Hey - does anyone in the DC area have the OEM armrest? I'm considering getting it in my MINI, but I first want to sit in one that has it so that I can see if it gets in the way of my driving. I am quite tall (6'1") and I like to have the seat a long way back (not ALL the way but most of the way), so I'm concerned that my elbow will hit the armrest when I'm shifting (even if it's folded up).

Is there anyone in the DC area that has one, and wouldn't mind me stopping by this week to take a look? I need to decide by next Monday, which is my next service appointment.

I will see if my dealer (MINI of Sterling) has one on the lot, but I'd rather a sure thing than an extra drive out there for no reason

 

Paul has one... Of course he's in Pensacola right now...

 

I think Irishcow has one, but am not 100% sure.

 

Crap! I was parked next to you @ Wegman's and I have the arm rest. You could of set in my car. I can tell you now that it gets in the way of the e-brake.

 

LOL I should have asked then... oh well. I'm not too concerned about it hitting the e-brake, because I'll probably leave it up most of the time. My bigger concern was having it interfere with me shifting. Obviously, since you have an MCSa, that is not an issue for you... but I could probably still "feel" whether it would be a problem.

The reason I may get it has less to do with the armrest functionality and much more to do with the OEM Bluetooth kit. I have the kit installed (MF review to come at a later date), but without the armrest, I have an extra keypad mounted on my downtube that I don't want. The two steering-wheel buttons are only 2 of the 3 special Bluetooth buttons in the system, so because I didn't have (or want) the OEM armrest, they had to put the keypad in. The armrest adds the capability of the 3rd button, so I can ditch the keypad. Adding the armrest would also allow me to charge the phone & use an external antenna by "docking" the phone... but I'm mostly interested in aesthetics and ditching the keypad!

 

Next time you're near the Batmini, you're welcome to have a seat.

 

Sat in a CR/CR MCS at MoS today, which also had the OEM armrest. With the seating position I usually have (most of the way back), my arm does indeed touch the armrest as I shift (with the armrest in the up position), but it's a very light touch. I think I can get used to it. Armrest down... I only think I'll use that on long drives!

 

There are a couple of MINIs at MINI of Sterling that have the arm rest. It's pretty neat. I am 6'2" and it definitely gives me a nice place to rest my arm. The parking brake doesn't hit it, and there is an option to have a little cell phone charger inside, though of course, no useful cell phones work with it in the US market!

If you want one, as a DC Metro MINI member and on this board, I can get you a deal at Sterling, though Classic MINI of Ohio has deals as well.
Mike

 

Actually, that's the only reason I considered getting it - if you read post #5 up above... and I beg to differ, there is an adapter for my Motorola E815, which I consider a darn good phone, thank you very much. Thanks for the help, but I'm already very well hooked up at MINI of Sterling... I'm one of their biggest (MINI) customers!

 

Edge, we have one in Pepperina, and I don't like it. For one, it is too low for Jay, he needs it to be higher, and if it was higher, he thinks it would be in the way of shifting for him in Soulfire. For me I don't like it because my elbow keeps opening the slide tray. Sure it is nice to have something to rest on, but for the money, I wouldn't buy one for SF. Just my 0.02!

 

Interesting... good thing I don't plan on using it as an armrest much... maybe on long highway trips. Otherwise, it will just be a place to put my cellphone, and I'll tilt the armrest back 99% of the time.

If you hate it that much, you could always get it removed though...

EDIT: <slaps forehead> Why would you get the armrest removed on a loaner? Thanks Scavenger for pointing that out to me.

 

Haemish, Paul! (MIA) has an armrest in his car (although being that he hasn't made it into the "real world" of stick shift vehicles (he will claim to differ), it does not interfere with shifting (even when he thinks he's shifting, LOL). If the one he has is what you are thinking of getting, I think it would work. His had a sliding top to store items in.

 

Yes, but Paul isn't as tall as me, and so he wouldn't have his seat slid back as far as I do...