine were broken off as well

No balls or broken bits on mine

Hi,

yes my problem is that there’s no obvious second screw by the seat only the one in the footwell.

See if the bottom will come out as in vid above
May just be missing any little screw will replace it

RangeRoller dt said:

See if the bottom will come out as in vid above
May just be missing any little screw will replace it

Click to expand...

I’ll have a go but it doesn’t look like there is a place for a screw -the whole side looks like a slightly different construction -the footwork screw was higher up too

Foot screw is pretty much the top?

There may be variations... if you can get us a pic may help. If not one of the members will know.
Wait bit before yanking anything off
They are pretty strong though

I got it, there was no second screw and it just wanted a little ‘encouragement’ !

now I just need to get the top part of the walnut trim (surrounding the switches) and the two bits either side of the radio aperture off !

Try removing just the painted rear section on an L322 console, then report back!!!

Once screws are out you sort of rotate the back end up and tug down and back at the front and it just pops out from the dash. Someone must have been quite hamfisted to break the lugs off.

There’s the screws above the hevac

And one either side at the top (x2) -
right hand one you need to remove the binnacle to get at (that’s awkward few screws you’ll need to adjust steering wheel to get to)
Left one you should see already

Careful pulling it out, quite bit wiring behind there

How did you get the hazard switch out?

oakey said:

How did you get the hazard switch out?

Click to expand...

Me?

Yes you

Switch was for Keith - he wants an Early red one, I’d prefer later black. I popped it out ready to post after covid has settled down while I had dash out, but QS cut out that heat wave we had March, I instinctively pushed hazard switch and it clicked all way back in

They say you can get in there with a feeler gauge but doubt that. Rocker switch maybe, they’ve got different tangs


I took dash out as in post #12. When it’s out like the bottom photo you just unclip it and push through with your hand as in top photo.