Are there 2 different arm rests available for the R56??
The I noticed are, the factory installed arm rest and another arm rest in the Motorer's Guide (item 72).
Are they the same??
The one int he Motorer's Guide flips open and the factory installed one slides back. Also the one in the Motorer's Guide looks larger and studier.

Any info would be great!!!

Thanks~~

 

Yes, there are two arm rests from Mini, the OE one that is ordered with the car and a second, somewhat larger one that can be ordered from any Mini dealer. I just bought and installed the non OE one. It is dark black/charcoal and can be installed easily in about 15 minutes. The dealer quoted me $650 (parts and labor) on the OE armrest. They said it requires four hours of labor as you have to remove the console to install it. The one I got simply attaches to the rear seat rail bolts. I ordered it from Morristown Mini and installed it myself at about 25% of the quoted cost of the OE arm rest. I'm very pleased. I believe the part no. is 52 16 0 416 589. Call Rishon in parts at Morristown Mini.

 

The OEM one stinks. It is small and flimsy. Almost nothing can be stored in it and the top slides back too easily. I would not recommend it.

 

I have the OEM arm rest and like it pretty well because it *doesn't allow for a lot of storage (I would leave way too much crap in there if it were bigger). It does slide back a bit too easy though.

 

I found the armrest gets in the way when you've got a stick

 

Here they are (both OE parts):

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...g_storage.html

and:

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...h_storage.html

 

The first link says it is for an 02-06 MINI - does it fit an R56?

Which is the OEM armrest that gets installed as a factory option?

 

The top one, the slider. I have it. For storage you can get a pair of small sunglasses in it, no more. It's fine as an armrest though.

 

The top one, the slider, is the $200 factory option.

 

Since MINI does not make a bluetooth eject box for the Treo, I removed the snap in bluetooth cradle from my arm rest, and put in the oem rubber liner that non-bluetooth R56's have. Storage space is not double. The rubber insert was about $6.50 at the dealer.

 

Factory armrest both slides back and flips open. In order to flip it up, first you have to slide till the end then gently pull the cover up.

Before doing this in order to be sure, you may check the position of the rails by looking underneath the cover. You`ll notice the front part of the cover is out of the rail when its slided all the way back.

 

the 'sliding" one will fit the R56 and is an option in the drop down menu...

The other one was released as a part that fits the R56 but may fit older models..

The first one is the one installed by the factory as an option...

 

I just got my mini this weekend and I had the dealer add the non oem armrest thinking what they were putting in was the oem version (slider).

I did not like the non oem at all. The material on the top irritated my arm, it covers the e brake almost completely. I have a stick and it doesn't flip up to 90 degrees and it doesn't stay up by itself. The only good thing is it has more storage. If you have an automatic it might be OK.

I had the dealer remove it after one day.

 

I got the OEM armrest as part of the Bluetooth integration. I really don't like it, especially since MINI doesn't have phone inserts for it. It interferes with shifting when down and does not fold back far enough to be out of the way.

 

Could you tell me the part #....I would like to that as well

 

I've got the non-oem one that it sounds like cpaugh bought. I installed it myself in a few minutes and really like it. Mine is stick and while it is not as easy to shift with it in I still prefer it so I have an arm rest. It folds up about 2/3 of the way to verticle and has enough storage for my sirius remote sunglasses and a tire gauge; in other words not much storage. It does nearly cover the ebrake but not so bad that the ebrake is unable to be used. Overall for the price I'm happy.

A friend of mine is looking at MCS convertibles and commented that the factory arm rest slides backwards nearly by just looking at it. It was the only complaint he had about the car.

 

Arm Rest? You're not supposed to be resting your arm while driving a Mini anyway . I hate arm rests. All they do is get in the way of shifting. All you need to store are your sunglasses and wheel lock, and they can go in the secret compartment. Anything else is just junk collecting in your car. Spend the money on some engine or suspension upgrades.

 

Why do people insist upon telling me what I want or need? If I ask about the best place to get a polka dot zebra, it doesn't help to tell me I don't need one, or could use a striped one instead.

 

Does any one elses OEM armrest interfere with the ebrake lever? Everytime I park and pull up on the e-brake handle it knocks against the arm rest. I think I'll eventually scratch the crome on the handle.

 

Don't pull up so hard. No problems with the one in my car doing that. I must not pull up as far as you are.

 

My OEM armrest doesn't interfere with anything. I can shift just fine, and don't have any problem with the e-brake, which I always set. It is annoying when it slides open all the time, but I just have to not lean over and back.

I have a pack of gum and a couple napkins in mine - I found in my old car it just collected junk anyway.

 

Did anyone remove the OEM one and replace it with the Euro? You have to order extra parts to fill the holes, etc. There was a thread for those parts but I can't find it....

Thanks

 

The most recent thread on this was on the "2nd Gen; Coupe Talk" Board:

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...y-armrest.html

If you search armrest on this (Interior/Exterior) Board, you should find other threads as well.

edit:> I would PM strobeyprobey and offer to buy the extra parts he has from going from no armrest to the OEM Armrest