How do I gain access behind the factory stereo (remove it) on a 2001 VDP? Thanks

 

Firstly, you need to carefully pull up the leather gearlever outer surround piece, then unscrew & remove the 2 exposed small nuts & 2 small screws which hold the big 'ski slope' trim piece in place. Then carefully remove the ski slope by lifting up the rear so that the tang at the front can disengage from the fascia & the ski slope be removed completely.

This should expose the 3 screws that hold the upper switch control panel in place-one at the very top centre & the other 2 at the bottom on each side. Once these have been removed-watch the side ones don't drop down the centre console-then the switch panel can be carefully pulled forwards.

This will allow the stereo panel to be carefully pulled forwards as well-you'll almost certainly need the ignition on to allow the parking interlock to be disengaged & allow the gear level to be pulled back to aid removal of the stereo.

This is what is should look like: