Bose SoundLink Color Outer Casing Replacement

Written By: Michael Thorn
  • Comments: 50
Bose SoundLink Color Outer Casing Replacement

Difficulty

Moderate

Steps

3

Time Required

10 minutes

Introduction

This guide will show how to remove the 4 screws that are holding the two parts of the casing together and how to separate the casing for replacement.

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    • Four round, plastic plugs are located on the back of the device.

    • Using a metal spudger, carefully pry up the plastic covers.

    • The covers are all glued on, so be careful not to scar the casing when prying them off. If possible, use a spudger or plastic opening tool to remove them.

    hi i just finished prying apart those round buttons. it is very important to know if you dont want to mangle the button trying to pry it loose. if your looking down at the four buttons the inside part of all the four round circles is where you put a thin small tool, that is where the opening is to eventually pull up the whole thing without having to mangle the circle. so if your looking at the four circles the opening will be in the part of circle where all rounds face each other inward i hope this helps

    art -

    Note that the torx plus is a 5 star tool, and was the size 15 for me. Make sure you don't purchase the common 6 sided star tool.

    Mark -

    Knowing you have to replace battery, why are the %#*@ things glued on? Just sayin’

    Toni -

    Knowing battery needs to be replaced, why are these things glued??

    Toni -

    Not a tool to remove! Why’re they glued in the first place?

    Toni -

    I’ve ruined perfectly good tools!

    Toni -

    This has become stupid! Posting comments that never appear!

    Toni -

    Should be effing impossible!

    Toni -

    Sorry, just now found them! Honestly, this can become impossible!

    Toni -

    I found it not possible to remove the screw caps cleanly, without messing up the case around the caps. Here’s a new method. This method damages the screw caps, but it keeps the case from getting mangled.

    1. Use a spring-loaded center punch to emboss a small dimple in the center of each screw cap.

    2. Drill a hole (using a 1/8th-inch bit) in each cap, using the aforementioned dimple to center the bit.

    3. Use a small screwdriver shaft to pry out each screw cap, working each cap gently up and out, in a circular motion.

    NOTE: The prying action (not to mention the hole you just drilled) will damage the screw caps enough that you probably will end up just tossing them. They serve no functional purpose other than to make replacing the battery more challenging. (Thanks Bose!)

    If you do elect to re-install the screw caps, note that they’re keyed uniquely (in pairs). They are not interchangeable.

    I tossed mine.

    Riccardo -

    I used a similar method, however, I found a small screw to fit the hole, screwed it in place, I could then grab the upper part of the screw around the head area with a pair of pliers and pull the plugs out with no problem. Take note of the 5 sided torx bit. Not the standard 6 sided ones.

    timjamie -

    I also just filled a small hole in them and used a scre to yank them out. Tossed caps in garbage. I’ve now purchased multiple torx tools and still don’t have the right one. Trying again….

    Craig Stout -

    There is no such animal as a 1.8 cm Torx plus bit. A great site made poor with misleading information. Boo hoo

    phpeh -

    I’m also struggling to get the right tool, but now see it’s a 5 sided Torx size 15. Not the standard 6 sided Torx that I now have a few of.

    Craig Stout -

    It says: “1.8 cm LONG …” That’s actually not talking about the torx head size but rather the screw shaft. Just saying…

    Jeremy Cotter -

    These are indeed 5-sided Torx Security, size 15; however the shaft of my multibit seems too fat to fit in the plastic canal.

    Which multibit (precision?) screwdriver are you guys using? The canal seems to be just 8mm wide.

    Yklamin -

    This set worked just fine for me : )

    Yakamoz 2 Set of 7Pcs 1/4" Hex Shank Magnetic 5 Point Security Star Torx Screwdriver Bits Set | T10-T40, 2-Inch Length

    https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B07T9S...

    Matt Monsour -

    Yep, removal of the plugs is messy. Obviously, BOSE intended these speakers to be a throwaway! There is a “sweet spot” on the plugs where I carefully hammered a very thin screwdriver blade along the edge of the plug until the screwdriver plunged further down along the side of the plug. At that point, I could pry the plug out. There was a little damage to the case at the edge of the plug hole, and the plugs were damaged enough that I would throw them away. I might consider putting some silicone gel in the holes where the plugs used to be. Next time, pulling out the silicone has got to be easier than pulling these !@#$%^&* plugs!

    Bryant Hozempa -

    ! WICHTIG! Deutscher Kommentar unten.

    So Yeah the plugs are a nightmare, I dont know if the warning is the same but in german it says: Use a plastic tool if possible. Dont. Simply because its not possible, its a tight fit of a plug, glued at the bottom.

    Same as some others here i used a screwdriver that is as thin as possible and as thick as needed for it not to bend or break.

    Obviously this will leave marks on the chassis. But i dont think i they designed it as a throw away product. It is waterproof afterall and i had mine repaired when there was still guarantee. I suppose they have some industrial vacuum tool and use new plugs everytime.

    DIE BESCHREIBUNG IST AUF MEIN GERÄT NICHT ZUTREFFEND!

    Ich weiß nicht ob es Unterschiede in den Geräten gibt, aber bei diesem kann ich sagen: aufgrund des Klebers kann man Plastikwerkzeuge vergessen und es wird Schäden geben. Da mein Gerät nicht lädt und lange keine Garantie mehr hat kann mir das persönlich egal sein. Nur finde ich die Beschreibung irreführend.

    Niero -

    To get these caps out I had to drill through them, and than pull them out.

    Before that I trird to pull these caps with little flat screw drivers but I ended broking 2 screw drivers

    Tamir Chartarifsky -

    I couldn't get these out delicately, so I ended up tapping a 2mm flathead with a hammer around the edges until the cover started to pop up. I'm not sure if the caps contribute to the water resistance, but I'm not putting them back on.

    Charles S -

    I had a box of glue sticks for a hot glue gun. Heated the end of one until soft with a flame and placed over the plug and let cool. If you can keep the glue to the plug and not onto the body it works better. Was able to pull the plugs out with no damage. A couple of them took a a few tries but got them all. There was a little glue residue on the plug but the rubbed off easily.

    sdh -

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    • Remove the four 1.8 cm-long T15 Torx Security screws from the outer case.

    • Some of these use T15 "Star" 5-point Torx security screws instead of the more common 6-point ones.

    the torque sizing bit would be the number 5 torque bit which will fit in the screw to unscrew it

    art -

    My experience required a number 15 torx plus head.

    This was a 5 sided star, not a 6 sided star.

    Mark -

    It's NOT torx plus. It's torx SECURITY. Torx Plus is designed for high torque situations. The bit with the hole in the middle is Torx Security.

    Dennis Lupatsky -

    So what size Torx Security bit is needed for this task please and thank you

    Cobb Adams -

    Ok,how much more complicated can this get?

    Toni -

    Disappointed the Pro Tech Toolkit didn’t include the tip I needed. However I would like to know how to buy a 1.8 tip. The link you give in the list of tools needed takes me to a product on Amazon which includes 10, 15, 20 tips. I’d assume a 1.8 cm would be an 18?

    mark thornburg -

    1,8 cm is the length of the screw. Security Torx f a center pin, so you need a tip with a corresponding hole. Try 10, 15 or 20.

    VauWeh -

    1,8 cm is the length of the screw. Security Torx feature a center pin, so you need a tip with a corresponding hole. Try 10, 15 or 20.

    VauWeh -

    Security Torx 15 with 5 sides.

    agentbad -

    Hard to remove plugs, glue in the screw head, special torx security screws… it’s almost like Bose wants you to have to replace it when the battery dies. I will… but JBL makes one for about the same price. I won’t give Bose the satisfaction of having beaten me.

    cmajerle -

    Torx 5 point 15IPR

    Christopher -

    Luckily, there was no glue on the screws in my unit. The screws came out without incident, using a Protorq Torx Plus-IPR, 5-point tamper proof security bit, #15.

    Bryant Hozempa -

    On my speaker this dose not use a T15 torx security screw. It uses a P7 security bit of some sort. I bought a Ifixit Manta bit set which has a Pentalobe bits but not the right size or the security version and this is supposed to be there most complete bit set… very disappointed. I ended up using a 2.5 flat head to accomplish removing the screws.

    Samuel Tisdale -

    It's definitely TPS15.

    Markus Wingler -

    I found a set on amazon that worked (KAIFNT K001 Torx Plus 5-Point Tamper-Proof Security Bit Set, 7-Piece): https://www.amazon.com/dp/B07TC79LVH

    Charles S -

    I had a box of glue sticks for a hot glue gun. Heated the end of one until soft with a flame and placed over the plug and let cool. If you can keep the glue to the plug and not onto the body it works better. Was able to pull the plugs out with no damage. A couple of them took a a few tries but got them all. There was a little glue residue on the plug but the rubbed off easily.

    sdh -

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    • Carefully open up the casing.

    • The top button pad may need to be re-glued upon installing the new casing.

Conclusion

To reassemble your device, follow these instructions in reverse order.

Author

Michael Thorn

Member since: 31/03/16

557 Reputation

12 comments

When I search for a 1.8 cm Torx Plus TR drill bit, I see a whole set from Amazon. Is there a particular number or head size just so I can purchase one drill bit?

jwm82 -

Hey, did you find out what size screwdriver you need?

kestis155 -

yes its the number 5 torque

art -

dose anyone know where to buy the outer casing for these? i need a mint colored one.

idixon16 -

I need more information on the Torx Plus bit can you provide the exact size as you used. The 1.8cm is not easy to search for. Brand and exact size number would help.

Joseph -

yes its the number 5 torque to fit the screw perfectly

art -

Can we get some details on the battery, like dimensions, mAh, voltage? Hopefully it isn't some proprietary thing, I still can't even get my screw covers off, Bose really prefers we all purchase new ones instead of repair it. I have used all of my various spudgers and iSesame's, maybe I have to hot glue a chop stick in the middle of each cover and pull them off like that? Hard to get leverage in those tiny crevices.

Matt -

did anyone ever figure out where to buy the housing/casing?

Humair Madhani -

The screws came out without incident, using a Protorq Torx Plus-IPR, 5-point tamper proof security bit, #15.

Bryant Hozempa -

https://www.amazon.com/Yakamoz-Magnetic-...

torx plus 5 point t15 tamper proof

Yakamoz 2 Set of 7Pcs 1/4" Hex Shank Magnetic 5 Point Security Star Torx Screwdriver Bits Set | T10-T40, 2-Inch Length

Richie parrish -

look for a T15 Torx Security screwdriver it the T15 (the size) and Torx Security screwdriver to get the hole in the center to match the pin in the center of the screws. HOWEVER, the screws I removed from my case were extremely difficult to remove because mine were NOT Torx security screws! Mine had a pertigon shape hole with a center pin and my Torx security screwdrivers have a hexagon (six sided or six pointed star) shape with a center pin so be very sure your screws are really six sided/points whatever..

sweepspk -

I also found the four screw covers near impossible to remove, thjs was because they are not just a press fit they also seem to be glued on with what looks like a small amount of RTV. Just enough to make it very difficult. Also the screws were difficult to remove as well and I found that using a fine pointed clean soldering iron, about 30 watts, to warm them up for about 20 seconds finally allowed me to unscrew them.

sweepspk -