Unfortunately my replacement '09 MCSa didn't have the factory center armrest like my former '08 MCSa had so I bought the MINI Cooper Euro center armrest from minspeed.net.The included installation instructions were straight foward and easy to follow.One thing I needed to buy was a Torx T40 bit socket for my 3/8" ratchet to remove the front and back left and right seat rails bolts to slip the armrest supports under and secure it.Installed on 12/13/08.

Here are pictures of it installed:

EuroArmrestInstalled12-13-08.jpg?t=1229345737




EuroArmrestOpen.jpg?t=1229346734

EuroArmrestUpPosition.jpg?t=1229346819

 

That's really neat...... I have the factory armrest....wish now I would have ordered my car without the armrest and installed the Euro one. Good pics, too.

 

^^Thank you

 

Pretty nice! I wish I had the cash to get one.

 

Which armrest do you like better?

 

Thank you.
I paid $190 at minspeed.net for it.

A very good question.I did like the thinness of the factory one but not the sliding top which always slid open every time you leaned on it but the Euro armrest does hold a lot more inside of it and also latches in the front.

 

How solid is the Euro armrest? I have heard other's complaining that the factory armrest is flimsy. I don't agree, mine feels very solid and I am happy with it, but if the Euro is as solid and offers more storage, it might be worth it.

 

Actually the Euro armrest is very solid more then the factory one was for me in my prior MCSa.IMO well worth the investment.

 

how much does it interfere with pulling and releasing the ebrake?
i need a bit more storage...

 

I have to agree, I also installed the arm rest over the weekend. It seems a lot better for the shorter drivers. The factory one doesn't come out as far, but the Euro one is longer. In fact on the MINIs that I test drove the factory one was pretty much useless for me.

 

Not to much, I just grab the tip of the brake. But, it does flip up if you want it to.

 

It does get in the way of grabbing the e-brake , but at least the leather doesn't rub. An aftermarket one I initially bought rubbed a hole in the e-brake leather.

I also find it really solid. However, it doesn't fold up out of the way enough to clear my elbow which is annoying.

 

That is true but that is due to it being much deeper to hold more inside of it then the factory armrest.

 

I am very happy with my Euro Armrest,
glad I avoided having to first remove a MINI-USA version and replace the rear half of the console.

I found that the Euro Armrest sloped too far down for my comfort,
likely set to allow minimum interference with Manual Shifter,
but this causes more interference with the parking brake.

I first experimented with a 'rubber' wine cork, seen held with yellow tape in this photo:

Click <HERE> to open a high resolution version of above photo in a new tab/window
and then click on that photo to expand. Click <HERE> for photo of 'down' position.

I have since done away with the tape and used Contact Cement to attach that 'cork' to rear of armrest.

I found that the rubber wine 'cork' placed the armrest at exactly the height I wanted
and had a nice 'springy' feel to it.

You could experiment with various 'bumper' materials and sizes using tape first
and then cement to backside of 'bin' and have it out-of-sight.

 

pilotart,
I like the custom details you did with your Euro armrest to match the yellow wet okole seats covers

 

thanks for the responses guys!
ill have to throw that into the budget for spending spree.

 

 

I'm definitely going this route with my next MINI. I have the factory armrest now but I don't like the supports that extend into the back and render the rear cup holder useless.

Tell me about the Torx T40 bit socket for my 3/8", is it different from a regular 3/8" socket bit? How difficult was the install? How much time did it take to install.

Thanks!

 

The only difference with the Torx T40 3/8" bit socket and a regular 3/8" socket is that it has the Torx bit in it.Just attach it to your 3/8" ratchet and you are good to go.

It wasn't difficult to install at all even if you do it by yourself.As far as the time it took me about 15 minutes to install the Euro armrest only because you have to tilt up both sides of the seats to install the armrest supports underneath the left and right inner seat rails and then reinstall the bolts through the holes in the armrest supports to secure it.

 

I attached the instructions for you, mine took about 30 mins. But, it wasn't to bad.

 

I received the same hilarious cartoon instructions for my Gen 1 install.

I never could decipher what the little "eye ball" graphics mean. I superficially thought it might mean to take a peek at the next referenced installation step. But that doesn't seem to be totally intuitive (i.e., after Step #1, why would it make any sense to look ahead to Step #7 so that you'd know you were going to use some Loctite on the screw when you reinstall? This information seems superfluous at this point, unless you need to run to the store and buy it -- but I'd want to know that before I disassembled ).

And at Step #6 I'm to look at "TIS?" What the hell is that supposed to mean? Why would I do that at Step #8? (I'm freakin DONE at that point!)

Anyway, my install was quick, easy, and effective even without breaking this cartoon code.

 

Oh I agree when I was looking at the instruction sheet for the first time I was trying to find the acronym for "TIS" but if you see were they are located on the sheet it could also mean Tighten It Stupid otherwise your seat will lift when making turns!!

Anyway I still don't know what TIS means but fortunately the drawing was easy enough to follow.

 

Glad I did not see that official MINI instruction sheet until after I was done.

My suggestion is to First remove the aft seat rail Torx bolts, then just loosen the forward Torx Bolts.

This will give plenty of clearance to insert Euro Armrest legs under aft rail and insert Torx bolts.
After retightening forward Torx, seat will slide forward for better clearance for final tightening of the rear Torx bolts.

I did not use any Loctite (used NeverSeize ), but will if the Torx bolts ever loosen.

(If you follow the BMW/MINI order,
the loosened front Torx can prevent the seats from sliding forward far enough for best access to rear Torx .)

 

pilotart that is a good suggestion on the installation for those looking to install the Euro armrest

 

TIS=Technical Information System, which is the BMW/MINI CD repair/installation manual the dealers use.