C5 A6 Trim Removal
Door trim removal: use a plastic putty knife (or a metal one with tape to protect the trim) and work from the lower-rear corner. It is held in by metal pegs that are on the metal backing of the trimpiece. If it is stubborn, use some dental floss, and work it into the back of the trim to the point where it will give you some leverage.
Dash trim removal: Again, use the plastic putty knife and work from the lower outer edge. It is held in by four suprisingly long pegs that are on the back on the trim piece.
Shift surround: Use the plastic putty knife on the rearward edge and pull up. The rear is held in by two plastic blocks in a metal clip. Once the rear edge of the trim is loose, slide the trim toward the back of the car. There are two flat tabs that hold in the front under the ashtray.
Armrest tray: Work from the rearward edge, and use the plastic putty knife again. This is pretty easy to seperate from the tray.
Piece between brake lever and tray: Just use the plastic putty knife. Held in with a few small metal pegs.
Under armrest hinge: Remove the rear vent/cig lighter by using the plastic putty knife on the upper edge. Then remove the plastic vent piece (pull straight back). Once removed, you will see a nut in the right center in the middle of a rectangular bracket. Using a 13mm micro-adjust ratchet, remove the nut, and lift the armrest straight up (you might also need to unplug wires if you car is equipped with factory phone setup). Then using the plastic putty knife, remove the trim, which is held in with small metal pegs.
Brake lever: This one is a major PITA. Kind of hard to describe, but once the trim is seperated from the brake lever, you have to maneuver it around to get the lowest catch released from the hidden part of the brake lever. With the rear vent removed, it is easy to see what is holding this piece in.
Hazard switch trim: Suprisingly, this piece is one of the hardest to get out. Easiest way I have found is to remove the radio (which requires radio keys). Then using the plastic putty knife, work from the bottom. It is held in with 6, yes, 6 clips, many of which willl probably break in the removal process. Don't worry. Only two are really needed to hold the trim in place.
Ashtray cover: Lift up on the trim while using your thumbs to pry the upper edge back. Once the upper edge is released, rotate it down to release the loops from the hooks that are hidden under the ashtray. Be careful, these loops on the bottom edge break very easily.