So now that I've got 1500 miles of "experience" in my new F56S, I find that the arm rest is useless and annoying.

I've read other posts about how people didn't like it, I wanted to give it a chance before I passed judgement.

This thread is really a question:


has anyone removed the arm rest yet? if so what did you do about the hole that will be where the arm rest was?

 

OJ
Do you have a manual tranny and the arm rest is an encumbrance while shifting?

 

I do have the manual, but the armrest doesn't bug me for shifting, however it annoys me in other ways...

for instance...when I get in I put down the e brake, then have to adjust the arm rest all the way down so that my arm sits comfortably on the shifter and so that I can reach the controller without having an annoying bend in my wrist. It works fine like this.

I was putting my phone inside of the armrest (running the USB cable along side of my seat and the console to plug it in up front, and again this works fine however if you want to get the phone out, it's in an awkward spot to get while driving, it works better to leave my phone in the cup holder.

I tried putting the arm rest up all the way, but then my arm is too long, elbow hits the arm rest and again I'm contortionist to reach the controller and shift effectively.

I don't need a place to rest my arm while driving, and since the insert for the phone costs almost $300 bucks I'm not going to be putting my phone in there no matter how much mini scares us with rumors of too much radiation inside the cabin (I think this is like California where everything causes cancer)

I'd love to remove it and drive it like that for a while, I really think it will be a more comfortable and ergonomic ride without the arm rest. The only reason it was added was with the connected stuff and it really doesn't do anything for that system, at least not without shelling out a lot more money. even then there would be little perceived difference.

 

Interesting
I was sold on the rest and the MA said it would obstruct shifting the manual.
We didn't order it.
After removing and deciding to toss it let me know.
I'd like to try one.

 

after I remove it, if I like it better without, I'll send it your way.

 

I'd also be interested in buying an armrest if someone removes one and prefers the car without it.

 

can one of you guys without the armrest post up a picture of what's there without it?

 

Hmm. I also ordered the arm rest with a manual transmission. I was hoping I could just fold it up when not in use, but I didn't consider it would still be in the way. I make many long trips each year, so this accessory was a must for me.

 

Here's a couple of shots I had handy. Let me know if you want more, the car is just outside from where I'm at.

 

actually what I'm looking for is what the base looks like...here's a pic of mine...

in the one pic you can see what I was talking about how the cord is routed into the arm rest next to the seat.

the next pic is fully up and you can see the base of it where it attaches right behind the e brake I'm wondering if it has a cap or a whole different piece for the bottom

 

whoops here's the pics

 

here are two pics of how my arm fits with the rest up and the rest down, up you can see my wrist is awkwardly canted.

 

sorry I just noticed some of the pics loaded upside down and sideways, now sure why that happened.....

 

Where is your elbow when finished shifting to second?
Must you move the rest to adjust the emergency brake?

 

with the rest up, my elbow is less than an inch from it but doesn't touch it so at least to me it's not a factor.

the rest sits level when down, however you can adjust it down further as shown in my pic. when it's full down, it sits on top of the E brake so when you pull it up, it will raise the arm rest to the level position.

so when getting in, it's a process: get in, start car, release hand brake, move the arm rest down, plug in phone, place phone in arm rest....you see it's just annoying.

 

Here's a few more pics. I don't really miss the armrest too much when driving, I'd just like to have a little extra storage. I'm coming out of an F250 that I could literally store the entire Mini in, so sometimes I miss the extra room!

 

you won't gain much if any storage, the compartment is only big enough to hold a cell phone. my iphone takes up the entire surface area, you might get two in there if you stacked them on top of each each other but that's it.

 

Can you shift comfortably with the arm rest down?

 

Oh dang...I figured there would be something usable. I guess maybe I'm not terribly interested in the armrest after all.

 

yes I can

 

it looks like to delete the arm rest, I'd need to have a whole new bottom mounding. There is a big hole under the armrest. gonna need more research, may cost to much to not have it at this point LOL

 

BTW, I found a black 6' iPhone 5 cable on Amazon that I ran to the back of the console and then popped it back out by the parking brake. I tucked it under the plastic and you can hardly notice it at all. I really do not like having extra cables in my car, I can't understand why they didn't put a USB in the glovebox. So the black cable was the best I could come up with...you can see it on the drivers side in the pics I posted.

 

I've looked into this with my local parts guy last week.


Problem is the Armrest comes as part of Mini Connected.


You can order the other console without the armrest hole for $200 but I don't think it has a place to put all the dial and buttons for the connected setup.


I'm sure later on someone will make and aftermarket cap for the armrest hole!


I'm taking mine out anyway and living with the hole. It's similar to removing the R56 armrest and there are plenty of posts on how it is done.


Greg

 

good point, I didn't even notice the connected dial missing in the above pics. when you take it out, can you post a pic of what it looks like without it. I'm going to search for the removal thread as well.

Thanks

 

What does the hole look like?