Here are instructions on removing the clock from an X350. I’ll try to remember to update this with photos as time goes by.

1. Pull the center console. Two screws under the shifter surround and two screws behind the floor vents in the back bottom of the console. Remove the rear vents and disconnect the cables. There’s another sneaky cable hiding in there and you’ll undoubtedly only remember to disconnect it when you find that the console is hung up on something.

2. Remove the ashtray. I find this to be the most difficult part of the whole operation. Some folks have success removing the trim covers for the screws without destroying them or marring the surrounding plastic. But, I prefer to drill very small holes in the center of the trim covers and then use a little hook to pull them out. The holes are barely noticeable when you put it back together.

Getting the ashtray itself out is the hard part. You can loosen the shifter a bit and also move the floor console retaining bracket. But it’s basically a lot of wiggling and trying not to scrape the heck out of the ashtray cover.

3. Remove the instrument panel (nav, radio, etc.). 4 screws and some connectors.

4. Carefully prise the instrument panel finish panel off. This is held in by a series of snap fasteners that are very tight. Use even pressure to prevent cracking the wood veneer. (See tip below about putting it back together.)

5. Carefully prise the airbag finish panel off. Same deal as the instrument panel, but somehow scarier.

6. Remove the instrument panel finisher. 4 screws, easy peasy.

7. Remove the center vent register screws (4). I feel like you also have to loosen the airbag, but I might just be thinking of the steps to fix the outer vent register.

8. Pull the center vent register down-ish and toward the center of the car.

9. Disconnect the register electrical connector.

10. Disconnect the clock connector.

11. Remove the clock by depressing the tangs holding it in place.

The bulb is easy to remove–there’s a screw-type bayonet base.

Reinstallation is the reverse of the above steps with one tip: If any of the snap fasteners for the panel finishers stayed attached to the dashboard and not the panel then pull those out and pop them back on the panel. It’s a lot easier to put the panel back with the fasteners attached to it than trying to stuff the panel into already-seated fasteners.

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