cigarette lighter removal?

[webster]

i'm trying to replace the plastic dash console bracket and am having a hard time figuring out how to get past the cigarette lighter. after much effort i got it loose from the bracket, but the metal lip on the socket prevents me from pushing it through. so how do i get the socket mechanism extracted from the console? is there a way to separate the wiring from the metal socket itself? please help! i really don't want to put it back together as-is. i have a fresh non-scratched replacement piece ready to go.

[Hermes]

hold on, i saw instructions somewhere for some retrofit... lemme find it


Try this and the links on the page, its for a Nav retrofit but you end up working in that spot so it should help

http://forum.e46fanatics.com/showthread.php?t=671857

[webster]

thanks for your help. about 2 mins after i posted this thread i figured out how to do it. simply wiggle the two connectors off the back of the socket. piece of cake.

[billschusteriv]

^ Yep.

The connectors and lighter sockets have some tight press fit connections. Some sockets even have tabs that pop out once inserted that require getting to the back of the console piece to remove.

Glad you got it apart.