I actually did quite a bit of searching onsite here.

Is this the preferable armrest to get?
http://www.minspeed.net/MAR.htm

And you specify that you need the R56 version to them?
Also, it says it is finished in leather. I have cloth interior.
Will it match ok?

Does anybody have experience with this one?

Do they give a discount for NAMers?

 

Yes it is.I recently bought the very same one from minspeed.net.I paid the $190 price but forgot to ask Pete if he offers any sort of NAM discount though.He will price match other vendors which he has done for me several times.
The Euro armrest is very comfortable and very sturdy.

And yes you do need to specify R56 when you order it.The leather on the Euro armrest is black and shouldn't be a problem with matching your cloth interior.

BTW I have a thread in the Interior Sub Forum which includes what torx bit to use when installing the Euro armrest.

 

Just installed it on mine. BTW isn't Santa great.

 

I disagree wholeheartedly. I have this armrest and it's basically a plastic (think Tupperware) box on legs. The lid isn't articulated at all, it feels cheap, and I'm fairly certain that after 20k miles, it's the source of some odd squeaking coming from the region of my ***.

Unfortunately, I paid $700 for it through the dealer (including "labour." pfft.) and I could NOT be more dissatisfied.

But if you can't live without an armrest, it's your only OEM choice - the "good" armrest can't be retrofitted to the car, it is a factory only option, according to my dealer (Universal City MINI in Los Angeles.)

 

i dont know what all the complaing about the stock arm rest is. yeah it moves a little, but your not doing handstands on the thing. i think a little car needs a little arm rest. and after having a car broken into i can say the less stuff you leave in it the better.

 

Hey now!

The factory unit is fine, other than issues with it sliding open. You're not going to be able to keep any large items stored in either the factory or the Minspeed variant. I'm with MiniMedic on this one.

 

I was fed up with the OEM armrest sliding open every time I put my elbow on it. So this weekend I put some self-adhesive velcro strips on the back of the lid and base, small ones. Now it works great! Doesn't slide at all and you can't see a thing. I did use a little superglue on the lid section since part of the velcro was on the vinyl surface whihc isn't very condusive for adhering to with the self-adhering tape. Really works good and cost less than $1.00

 

15 CD jewel case from Target, $8.99. Fits perfectly between the seats of both gen cars, and is actually functional!

 

Pictures please!

 

We installed this one and it is great. More solid, more storage and the lid stays closed (compared to stock). We found it easy to install, just follow instructions and buy tork bit for you ratchet if you don't have one.

 

I think I am the only MINI owner that likes the OEM armrest. I do not have any sliding problems (yet) and it lets me rest my arm on it.

 

I like the OEM one too.

 

sequence I have seen you post this before and meant to ask, do you have any pictures of this little bargain? Thanks!

 

I like my stocker too, I have the V3 phone mount in mine and the only time I open it is to put the phone in or out and it is tight and stable. I have seen the one from MINISpeed and hate to say, it looks really out of place in a MINI.

 

I have that one too. The dealer added it at no additional charge when I purchased my MINI.