Thank you Andy - I mean actually getting the whole black plastic base out of the console. Even with trim tools, I can't work it out at the moment. I think I went at it the wrong end last time (near the ashtray), and scratched the trim. Is the best way to pry at the base closest to the handbrake?
It's just the pics I've seen of the disassembled unit show four huge plastic tabs of the DSG lever unit holding the whole assembly into the console, and they look the usual nasty, awkward VW things to release...