The leather has bubbled and begun to crack where my elbow rest on the console as well as where my knee rests on the door. After an outrageous quote from my dealer (not under warranty apparently), I decided to replace the "leather" but have been unable to remove the lid. Any suggestions?

 

I can't speak for the 4th Gen, but if I remember correctly, the console lid is attached to the center console piece itself on the 3rd Gen cars. It's actually all pretty easy to remove even if that's the case. Take it to someone local and you'll likely save a good bit as opposed to going OEM.

 

I have pried the upper and lower sections apart, but there seems to be something restricting the back and preventing it to open enough to access screws. There might be a release which I haven't found (One of those easy if you know how things), but I hesitate to force the lid for fear of damaging the plastic pieces.

 

Do you see screws under there that can be undone? What I'm saying is the lid may not be removable from the console itself.

 

I believe you need to remove the center console from the car, take off the rear vent trim to get it off.

 

That seems like a lot of work to replace the cheap leather. Has anyone actually attempted this?

 

It's not the leather that's bad, it's the padding underneath that's crapped out and now the leather has no counterpressure from the back.

Acura used shit vinyl on the 2007-2009 MDX center console and that ripped and looked like crap. The padding has been an issue ever since the 2004 TL. I believe the older models wore just fine including the 2001-2006 MDX

 

It sounds like a pain in the ass but it's not. Just simple tools and a little patience will have it removed from the car in less than a half hour.