Then you'll need to remove the rear insert:

(Also helpful for those wanting to switch this out for the wood one, I think)

 

Then remove the fresh air grille:

 

Then remove the preselector lever (gearshift lever):

 

more preselector removal:

 

Then, you can remove the storage tray:

 

storage tray part two:

 

According to the storage tray removal instructions, you might have to remove the button unit:

Good luck folks, let us know how things turn out!!

 

An A for effort, but that appears to be directions for removing the entire center consol. As you know, when you open the center consol, there is the phone cradel in there that some of us who don't have the phone would love to remove, leaving us a larger storage area in the center consol instead of the two smaller ones. I'm only looking to remove the phone cradle. As JDN can attest, one side pops off rather easily, but it seems the only way get the other side off is brute force, and I'm not willing to break things in my car just yet. Thanks for checking for us.

 

I thought the same thing which is why I kind of posted my "I can't confirm that it's actually for the phone tray that you're speaking of" disclaimer but the title of the document refers to "removing the storage tray". The TIS documentation refers to the console as the "storage compartment" so I figured the "storage tray" might be the thing you're trying to remove.

If it isn't the tray, would it help to remove the entire console first to see how the tray is affixed?

 

It probably would, just not sure I'm that inclined to take apart the enitre consol and risk having rattles, etc when I try and put it back together. Was just hoping there was an easier way. Thanks again for checking.