How to remove ashtray?

coolboarder · 06-17-2008

I just got the cup holder and ashtray drawers, the cup holder is easy to be replaced but I'm stuck with the ashtray. I only see one screw to the left but nothing on the actual lighter socket side, can someone be kind enough to show me how to remove it? Thanks

**jbanks15** · 06-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolboarder

I just got the cup holder and ashtray drawers, the cup holder is easy to be replaced but I'm stuck with the ashtray. I only see one screw to the left but nothing on the actual lighter socket side, can someone be kind enough to show me how to remove it? Thanks

"" To remove ash tray assy, there are 2 screws, one is hidden behind a soft black button (remove this item its a decorative cover) on left side of ashtray, other is on right side near the cigarette lighter. Once you have the 2 screws removed, the ashtray will slide out. You will have to put gear shifter in Drive to allow open space for removal. You will have to manipulate past the lip, but it will come out. I verified this proceedure with dealer because after removing 2 screws, it does appear to be stuck in there. Takes a bit of patience but eventually I got it out past the bottom lip."" not my words.... jeff

and here is thread with pics:

http://www.benzworld.org/forums/r171...2v-socket.html

**DansSlk** · 06-17-2008

Actual procedure has you remove the plastic console trim so you don't scuff things but you can get it out without doing that if your brave.

coolboarder · 06-17-2008

Well, I managed to find that plastic cover for the cigarette lighter and found the right side screw after plying the cover out. But even after loosing both screws, the drawer seems stuck. Do I have to slide it out at an angle?

**jbanks15** · 06-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolboarder

Well, I managed to find that plastic cover for the cigarette lighter and found the right side screw after plying the cover out. But even after loosing both screws, the drawer seems stuck. Do I have to slide it out at an angle?

from manual:

reach into both recesses on the left and right side of the retainer and pull out the ashtray insert.

or do you already have that part out?

**DansSlk** · 06-17-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolboarder

Well, I managed to find that plastic cover for the cigarette lighter and found the right side screw after plying the cover out. But even after loosing both screws, the drawer seems stuck. Do I have to slide it out at an angle?

If you take off the shifter knob and surround (5 minutes no screw just clips, very simple) you can then lift the trim panel on the console up and the tray will slide right out.

coolboarder · 06-17-2008

Thanks for all the input, but I'm still trying to find out how to just slide it out without removing anything else, I can see that the ashtray has enough clearance from the console or front panel. I saw pictures posted with ashtray sliding out without removing anything else so there must be a way. From previous threads I know quite a few people had done it, how about a little advice from those that had done it?

**DansSlk** · 06-17-2008

Just wiggle more and pull harder i guess

**vincent007** · 06-17-2008

Interesting because I couldn't get my ashtray unit out either! Even with the screws out and the trim out of the way, the ashtray "seemed" stuck on the upper edge just under the A/C Fan control knob module. Maybe this is a "feature" on the new '09s,

. I gave up because I couldn't figure how to remove the A/C Fan panel and I was able to route the cable for my Valentine1 remote display without removing the ashtray. It just would have made the install easier IMHO.

**richard_leeds** · 06-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by coolboarder

the cup holder is easy to be replaced

I'm looking to replace my cup holder with the stock drawer...

coolboarder · 06-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by richard_leeds

I'm looking to replace my cup holder with the stock drawer...

I thought only US specs come with the cup holder? Anyway, I got mine from www.*************.com, they are quite a bit cheaper than dealer and shipping is low and fast (actually shipped from a MB dealer in my area).

Please, I know a few members around here had done it, can you share how to remove the ashtray? Is there any hidden latch?

**DansSlk** · 06-18-2008

Look this is not difficult -

1) Put the shifter into N
2) Grab the driver side of the leather covering and push it to the passenger side (It will release)
3) Lift the leather cover and turn the release key on the shift lever
4) Pull the shift knob and leather cover up and they will pop off the lever
5) Lift the trim piece that houses the gear mod button and the little display with the shift lever positions marked on it
6) Disconnect the electrical connector on the trim piece and set it aside
7) Put your hand into the opening in the center console and pull up to release the panel
8) Disconnect the 2 electrical connections and set the panel aside.
9) NOW YOU CAN WORK ON REMOVING THE ASHTRAY AND IT WILL SLIDE RIGHT OUT

5 minutes of work at the most, just because somebody managed to pull on the tray hard enough to force it out without removing the trim does not mean its the right way to do it.

coolboarder · 06-18-2008

Thanks for the detailed step by step instructions, I will try it tonight when I get home. Just a question though, what is "the release key on the shift lever"?

**DansSlk** · 06-18-2008

A little knob like setup that you twist and it releases, its obvious how it works when you see it.

**jbanks15** · 06-18-2008

Dan is the man!!!

Now I know why I only replaced the cupholder and not the ashtray!

coolboarder · 06-18-2008

Quote:

Originally Posted by DansSlk

Look this is not difficult -

1) Put the shifter into N
2) Grab the driver side of the leather covering and push it to the passenger side (It will release)
3) Lift the leather cover and turn the release key on the shift lever
4) Pull the shift knob and leather cover up and they will pop off the lever
5) Lift the trim piece that houses the gear mod button and the little display with the shift lever positions marked on it
6) Disconnect the electrical connector on the trim piece and set it aside
7) Put your hand into the opening in the center console and pull up to release the panel
8) Disconnect the 2 electrical connections and set the panel aside.
9) NOW YOU CAN WORK ON REMOVING THE ASHTRAY AND IT WILL SLIDE RIGHT OUT

5 minutes of work at the most, just because somebody managed to pull on the tray hard enough to force it out without removing the trim does not mean its the right way to do it.

May be I'm just mechanically challenged, I could not get the leather covering off. Are we talking about the leather shift knob or the leather covering of the shifter (boot as we call it in US)? How hard do I have to push?

**DansSlk** · 06-19-2008

You need to remove the shift boot and the shift knob.

Boot first, so where it meets the plastic surround on the console you should push the drivers side of boot base (not the surround itself) toward the passenger side and it will come free.

coolboarder · 06-19-2008

Looking at your instructions as well as checking out the photos on billsden's doc, removing the whole center console for the ashtray removal is more work than I want to do. I'll either have my dealer do it or sell the drawer. Dan, thank you for your help but this is beyond me.

**DansSlk** · 06-19-2008

Your not removing the console, just the piece of plastic trim that sits in the middle.

Obviously its your call but paying a dealer's minimum rate for a 2 minute job seems daft to me.

coolboarder · 06-19-2008

But from this picture, after removing the shifter and plate, the little rubber mat right in front of the ashtray is still in the way, looks like unless the whole console (handbrake one, not the climate control one) is lifted off, the ashtray will still not slide out. There seems to be a big wide tab under the ashtray that will not clear unless the console is removed.

06-17-2008	#1 (permalink)
coolboarder SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 70 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	How to remove ashtray? I just got the cup holder and ashtray drawers, the cup holder is easy to be replaced but I'm stuck with the ashtray. I only see one screw to the left but nothing on the actual lighter socket side, can someone be kind enough to show me how to remove it? Thanks

06-17-2008	#3 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	Actual procedure has you remove the plastic console trim so you don't scuff things but you can get it out without doing that if your brave. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

06-17-2008	#8 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	Just wiggle more and pull harder i guess __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

06-18-2008	#12 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	Look this is not difficult - 1) Put the shifter into N 2) Grab the driver side of the leather covering and push it to the passenger side (It will release) 3) Lift the leather cover and turn the release key on the shift lever 4) Pull the shift knob and leather cover up and they will pop off the lever 5) Lift the trim piece that houses the gear mod button and the little display with the shift lever positions marked on it 6) Disconnect the electrical connector on the trim piece and set it aside 7) Put your hand into the opening in the center console and pull up to release the panel 8) Disconnect the 2 electrical connections and set the panel aside. 9) NOW YOU CAN WORK ON REMOVING THE ASHTRAY AND IT WILL SLIDE RIGHT OUT 5 minutes of work at the most, just because somebody managed to pull on the tray hard enough to force it out without removing the trim does not mean its the right way to do it. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

06-18-2008	#14 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	A little knob like setup that you twist and it releases, its obvious how it works when you see it. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

06-17-2008	#4 (permalink)
coolboarder SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 70 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Well, I managed to find that plastic cover for the cigarette lighter and found the right side screw after plying the cover out. But even after loosing both screws, the drawer seems stuck. Do I have to slide it out at an angle?

06-17-2008	#7 (permalink)
coolboarder SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 70 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for all the input, but I'm still trying to find out how to just slide it out without removing anything else, I can see that the ashtray has enough clearance from the console or front panel. I saw pictures posted with ashtray sliding out without removing anything else so there must be a way. From previous threads I know quite a few people had done it, how about a little advice from those that had done it?

06-17-2008	#9 (permalink)
vincent007 SLK World Member Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: NY Vehicle: White '09 SLK 350 Other Toys: Honda Valkyrie, Honda Ridgeline Posts: 58 Country: Thanks: 5 Thanked 9 Times in 6 Posts	Interesting because I couldn't get my ashtray unit out either! Even with the screws out and the trim out of the way, the ashtray "seemed" stuck on the upper edge just under the A/C Fan control knob module. Maybe this is a "feature" on the new '09s, . I gave up because I couldn't figure how to remove the A/C Fan panel and I was able to route the cable for my Valentine1 remote display without removing the ashtray. It just would have made the install easier IMHO.

06-18-2008	#13 (permalink)
coolboarder SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 70 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Thanks for the detailed step by step instructions, I will try it tonight when I get home. Just a question though, what is "the release key on the shift lever"?

06-18-2008	#15 (permalink)
jbanks15 Founding Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Valrico, Florida Vehicle: 2009 SLK 55 AMG Posts: 708 Country: Thanks: 8 Thanked 42 Times in 30 Posts	Dan is the man!!! Now I know why I only replaced the cupholder and not the ashtray! __________________ Jeff 2009 SLK 55 AMG Black/Black Premium 1, Multimedia, Lighting packages Clearshield Protective Film OEM MB Plexiglass Windscreen Eurolight Clear Side Markers Smarttop version 3.22 Kleyman 3rd Brake Light Flashing/Strobing Module V1.5 (Noregrets Custom Works)

06-19-2008	#17 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	You need to remove the shift boot and the shift knob. Boot first, so where it meets the plastic surround on the console you should push the drivers side of boot base (not the surround itself) toward the passenger side and it will come free. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

06-19-2008	#18 (permalink)
coolboarder SLK World Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Posts: 70 Country: Thanks: 0 Thanked 2 Times in 2 Posts	Looking at your instructions as well as checking out the photos on billsden's doc, removing the whole center console for the ashtray removal is more work than I want to do. I'll either have my dealer do it or sell the drawer. Dan, thank you for your help but this is beyond me.

06-19-2008	#19 (permalink)
DansSlk Dude Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Wales Vehicle: 05 B55S (Brabus 6.1 S) Posts: 6,794 Country: Thanks: 96 Thanked 225 Times in 177 Posts	Your not removing the console, just the piece of plastic trim that sits in the middle. Obviously its your call but paying a dealer's minimum rate for a 2 minute job seems daft to me. __________________ One thing you will learn with German cars - If it's simple it ain't happening.

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