When removing the stereo (which I gave up on - I can't actually reach the cables on my RHD car and my hands are wrecked from trying), I broke the clip behind the handbrake for the upper trim. I tried very carefully not to, but it snapped anyway (and then, when I tried to retrieve it, fell into the handbrake well).

Anyone had to replace this part before? Is it horribly expensive? I'm kicking myself, especially since it was a completely wasted enterprise.

 

Forget about it. I know at least a dozen people with the same clip broken (including me).

No problems at all. Relax.

 

Yeah, I broke mine too. I haven't had any problems with it.

 

Update. I know at least 13 people with broken clips......

 

I have the broken clip as well. I was following Gomez' DIY for the Axial Flow Shortshifter. Knowing that Gomez warned people just how fragile it is and how to carefully go about not breaking it, I still managed to break it! No worries about it though. It's not loose so it doesn't make sounds.

 

It would appear that to remove it properly, you must remove that little plastic part in the cupholder, and poke through. I understand the theory, but if that's what you tried and it still broke, I don't feel half as bad!

The Mazda manual PDFs don't mention that, of course. They just say "Unclip A".

 

I have no idea how mine broke. I think it might have broken while I was putting the cover back on one time......

 

Yeah, I was following Gomez' DIY too. I stuck my finger all up in that hole and got poked by all sorts of sharp things. So I gave up and just pulled, and it broke :D

I tend to be a bit impatient at times.

 

ewwwwwwwwww... what type of DIY is this?

 

add me to the broken clip list!

 

My tab was already broken when I put in the AFE shifter. I put in some velcro to replace it. (you just need to cut it out to fin inside the top piece) Any small rattle is taken care of.

DB

 

I broke one of mine as well the second or third time I removed that piece. If I break any more of them off I might be ordering that part. I need to take it off at least two more times in the near future - once to install my radar detector and once to install the AFE shifter (when I finally order it).

 

I broke mine too.... i tried very carefully to pull the console piece up but it just wouldn't budge. A bit of force and pop went the clip.

I had some bumper repair glue from dynatron around so i glued the clip back on there very securely. It stays on very good, flexes ever so slightly that it's perfect for taking it on and off. I have yet to break it again lol

They should have just used those white clips all around. Why didn't they

 

Is this the clip that is directly behind the handbrake on the piece that has the shift boot and the seat heat/navi controls and goes from the ashtray to the cup holders?

 

That's the one I'm talking about. It's the odd clip of the bunch. All the rest are white clips that clip in and out with ease.

 

You know, I wonder if they changed it. My 8 is a very late '05 model, I bought it new Oct. '05. Mine was a white clip like the rest, I mean I still broke it, but I removed and replaced that piece 2 dozen times at least before I broke it. The real problem now is that the trim piece sticks up a bit and I have to make sure I push it down when I close my cupholder.

 

That's the one I broke