Removing CD holders in centre console

[RenoHuskerDu]

The E53 I just bought has a CD juke box in the boot ... and a set of CD holders in the centre console. My arms are not long enough to avail myself of these two devices. So I would like to remove the CD holders in the centre console.  They hog up a lot of scarce storage space, and I plan to install a headless stereo anyway.

Has anybody BTDT?  I got no hits in a search.

But I found a thread on how to remove the center tub
http://xdrivers.co.uk/forum/index.php/topic,11565.msg119420.html#msg119420
so I suppose I could start by pulling it to have a gander.

[X5Sport]

If I remember correctly, the CD holder comes out very easily, certainly without major disassembly.  It might even just push in with small latches to keep it in place. 

I had one my car and I'm almost sure I just pulled it out, or if there was a screw it was right at the bottom under a rubber mat.

[RenoHuskerDu]

[quote="X5Sport"]
[...]  It might even just push in with small latches to keep it in place.  [...]
[/quote]

Exactly right.  The whole pan comes up and out with a little prise tool. Then the CD holder is simply unsnapped downward.  I gained some storage space, but it leaves an unsightly hole.

I'll figure something out and post the results.

[X5Sport]

I just put the empty box alternative part back in.  I think there were three choices of what went in the space.

[RenoHuskerDu]

I would gladly trade all this shite in the pics below for the empty box alternative.  Where did you find it?

[X5Sport]

Standard cubby as usually supplied with the E53.  Have a look on Realoem.

Diagram here.

There were three versions, CD, Cassette or plain.

[RenoHuskerDu]

Great site!  Do you have another one to recommend where I can buy parts using those part numbers?

[X5Sport]

eBay?  BMW Dealer?

[RenoHuskerDu]

German dealer price = £155! Even more dear in France.
Guess I'll bone up on my eBay skills.

>Das Ablagefach kostet 184,00 € inkl. MwSt.
>Die Lieferzeit ist zur Zeit ca 3-4 Werktage.