Joined
·
606 Posts
Since I bought my car, I have hated my center console. It came broken and just looked generally crappy. I got lucky last week and found an 05+ console, manual, and same color code. So I ordered it and got it today, here is the installation guide + pics.
Tools
Tools:
![]()
Step 1 - Cleaning and conditioning the leather. I broke down the whole thing and cleaned it good since once it is in, it will be a lot harder (and less likely) for me to clean it well
![]()
Step 2 - Remove the two side panels. Use a penny to turn the screw 1/4 turn. Then slide the whole panel towards the rear of the car and pull it out.
![]()
![]()
Step 3 - Remove the "ash tray" (or placeholder) in the rear of the panel. I used the bone tool and it was pretty tough to get it to pop out. Once removed, disconnect the cigarette outlet wire.
![]()
![]()
Step 4 - Remove the coin holder and the cd holder insert from the bottom of the console. You can just pop it up from the front. Then unscrew the two Torx screws in the bottom.
![]()
![]()
Step 5 - Remove the pen holder using a bone tool. Then remove the gear shift surround. There are two tabs in the front to pull up, then use the bone tool to work up the edges of it. Then unscrew the 2 lower Torx screws that you can now reach with the surround removed. The upper ones are for the CCM.
![]()
![]()
Step 6 - Take off the spaceball holder (the white piece of plastic over the spaceball). There is a tab in the front to undo, then two on the sides. Once these tabs are off, there are three tabs on the sides that need to be undone from a piece that is under the spaceball.
![]()
![]()
Step 7 - Remove the console by sliding it back a little then lifting it off. Two things to note here: It was much easier to take the piece that contains the e-brake boot off first (it just kind of pops up, then slide it off the e-brake). 2nd, it is wise to wrap a towel or something around the e-brake so that you don't damage it when pulling off the console and putting on the replacement
Step 8 - Once the console is removed, it is a good time to do a little cleaning! I found a lot of crap that had been stuck to the sides of the seats next to the console where it could not be reached easily. A pic of me using my V-day present from my GF to shine light on the spots I was cleaning. It is a sweet light! Joby Gorrilatorch. It has magnetic feet as well so it can stick anywhere!
![]()
Step 9 - I removed the e-brake boot piece from the new console too for easy installation. Remove the gearshift surround as well. It goes back on the same way. I did not remove the back piece to attach the lighter chord, it was much harder on the 05 and I did not want to break anything. It was easy enough to just connect it through the bottom without needing that extra window. Once it's on, slide if forward and make sure that the tabs in the front slide into the right spots. It was a little tough but it popped right in.
![]()
![]()
Step 10 - Then just reinstall everything the way you took it off. Screw in the screws under the console and in the front of the console, clip the spaceball holder back on, then clip in the gearshift surround.
Another shameless pic of my new light in action!
![]()
The finished product! It looks MUCH better!
![]()
![]()
![]()
The upgrade was definitely worth it and was the #1 thing that bothered me since I got my car. I encourage it, it is very easy to do and only took about an hour.
Enjoy!
Tools
- Bone tool
- Torx #20
- Penny (any year will do)
Tools:
Step 1 - Cleaning and conditioning the leather. I broke down the whole thing and cleaned it good since once it is in, it will be a lot harder (and less likely) for me to clean it well
Step 2 - Remove the two side panels. Use a penny to turn the screw 1/4 turn. Then slide the whole panel towards the rear of the car and pull it out.
Step 3 - Remove the "ash tray" (or placeholder) in the rear of the panel. I used the bone tool and it was pretty tough to get it to pop out. Once removed, disconnect the cigarette outlet wire.
Step 4 - Remove the coin holder and the cd holder insert from the bottom of the console. You can just pop it up from the front. Then unscrew the two Torx screws in the bottom.
Step 5 - Remove the pen holder using a bone tool. Then remove the gear shift surround. There are two tabs in the front to pull up, then use the bone tool to work up the edges of it. Then unscrew the 2 lower Torx screws that you can now reach with the surround removed. The upper ones are for the CCM.
Step 6 - Take off the spaceball holder (the white piece of plastic over the spaceball). There is a tab in the front to undo, then two on the sides. Once these tabs are off, there are three tabs on the sides that need to be undone from a piece that is under the spaceball.
Step 7 - Remove the console by sliding it back a little then lifting it off. Two things to note here: It was much easier to take the piece that contains the e-brake boot off first (it just kind of pops up, then slide it off the e-brake). 2nd, it is wise to wrap a towel or something around the e-brake so that you don't damage it when pulling off the console and putting on the replacement
Step 8 - Once the console is removed, it is a good time to do a little cleaning! I found a lot of crap that had been stuck to the sides of the seats next to the console where it could not be reached easily. A pic of me using my V-day present from my GF to shine light on the spots I was cleaning. It is a sweet light! Joby Gorrilatorch. It has magnetic feet as well so it can stick anywhere!
Step 9 - I removed the e-brake boot piece from the new console too for easy installation. Remove the gearshift surround as well. It goes back on the same way. I did not remove the back piece to attach the lighter chord, it was much harder on the 05 and I did not want to break anything. It was easy enough to just connect it through the bottom without needing that extra window. Once it's on, slide if forward and make sure that the tabs in the front slide into the right spots. It was a little tough but it popped right in.
Step 10 - Then just reinstall everything the way you took it off. Screw in the screws under the console and in the front of the console, clip the spaceball holder back on, then clip in the gearshift surround.
Another shameless pic of my new light in action!
The finished product! It looks MUCH better!
The upgrade was definitely worth it and was the #1 thing that bothered me since I got my car. I encourage it, it is very easy to do and only took about an hour.
Enjoy!
