I was curious how many times some people have removed this piece. Does it still fit snug? Or, does it rattle after many removals?

Anyone replace it?

 

Its so cheap to replace even if your gets loose just get a new one from the dealer.

 

I think the reason they become "loose" is because one or more of the pins get broken. It's very common and almost a guarantee that a pin or two break and stay in the dash. If you don't see this and extract the broken part and epoxy it back onto the panel, it will be loose. Removal of that panel should be kept to a minimum. If you have strong small hands and fingers, you can reach from behind and push them out rather than yanking on the panel from the front.

 

I've removed mine three times, and there is no rattle now, although I do have a small crack where the top center pin holds the panel to the dash now.

 

i've removed mine quite a few times, and broke it a couple... not including mine, i've pulled several dozen of these panels now.... (at least 1 dozen of those were on my knees in the parking lot of the 2005 SESM doing top down while moving mods...)

it is EASY to break the pins. i've done it plenty times, and i still give myself a 1 chance in 10 that i'll break one. colder temps increase the likelyhood of a break, as the plastic gets brittle when cold.

if you break 1 pin? no problemo, doubtful you'll rattle. break 2? buy a new panel, it's $11 at your dealer.


however, the trick to doing it is to work from behind the panel, from the center towards the door (and not door to center).
also, if at all possible, you want to push the panel around the pins and not in the free zone. you want to be as close as you can to the pin when you apply pressure, and apply it slowly and firmly; preferably on multiple sides of the pin. a sharp push or yank will break something.

-get your hand up under the panel, and pop out the highest pin you can reach near the center console, and work out the mid level one next.
-then work on the middle top and middle center pins.
-go back over, and try to work out the lowest pin near the center, if you can't get it come back to it on while you're working the next two out.
-then try to remove the lower pin nearest the center (one of the hardest), and then the upper pin nearest the door.
-finally, try to work any bottom pins you have left.

hope this helps. best of luck -- if you've never done it before, i'll give you 50/50 odds on not breaking something.