tools i used. metal trip popper i used for the side panels. a pliers type would have been better but i don’t have such fanciness.
i used the orange thin “bone” tool to make a slot next to the heater controls (from the side) and then slid in the wide angled yellow trim tool to pop the bottom loose first on both sides, then the top popped loose. there is very little room to get the right pressure to pop the controls out and nothing to pry against. you kinda have to “pull” it out by hooking on it with the trim tools.
taking those side panels off next to the seats was pretty difficult actually. one of my tabs ripped off (left hand rear). and i was using the “proper” trim tool. you have to reach up under them to guide your tools with both hands and pop them out with minimal leverage. all 4 of my metal clips on the tabs were deformed, but relatively easy to reform.
On all 4 tabs the clips stayed in the body. i suggest taking them out of there, reforming them and put them on the plastic tabs before reinstalling the panels. I only had to remove the front panel on each side.
Next 2 images are of left-hand (driver’s side here in NA)
the green circles are where the clips hang out. red circles are the screws for later when removing the console “lid”.
I think the bolt on the driver’s side here is facing longitudinally as a hold-over from when these had mechanical shifters. or possibly even with the electronic shifter so when folks whale on them, the console stays in place. it’s a super long bolt for some reason.
corresponding panel, reversed with the clips circled in green. note the broken clip at the “rear” of the panel.
Right hand side (passenger in NA). i had to pull the ground strap wires out of the tension fitting on this zip tie. (it was actually crammed behind it. someone else may have been in here). The clips are pretty easy to lose forever, rattling away, inside the tunnel. be careful. i had to dig one out carefully with a magnet and grabber thingy.
You can also see the 2 torx required to remove the console. front is same as left hand side. rear is on that silver angle.
brown question mark above. i forget what this is for.
i forget what this is for also. it can be disconnected/reconnected easily without removing that rear side panel. i almost forgot it like 3 times as i reassembled. airbag module is there. good to know.
7 screws at bottom to remove the top trim, mostly. top right screw circle should be green. greens are long plastic tapping screws. red are long machine screws (shifter).
remaining 3 screws under the trim from top. short plastic tappers. yes there are like 7 types of hardware in this job. keep track of them.
finished.
now i guess i get to plastiweld that side panel tab back on. maybe i’ll just epoxy it.
NA cars are kinda the opposite of the other posters and videos. but i still rotated the console to the right hand side of the car (ground strap is still there). i didn’t have to clip a zip tie at rear. just unhook the ground strap at right hand side front (as above).
kinda finicky, but pretty easy job.