Johnhav430

Does anyone know precisely where to pry up the center console trim? I am planning on replacing the cupholders, broke down and paid the $133.

I see that the shift comes off easily, and the vinyl can be pulled away from the console to create a gap....just wondering if there are good points to use a plastic tool which I've ordered...or does it really matter? I did find this thread with great pics....so now I understand the cupholder....actually, why does the **** even need to come off....

https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ole-cover.html

rkw77080

Please take a look at Posts #6 and #10 in the link below...
https://www.clublexus.com/forums/ls-...ease-help.html

Johnhav430

Thanks a million RKW! I'm hoping this all happens on Sat. I really didn't want to spend the $130 and change...my buddy talked me into it, he said yes it's a bit of money, but why not keep the car OEM...I was gonna do the dollar store thing and screw into the existing broken cupholder, he said please do not do that...lol

bmore430

I would have paid the 133 as well. these cars aren't new by any means but still nice enough not to cheap out on fixing things you use everyday.

Johnhav430

btw does the chrome bezel easily come off? Now that I've seen the pieces online, is this really wood or plastic? Kinda looks like plastic and I know we're not driving a Rolls Royce....or sailing in a Sea Ray....

rkw77080

Yes and Yes... The chrome bezel will pop out when you pry up the "wood" trim. The "wood" pieces are not solid wood, instead, only the surface of the plastic part is laminated with real wood.

Johnhav430

Last question before attempting on Sat.....should I try to pry the chrome off first, or just pry the entire console at the 4 points....thanks.

rkw77080

A picture is worth a thousand words... You can remove the chrome bezel first, but not mandatory since it is attached to the "wood" panel.

Johnhav430

Thank you, you are a gentleman and a scholar. All this for a cupholder hehe...(my other forum the very same topic came up, on the 335i they come out horizontally from the dashboard..)

1990hatch

I did this a couple weeks ago to replace the ashtray bulb. I could barely find any good info online and eventually figured it out on my own. First, put the car in drive or all the way down to low. May have to open the pop out little pocket above the trim peice with the seat heater controls on it. Gently pull on the peice with the seat heater controls. Once that comes out you can unplug it and sit it aside. The only way i could get the wooden trim thats around the gear shifter to come out was pulling from the front where the seat heater control panel was. Ive read people saying they got the peice off from the back, near the cup holders. Not me, it looked like it was going to break before it would pop loose. Pull it up at the front and easily wiggle it around and it will come out. The chrome trim will pop off with it and its done.

Johnhav430

Thanks for the tips, got 'er did! I actually think the cup holder arms are fragile. Will post some pics.

when I got the panel off, I noticed the right front tab was broken off, and the left rear was missing the metal tab. Not sure if I did it, or it was broken from a previous job.

Johnhav430

random pics