Would someone who has a manual F56 Manual tranny and
an armrest please comment on the location of the
armrest interfering or complimenting the shifting motions?

 

I find the location fine. No issues at all. I would say everyone will be different, though. There will be those who are fine with it, and those who would like the location/height to be changed. I'm loving it, though. I would recommend trying to find a dealer with an F56 manual to test drive.

 

Thanks Bob

 

I test drove one with armrest and manual. I put the armrest up because it seemed slightly in the way for me. My wife likes armrest for bracing while cornering but the car had sport seats which she said held her in place just fine.

 

They are fine. When the e-brake is fully engaged it will hit the lower part of arm rest at its lowest position, so I position it one click up. At this position the shift **** sits about the same level and i can shift naturally with my arm resting on the, well, arm rest

 

The armrest is adjustable? I didn't know that.

 

Yes, big improvement over the last one.

 

try swing it up and down and use the lower button to unlock the position

 

When you adjust the armrest lower, does it just tilt the front lower, or does the complete armrest go higher and lower thus staying in a level plane?

I test drove a manual Saturday (both an MC and an MCS) and found that the armrest did seem to interfere with shifting somewhat, especially compared to my current manual R56 armrest where I just leave my arm on the armrest while I shift away. The F56 armrest was too high to my liking, but if the entire armrest lowers (and not just tilts), it probably just needed adjusting.

I did place my order Saturday, and the armrest was in a package I wanted, so I figured I'd get used to it -- but if it's just a matter of lowering, I'll be a really happy camper!

 

The armrest only tilts. I have a manual and have no problem shifting, but I do keep my seat high because the safety belts are non-adjustable and I like my jugular vein

 

Sounds like I'll be raising the seat and/or tilting the armrest down and/or just learning to deal with it.

Did I tell you I liked the F-56?

 

I'm removing mine. It gets in the way. Also my wife thinks it is too busy. I agree there is already a lot going on and the armrest adds to it.
I had to get it but just took the plastic bracket off to expose the bolts.

 

Yikes, that doesn't sound good! Isn't there wiring going to the armrest?

If you remove it, post some pictures so we can see what it looks like -- seems like the brackets may look a bit odd.

 

I have a manual, and it doesn't get in the way of shifting. BUT:

It gets in the way of the iDrive controller. It also interferes with the pulling and releasing of the e-brake.

I have the Wired package w/ PDC, and it is annoying to have the arm rest either all the way down (tilted) or even level when trying to use the controller. As far as i can tell, it is fully connected with the car, and it won't be easily removed.

 

Does it fold all the way up? If so, that seems preferable to removing it altogether.

 

It does, and that's how i have it.

 

I currently have a 2002 IS300 manual, and I can't imagine NOT having the armrest. My elbow and lower forearm rests on it comfortably while my hand is on the shifter. Seamless shifts in a relative rest position all day long. Traffic jams are an afterthought. This concerns me here.

 

For me the comfort outweighs the obstructiveness I don't even notice it getting in my way. Pulling it all the way up does bump the back of my upper arm so that's not an option for me.

 

^ This


Silus; Don't be too concerned. I drive home 28 miles every weekday, 20 of it in moderate traffic, hundreds of shifts. Absolutely love how it shifts and find no discomfort concerning the armrest.

 

Just to add to this thread, having driven my MCS 6MT since Monday, I do find the armrest in the down position interfers with shifting. I have moved it into the fully upright position and will leave it there. Seems to solve it for me. Don't think I will be removing it entirely.

 

 

My husband and I are both tall, and the armrest was in the way, in both the up and down position. FYI, if you order the navigation, you HAVE to get the armrest. So...put that into your equation, when ordering, because it's not a choice to not have it AND have navigation. Very annoying. There is a phone docking station, inside the armrest, so it can't really be used for storing anything.

 

I'm both tall and large, doesn't interfere with shifting only e-brake and connecting seat belt both solved by raising the armrest up.

 

Can anyone confirm if the armrest is higher in the F56 than in the previous generation? My impression is that it is.

 

It's my impression as well but it can be tilted downward.