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Autopapyrus · Volkswagen Multivan (T5)
https://autopapyrus.com/guides/volkswagen/multivan/removing-and-installing-the-center-console-trim-panels/
Compiled automatically from service literature and owner experience. Specs are for the typical configuration — check them against your exact car before you start.

Volkswagen Multivan (T5): Removing and Installing the Center Console Trim Panels

The center console trim panels on the T5 are held by plastic clips and several screws. Some of the screws are hidden under trim covers, inserts and the mats in the storage recesses. The exact screw sequence for the 2014 T5 is not documented in publicly available service materials, so the general procedure is given below. Locate the screws by inspection: they become visible once the inserts and trim covers are removed.

Difficulty: Medium Time: 40-90 minutes Steps: 9 Tools: plastic trim removal tool set, Torx screwdrivers (T20-T25) and a PH2 Phillips screwdriver, flat-blade screwdriver with the tip wrapped in tape, soft cloth, small container for fasteners

Part

  • 🔩 If the mounting points break, you will need a set of plastic trim clips and retainers. If the trim panel itself is cracked, order it separately in the matching interior color (titanium, black, beige, etc.)
There's a full repair manual for this car Every system, wiring diagrams and torque specs — not just this job. Haynes and 5 more. See manuals →

Step by step

9 steps
  1. Park the vehicle on level ground, turn off the engine and remove the key. If there is an airbag or electrical equipment on or near the console (seat heating, climate control unit), disconnect the negative battery terminal and wait 5-10 minutes. Before disconnecting, make sure you know the radio code if the radio is code-protected.
  2. Put the gear lever in neutral and set the parking brake. If there is a frame or boot around the lever, you generally do not need to remove the gear knob to access it: the frame lifts up together with the boot, which is turned or pulled through as needed.
  3. Remove the mats and inserts from the storage recesses and cup holders; they usually just lift out. Inspect the screw holes underneath and remove the screws, sorting them into groups.
  4. Start with the upper trim covers and the side decorative inserts. Pry with a plastic trim tool at the edge, close to a clip rather than in the middle, so you do not break the mounting point. Move the trim cover up and toward you evenly.
  5. If the trim panel has connectors (cigarette lighter, 12 V socket, USB, lighting, seat heating buttons), disconnect the plugs by pressing the locking tab before removing the panel completely. Note their positions and take photos.
  6. Remove the side console panels by pulling them away from the center tunnel after removing the screws. The lower panels near the footwells may be held by clips, and they are usually pulled toward you.
  7. If you need access to the wiring harnesses or brackets, remove the entire upper part of the console after disconnecting all the plugs. Do not pull on the wires; support the trim panel as you go.
  8. Install in reverse order: first connect all the connectors, then fit the trim panels onto their guides, press them onto the clips until they click, and then install the screws. Tighten the screws by hand without force, because the plastic posts strip easily.
  9. Reconnect the battery and check that the cigarette lighter and sockets, lighting, heating buttons and multimedia work, and that the gear lever shifts freely and does not rub against the frame.

Common mistakes and warnings

  • Pry only with plastic trim tools and only in the area of the clips; a flat metal screwdriver leaves scratches and gouges on the plastic. Plastic becomes brittle in the cold, so it is best to work in a warm garage or warm up the cabin first. If airbag wiring harnesses (yellow connectors) run nearby, do not disconnect or touch them, and contact a repair shop if necessary.