Is my console wood supposed to look like this?

[Rain]

I’m in the middle of swapping in a new center console lock box, so I’m taking off the wood trim for the first time. I did searches here for how to do it, and descriptions seemed to differ than my setup.

The first difference I noticed is that there isn’t a screw that holds the wood into the center console, as tutorials here have mentioned and shown. There wasn’t even a bracket for the screw. After taking out the console box, the whole wood trim around the window buttons and shifter could move up... slightly.

From there, all my buttons were connected and held into place. So the only way I could take the wood piece out was to disconnect the window switches and seat heaters. That left me with this:



From there, I think I can swap the new box in. But I didn’t read anywhere about having to disconnect the switches first. Did I overcomplicate it? I’m also curious because at some point, I’m going to send the wood in to get refinished... but all these switch parts are stapled into this wood. Is that not normal?

 

[speedy300dturbo]

You're missing the small L-shaped bracket that's stapled to the rear edge. You don't really need it, as the rolltop center console box will hold the rear edge down once it's installed.

Some models (like yours) have tabs that hold the window switches to the wood. Others had tabs that only held the mirror and fader (if equipped) switches in, and the window switches stayed attached to the lower plastic frame that houses the female electrical connectors. The attached pictures show a wood console without the tabs for window switches.

The switch carrier is stapled to the wood, but you can remove the switches by gently prying on the upper and lower retaining tabs with a flathead screwdriver.

 

[Rain]

You're missing the small L-shaped bracket that's stapled to the rear edge. You don't really need it, as the rolltop center console box will hold the rear edge down once it's installed.

Some models (like yours) have tabs that hold the window switches to the wood. Others had tabs that only held the mirror and fader (if equipped) switches in, and the window switches stayed attached to the lower plastic frame that houses the female electrical connectors. The attached pictures show a wood console without the tabs for window switches.

The switch carrier is stapled to the wood, but you can remove the switches by gently prying on the upper and lower retaining tabs with a flathead screwdriver.

Ah, ok. That makes more sense. I didn’t know some models had the tabs, and some models didn’t. Strange. Any idea why there was a difference?

 

[speedy300dturbo]

My guess is that Mercedes used different manufacturers throughout the production run. Your wood console was made by Behr, the one I pictured was made by R+W.

 

[Rain]

Thanks for the info!