[wtijr]

After examining the in mounting button, I went ahead with the excessive force method and it worked. On one end of the button there is a opening that will accept a small to medium size flat head screwdriver. Insert and pry and the button comes off. Whoever designed the mounting base must have been insane or perverse because the base has a little knob and groves which serve no apparent purpose. If the design was for aesthetics, it could only be appreciated when resting your head on the dashboard.
Anyway, for the record, insert and pry to remove the mounting button.