i was all eager to launch this mini-project this lovely saturday morning (it's already over 70° in san francisco)--the euro parcel shelf install--but i've gotten stymied on step ONE (in fact before step one: i had to go buy a torqx (sp?) driver thinking last night i had an allen key & that's all it needed)

i can NOT seem to pull off the current bolster. i'm pulling pretty hard; hard enough it hurts my hands (trying with right & left sides) and the thing's just not budging. i'm afraid of pulling awkwardly & breaking the plastic, or something worse...

did anyone else have this hard a time? suggestions? this is 2006 convertible--any chance the part's installed differently than on other/earlier models? doesn't seem like it...but can't figure this out.

i've even DESIGNED parts that use tinnerman fasteners which these appear to be from pics, so i should be able to do this...but alas, i'm stuck at the starting line.

lots of words to say " how do i get that panel off?"

thanks!
-diana

 

Just give it a hard jerk with both hands on the most top section of the arc under the steering wheel. A slow steady pull won't do it.

 

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...t=knee+bolster

Here's a link to a parcel shelf thread. Yes, the original bolster is hard to remove. I pulled so hard, I was sure it was going to break ... but it didn't.

 

Outmotoring's instructions (http://outmotoring.com/How_to_parcel_tray.htm ) say "[FONT=Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif][SIZE=2]Pull straight down with a good amount of force on the knee bolster below the steering wheel. You may want to pull from each side of the steering wheel. The fasteners are a friction fit, no tools are needed on this part. Once the panel is hanging down about two inchest, pull towards you until it releases."

Did you look at their instructions? You do really have to pull HARD.
[/SIZE][/FONT]

 

See, 3 out of 3 Mini owners say PULL HARD!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!:mad :

 

thanks all...still trying...

but it actually DOES seem to be at risk of breaking...on the left side the thinner part of the outside wall seems to be pulling away from the thick part that's set in more but i'm pretty sure is part of the same part...if i don't grab the thick, more recessed part i'm afraid i'll tear the front of the part.



pulling very hard--or as hard as i can at the odd angle i'm able to grab & pull it.

anyone in san francisco who's done one and wants to do another?

 

I have an o6 Cabrio and I had to give it a good yank. Don't be shy about it. Just pull straight down hard.

Good luck.

 

Pull HARD and not consistently, give it a good jerk. Once the top two corners are loose, it take a bit of magic to get the slots dropped on the bottom.

 

kwkmini--did you grasp just the thin edge or reach past it to the thicker part? hard to fit hands in...but thin seems to be ready to pull apart.

i've really pulled as hard/fast as i can! will keep trying, tho.

 

Don't be scared, your replacing that part anyway!! Yank as hard as you can real fast!!

 

If you can grab the fatter part (you'll get pinched a bit), this will help with the leverage. That's what I had to do to get it done.

 

I have a 2006 convertible too and mine pulled off without much effort. Here are a couple of photos of the back side that may help you get your orientation. Give it a good sharp yank to try to get the two top corners to release. Maybe your fasteners are stuck extra tight.


I'm in San Francisco and could help, although not this weekend. PM me if you need additional assistance.

Richard

 

It helps to tilt the steering wheel up as far as you can, and then you can get your hands in from either side of the steering column. I just pulled down hard with my hands there, and the whole thing just fell out suddenly.

 

I just popped my euro shelf in today. I don't have a cabrio, but I don't think there is any difference for this job.

I actually just read this thread right before I was heading outside to start the job. So I gave the bolster a good tug after grabbing the middle right under the steering wheel (per the directions). I must have tugged a little harder than I thought I would, 'cause the whole assembly just popped completely off... no hanging on the hinges

Well, nothing broke, so I considered myself lucky and just moved on with the job...Boy that is nice addition to the interior...

 

I had to give mine several good, sharp tugs. I was afraid I was going to break it, but like others have said, figured I'm going to replace it anyway, what's the difference. I actually broke a nail on the final yank that pulled it off!

For what it's worth, I'm an hour south of you and would be willing to help if you wanted to come my way...but really, just haul off, build up a bunch of pent-up anger about something, and give it a big pull!

 

Anyone that has just installed the euro shelf...what will you do with the old part? I am thinking that I may try to do a DIY project and would rather use one that is not the one from my car. What do you think? I will pay shipping.

 

Luluzapcat,

It has been awhile but I grabbed around the steering column area. If I remember I also pushed toward the front of the car as I gave a yank.

Sorry it took so long for the response. I was at Fearfest at PKI to ride the Italian Job.

 

How's the news Diana?

 

Watch your knees Diana...when that shelf comes loose it slams down pretty hard!

 

thanks for asking, tc--hasn't budged yet, i'm afraid.

today i will recruit a guy (who presumably is stronger than me) to try. come to think of it, i'll have 3 here for a band practice so perhaps i can get them to view this as some sort of competition (usually not so much of a stretch with men & physical things).

i'm convinced my bolster is way tougher than anyone else's.
(bolster IS unevenly installed--no gap on left, gap on right...so maybe it's got extra friction or is even a bit jammed in...) i'm no lily-fingered hothouse flower! i go rock climbing, for pete's sake! and to increase my shame, i'm a product design engineer! i design plastic enclosure parts like this right & left! so if anyone should know how to get this out it's me! maybe it's like asking a surgeon to operate on their own child, though. emotions clouding my ability.

 

Luckily the shelf doesn't mount using the pins that are your trouble point. They are really tough to get loose, I'm 5'10" and about 180 lbs and it was a struggle to get the first side free. That being said, it's really about hand and wrist strength since you can't get a lot of leverage anyway. I bet you're right, make it a competitive thing. We guys hate to lose at anything!

 

Here ya go.... Look at the picture in the above post...

now take a large screwdriver, wrap some cloth around the shaft ( to pevent scratching ) insert the driver between the space between the boster and the dash... now gently push the screw drive up and down working the driver into the crack..... she will pop down.. do this in the area of the metal studs you see the the pictue in the above post

 

I know you said your cabrio was a 2006, but just to confirm, you bought new correct?

If it was bought used, it's probably worth a once over just to make sure someone didn't screw it in somewhere (though I'm not sure where they could put a screw on the bolster)...

Good luck!

 

Hmm... if it's misaligned, I'm guessing that the prong on the bolster missed its mark during fitting and the installer applied some "English" (appropriate for MINI) to force it to fit.

 

ah ha! thanks all! formidable bolster removed. leverage did it--great idea w/ the screwdriver, azminiman. and thanks all for links to outmotoring directions--those were way better than moss mini's and helped me figure out where plastic screw bosses belonged, too.

now i just have to get the screws in! 90% there...the rest of sunday was stuffed full and haven't QUITE finished.