i had my dashboard apart last week doing the single to double din conversion on the radio, and it apears that someone has added the arm rest to mine in the past, none factory hole cut out .
i had to remove that first before removing the console so you dont need to remove the console, and believe me you dont want to as it's a pain in the **** ! just remove the rear ashtray and you should be able to access a metal bracket the centre colsole bolts to tighten the nut