As discussed on an earlier post I recently bought of flebay a E36 armrest. The armrest (sorrynot starting picture) was the same as Tony's.
My plan was top try an install this to look OEM but have the option for removal with little or no trace of it ever having been there.
Being a 6 ft plus guy (but not as tall as Tony ) I thought that the armrest would need to be installed several inches above the handbrake. Thus the design was started. I initally mocked a prototype up out of paper drawn on AutoCAD this allowed me to trail the projected high and fit. It also eventually acted as templated for the metal work later.
Retro fitting an arm rest
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The design was based around the use of the CD slot as this part of the centre console had fixing already in place. Here is the resultant metal insert. Made out of 5mm mild steel plate welded together
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Size ok Photo size that is
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Hey Lloyd, my armrest has just this minute turned up ! One week from Italy which is better than practically all my UK purchases has been recently !
99% perfect condition too !
I'll follow your version of fitting it with interest. I'm undecided as yet how to do mine. I bit more thinking is required now that I can see the armrest in the flesh. -
Tony this is exactly the same as the one I got (uk flebay).
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Next the support / mounting piece was painted the appropriate shade of atin black (texture created by heating the piece up by placing it on a hot radiator which causes the paint to dry fast resulting in a textured finish, not orange peel) This is upside down.
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Armrest cut down and drilled ready for installation
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I'm watching with interest I have bought another armrest which is on its way
Lloyd, would you be able to sell me one of these mounting pieces
Cheers.
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Bloody Hell Lloyd. You can't leave it there!! Keep going, just bolt the bl••dy thing in there and take a picture..
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Ok Ok here goes
Here are all the bits prior to assembly and the all important installation
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It did not attach?
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O.K Am I missing something here
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Next came the installation of the mounting bracket. You will note that it is held in place by 3, 6mm bolts with large penny washers. These are to pull it into place as the load is spread by the tight fit of the unit you have to use a screw driver to remove it!
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Next came the assembly of all three parts
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Finially came the installation into the car. It is located using the three screws with hold the centre consol part in place. Which in turn is bolted to the chassis. Well what do you think!
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O.K. I have sussed it...
You are putting it together as we speak....
Looking good though... How much do you want then?
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It does fully hinge up (although not shown in this picture) the bottom of the armrest moulding just touches the consol to help spread the load.
As for the height it can be adjusted but for now I am using it set as the same height as the top of the gear stick which for me seems fine without getting in the way to much of the hand brake. -
fantastic work there Lloyd. Very impressive
I'm off to ebay!
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Here a picture of one from 1997 BMW E38 328i sport Coupe it does not look like it splits like mine , but make mine look almost OEM
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Looks great mate. Top Job.
Been thinking of ways this morning for doing mine. Personal choice but I want mine to sit closer to the centre divider (cos of my long arms !!!)
Think I'll be using some of UKZero's celulose/carbon based fibre products no doubt !
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