Retro fitting an arm rest

my take on the e46 install

the armrest sits a bit lower down than as I want it to conceal the old fashioned HVAC which will fit under it.



the thing would go vertical, but I wanted to keep the (last remaining) cubby hole for old times sake !



at least somewhere else to store stuff though now... 1 x phone, 1x lighter !



clearly I'm missing the centre divider at the moment as that is being fettled to fit the HVAC and iDrive wheel, in cubby hole and ashtray respectively.

Very impressed Lloyd . Unfortunatly no good for me as i have one of those old fashioned manual gearboxes and im forever changing up n down gears
Les

Very nice Lloyd. Any chance I can buy one of those mounting things please

Me too Lloyd. Can you make more of the metal inserts? Or can you send me the specs or design of the metal insert for the folks in the USA?

Thanks in advance.

My email is faisal_b_ahmed@hotmail(dot)com [Please replace the (dot) with a .]

Looks very good Lloyd, well done. It also looks like you could start a cottage industry making up mounting brackets - if you do, you can put me down for one too

Cheers,
Jason

Zitat von hallworth1

Very impressed Lloyd . Unfortunatly no good for me as i have one of those old fashioned manual gearboxes and im forever changing up n down gears
Les

I have a Manual Gearbox as well. This armrest is not that long to interfere with shifting. I however recommend a rear slot mount for the manual gearbox cars. It will provide more room and elevate your elbow for a better (More comfortable) shifting position.

I too am interested in these brackets, have missed it in the 8 since my previous e36 had one, and my current e46 has one.

My thought about height is that it should have the same height as the rear seat devider, just as if it protruded in between the front seats.

I have a Manual Gearbox as well. This armrest is not that long to interfere with shifting. I however recommend a rear slot mount for the manual gearbox cars. It will provide more room and elevate your elbow for a better (More comfortable) shifting position.[/quote]

Thank for the info Fasial, i'll look into that option. Actually i was being sarcastic with my previous post the auto boys on here seem to think a stick shift on an 8 is just plain wrong and hard work changing gear all the time
Les

I've just fitted my armrest (thanks for the bracket Lloyd), as for height I've set it at the same height of the gear stick which seems to be fine anyhow here's a few pics, also notice my new gear stick, direct replacement from a 6 series with no mod required

AAAAAWWWW

I want one now!!

Going to throw my toys out the pram!!

Or

I'll scweem and scweem and scweem and scweem....

Who remembers 'Just William' or was I the only sad b4st4rd that watched it.....

Just you Alex . Hay i'd have one of those...IF I HAD AN AUTO!!
Gotta hand it to your grandma Wayne, she's ok with the camera!!

Cheers guys
@ Alex Can't say I can, maybe your showing your age a bit
@ Les I've been practicing
@ Lloyd Yes please

Good to see another armrest going into an 8 Wayne. Not sure if the bracket would allow it, but is there any way you can lower the hinge of the unit so that it sits closer to the centre partition ? I does look quite high up, but then I do have long gibbon arms, so my rest had to be fitted lower.... and further back so I can access the ashtray

Spotted one of these on the famous Bay the other day - Quarrymot was the seller so you can find it with search, starting price was £200 so it's not cheap....Wouldn't mind one though

It could be lowered its just it would have to be packed out from the bracket so that the armrest could still lift up.
I've not been on a long drive with it in yet so I'm not 100% on the height but if it does need adjusting then its not a big deal.

Starting price of £200 forget it, I picked mine up for £34 which came with the whole centre console and the guy even delivered it by helicopter (perks of being in the army)

Getting that OEM fitment look is always a challenge when it comes to items of trim.
Luckily, I found that the perfect height/angle for my comfort meant that I could have the bottom of the arm rest flush with the console.

This had several advantages. Easier to make it look stock, the hinge did no have to hold the rest in place and the cubby hole is now out of sight.

My version is not to everyone's taste and the following glare-ridden flash and colour aberrated photos don't do it justice - but, if you'll pardon the pun, you can get the general picture.....