[J4MES]

I've looked all over, and can't find a guide for removal of the phone cradle in the centre console. Can it be does easily? I'm trying to create a little space to fit my Harman Kardon drive and play device. Thanks in advance..

[SoYank]

If you want to remove the adapter, press the button on the front end and pull up at the back.
If you want to remove the part the adapter fits you need to remove the whole console. The part snaps into the console using barbed tabs and you need to squeeze and push to unsnap them from the console. Removing the cabling is no problem since the two cables plug into connector beneath the handbrake. It's those damned barbs that cause all the grief.

Also, the area underneath is unfinished. There is a rubber tray that will fit in there but I don't have the part number at hand (it's on the bottom of the item at work).

Edit: The part number is: 51167118064

[J4MES]

Thanks - is removing the centre console a job??

[Dr Dave]

Fair job, yes!

Why do you want to remove the cradle holder itself????

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by Dr Dave

Fair job, yes!

Why do you want to remove the cradle holder itself????

One assumes for more storage space under the arm rest?

I'd be interested in this too actually, I assume removing the cradle does not affect the bluetooth capability in general?

[SoYank]

No. The cradle only serves as a means to charge and connect a cell phone that has an antenna port to the external (dorsal fin) antenna. Bluetooth is wireless.

[toxicnerve]

Originally Posted by SoYank

No. The cradle only serves as a means to charge and connect a cell phone that has an antenna port to the external (dorsal fin) antenna. Bluetooth is wireless.

Cool. I knew that Bluetooth is a wireless technology, just wondered if the transceiver was built into the cradle or elsewhere in the car.

I might try and remove the cradle when I get some time.

[SoYank]

If you find an easier way to remove it without removing the console, please let us all know.

[J4MES]

It's to create space for a H-K drive and play system. I'll try tonight and post a 'how-to' if I succeed...

Thanks again

[SoYank]

Good luck, J4MES.

[J4MES]

how the ____ do I remove the unit beneath the armrest???

[SoYank]

My guess would be you need to remove the back of the console with the ashtray. There appears to be a bracket under there as shown on this picture.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...22&hg=51&fg=35

[J4MES]

did it...

courtesy of this guide

Now i have it off, I've removed the airvent tubing to expose the bottom of the cradle...

[J4MES]

And after all that... the best place for the unit is on the phone cradle, with the cables tucked into the can cooler. Grrr

[J4MES]

Originally Posted by SoYank

If you find an easier way to remove it without removing the console, please let us all know.

If you're patient and dexterous, you could try going in from the handbrake gaiter and prising the cradle clips up from beneath - worth a go I'd say...

[dirtyballoonot]

Again, if you want to get rid of the eject box let me know

[jvowles]

How long do you think it takes to get all of that bits out?

[rogerfr]

Wasted space in the centre armrest:
I wanted to reclaim storage space in the E90 (2009) centre arm rest. I had no use for the phone snap-in / eject box since my phone has no external connectors. The need was to remove the phone unit and give me space to store my other gadgets.

What to do:
This procedure is non-destructive and reversible. It could take under an hour to complete.
1) To remove the air vent unit in the rear centre armrest, run a plastic card into the top edge of the air-vent assembly. Once you release the two barbed lugs on the top edge the unit can be pulled away. I used a thin plastic palette knife from the kitchen. I destroyed a credit card first. The connector for the wired air controls is easily pulled off.
2) Use a torch to seek two rear barbs sticking down from the phone 'eject box'. They might be reached by fingers and if so push them towards each other to release the rear end of the phone box. Otherwise be creative and use a flat long-bladed tool. If the air tube unit is in your way, it can be pulled a cm or so towards the back of the car. There's no need to try to remove it but do be sure to reseat it with a push towards the front of the car.
3) Go to the armrest and you'll find the phone box can be lifted from the rear end. There are four more barbed catches towards the front of the box. Wiggle the box up and the barbs ought to give way to release the unit.
4) Next you want to remove the electronics from the phone box. These comprise a circuit board and cable. They can be stuffed down the void in the armrest. Do this with the box on a white towel so as not to lose the springs and bits inside: separate the two parts of the phone box by releasing four barbs. Wiggle out the circuit board and cable. Wrap it, label it and stuff it in the void.
5) Your armrest storage is now much improved. A rubber mat or black card can be cut to cover the slots exposed by the removal. Glue this with copydex or similar to ensure nothing ever falls in the void.
6) If you've about £15 to spare, you can buy a tray insert. BMW Genuine Centre Armrest Storage Insert Tray 3 Series E90/91/92/93 51167118064
7) Pop the rear arm vents back, lower end first and hope to hear two clicks from the top.

[kayfaz]

Any pics?

[Dirk Van Driver]

No need to remove the rear vent assembly, nor indeed the centre console itself.
.
Get yourself a set of these :

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/like/36146...13=80&ff14=122

Remove the plastic tidy/cover that hides the female multiplug for the TCU.
In front of the multiplug connector there are two latches, using the 90 degree hook (3rd from the right in the kit I've linked to) use the holes these come through to pull the TCU top cover up.

This will expose the printed circuit board, two cables and two small springs.
Remove the two springs before they fall into the void that is the centre console

Now release the handbrake gaiter before using the 90 degree hook tool to pull the base of the TCU unit up (it'll need a bit of brute force, but you won't damage it or the centre console)

The two cables go into a two separate connectors that clip onto a white plastic bracket that slides onto the centre console securing bracketry beneath the handbrake.

Slide the white bracket sideways and you'll then be able to disconnect both the cables from their plugs. The small plug is easy, the bigger one less so.

Thread the two cables out and the TCU unit base plate can be removed from the centre console.

Refit the now vacant plugs to the white bracket and slide it back into its slot on the centre console securing bracket. Refit the handbrake gaiter and order and fit the rubber insert part number 51167118064 into the void left by the TCU baseplate.

Job done in no more than ten minutes.

[JJ0063]

That's strange, literally done this an hour ago then log on to see this thread.

Had a spare rubber insert from when I fitted leather to my old 320D so thought I'd put that in as I only use the Bluetooth & don't need the cradle.

I just popped the cradle out from the top with a tiny flat head.. No damage bar a scratch on the corner of the cradle which il be binning unless I find a cheap iPhone 6 holder!

[Dirk Van Driver]

Well I had visions of owners removing the complete centre console or wrestling with the rear centre console vent, to do what's a straightforward 20 minute job.

Talk of tucking printed circuit boards and wiring out of the way under the console didn't sound a great idea either...

I've ordered the rubber tray insert, but as a stop gap I've cut a piece of boot carpet to fit in to the empty tray, almost looks as good as the rubber insert