I have the factory arm rest and have a few concerns.

Q1 Whats up with the latch? It keeps opening and won't stay closed.

Q2 Is it supposed to point down toward the shifter? can it be adjusted to be level?

Is this abi-normal (quoted from Young Frankenstien )

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Latch? What latch? There's a latch? </sarcasm

I'm tempted to run a drywall screw thru mine to keep the damn thing shut.

 

Mine stays latched (only 3k miles on car so far) but it doesn't take much to slide it open. As far as angle mine is just right for me to rest my arm and move the shifter. I don't know of any adjustments on angle. There are posts here about aftermaket arm rests, but mine is OK for now.

 

the dealer will replace under warranty... there is a "better" part apparently. i had mine done.

 

Yep. Had mine replaced at 17k miles. 3k miles later it was as loose as ever...

 

I don't know what all the problems with the latch are. I've only gone 5000 miles on my car, but I use the armrest ALL THE TIME. I've never had it slide open. In fact I tried to slide it open and it took some work. Maybe my arm isn't resting the same way some of yours are, but it really isn't a problem for me.

I know there aftermarket armrests out there, but they don't look as nice.

 

+1 except my car has 28,000 plus miles on it and i use it every day many times a day. I never have problems with it opening. It actually takes a good push on it with a hand to get it to open.

 

The tightness of the latch varies from year to year. The last Clubman (09) loaner I had, the armrest was hard to open. My 07 stays latched well enough but is much easier to slide open. The service tech at my dealer said the newer cars have redesigned system that helps keep it closed. I guess they got enough complaints from 07 owners to redesign it.

 

Could be as I have an 09.

 

Mine is an April 08 build. I have heard from many people that have mid08 builds that they have problems with them, but i do not.

 

Aug 08 build here. I think maybe once the thing opened when I didn't intend for it to. Overall, I'm indifferent to it, with a tilt towards glad I have it for stashing a few wafer-thin items. The only thing that bothers me at all is that it makes putting on the seatbelt trickier than is optimal. I think I hear my wife cursing it under her breath sometimes.

 

My 08 slides open a bit too easily also, but the armrest itself is level. If your's isn't, you might want to have the dealer look at it. It shouldn't tilt downward.

 

Mine is an Early 08. I will wait until I have another reason to drive that far (120 miles) I'm happy to report the arm rest is my only current issue. But I will definatly ask for for a fix of some kind as soon as I get to Indianapolis again. Lucky me I have an Excellent dealer.

 

FYI, My Service Advisor told me the armrest is SUPPOSED to tilt down (not level).

 

It sounds like we may have the same Service Advisor. Did he also tell you that the sunroof was not supposed to open if the outside temperature was over 85 degrees?

 

'09. stays closed and is actually a bit tough to open. Works great as an armrest, sits level. As far a storage? not so much. too small for much.

 

This photo was taken when I first installed my Euro Armrest (larger, flip-open' by pressing MINI Logo)
and it also sloped down towards the gearshift handle (I assume for tall stick-shift drivers comfort).
click photo for full size in new window


You can see a 'hard-rubber' Wine Cork taped to hang in the hinge area.

This 'shimmed' the armrest up to the level I preferred and it still does not interfere with my auto-gear-selector
and gains space for a tissue box above handbrake.

As soon as I was happy with the angle, I 'contact cemented' the 'cork' to the backside of the armrest where it can no longer be seen.

The resiliency of the shim gives a nice 'springy' feel for this armrest, which is plenty large enough for two arms or elbows,
more photos in my Gallery.