i think the mini arm rest is probably one of the cheapest oem armrests ever, it is so flimsy and makes noise like mad. i still like having it though... i took it to the dealer to have them fix the squeaking and all they did was oil the joint, that did nothing! and to top it off they made some nice scratch marks on it, i told the service department that i am irked that the arm rest came back squeaking and with scratches! I am going down there tomorrow to see what they will do...

 

It does feel a little weak when I lean on it, and the way the lid slides back is kind of cheap. And the grooves (look like they were meant as wire guides or something) underneath are puzzling. It is also rather shallow inside.

I still would buy it again though, as I find it well-positioned, and it blends in with the rest of the interior plastic.

My money was also well spent on the parcel shelf.

 

it may be cheap, but at least it's something! My MCS doesn't have an arm rest and now I regret it!

 

I have the German OEM one from long ago (there was a thread here awhile ago where we all tracked ours together ) with the wings on the button. Very nice and very pleased with the result.

I've seen the new ones in the showroom and I see what you mean with the slide back. I kinda like the design and the uniformity of it, but I agree it's kinda shallow.

Slo_neon, check out ebay if you're interested in the one I have. The seller pops in with a new batch every so often. The seller is BMW Baum Automobile.

Good luck!
-Sarah

 

I have one of the original OEM German arm rests too and love it. In fact I bought it about 6 months before my Mini even arrived, knowing it wasn't available here and probably wouldn't be. I don't know why it was discontinued. It's strong, functional, and looks fine in my interior (matches my leatherette perfectly and has the Mini logo on the button.

 

take it off (I don't use one...never really liked those things on MT cars).

 

It's a complete after-though and a REALL bad one at that. After testing at teh dealer I couldn't believe they were actually passing it off and something to sell. Flimsy doesn't begin to describe it. I have never feared putting my weight on one until I used the Mini's. I think it would be permanently bent down the first time I leaned on it real good to get something in the back. Either that or it would be twisted against the passenger seat! LOL


Seriously - bad besign, there is just no rock solid stability there with the available mountings for any armrest. It was never meant to have one, and it shows.

 

I completely agree! I had to sit and try one out at the dealer because I was sure I wanted it... then after trying it I couldn't shift without bumping it and it felt like it would fold under when I put my arm on it. I'm seriously considering just getting the elbow rest once my mini arrives. That's all I put on an armrest when driving anyway!

 

For $50 the "Elbow Landing Device" is the best mod I've made. It's cheap, it looks good, my elbo lands exactly right on it, and I can shift gears while resting my arm on it. Takes about a minute to install and doesn't block the rear cup holder or the emergency brake.

The only drawback is you can only rest your elbow on it...it wouldn't handle putting all your weight on it.

I use it every time I drive my MINI.

 

I second the thumbs up for the Elbow Landing Device. I got mine from TVA...I think it is great!

 

I had the MiniFini armrest- it was rock steady and solid, but had no storage space. I would take it over a flimsy one with storage, though.

 

I would be third to recommend the ELD. It works great, relatively cheap, and is easy to take out for track days. I did have one problem with it. On hot days, the glue holding the edge of the bottom trim piece turned into a slimy glob, so I just reglued it with some carpenter's glue. Not a big deal.

 

Another vote for the elbow landing device Had mine for about a year now and no complaints. It's sturdy, blends well with the interior, installs easily, doesn't interfere with anything, and best of all, it's only $50, not the hundreds that some of them cost. Best $50 bucks I've spent in a long time. After using it I wouldn't even consider anything else

 

MoneyPenney & SuperGimp,

The old one does rock. The new one sucks. Verified that today at the dealer. The old one has inough space for my phone charger, the ear bud and a few nicnacks. Money well spent in my opinion.

 

And thanks to you goaljnky we got Paypal. Sorry yours had to be the guinea pig but in the end it all worked out :smile: and it was fun if anything.


...and now back to the regularly scheduled programming....

-Sarah

 

That Elbow landing Device is great, but I disagree with the comments that wt. cannot be put on it. Sometimes I need to reach across to the passenger side or the back seat and use it for balance. It has NEVER slid or buckled, and I'm a big guy. Plus, my 30# dog LOVES using it as a step-between from the back to front seats [he trashed the first type I had, but hasn't made a dent on this one]! For the money, appearance, quality of construction, and easy installation, you cannot beat this item.

Jeff

 

Anybody have a link to this Elbow Landing Device?

 

My ELD is the best. Sorry I don't know how to show a link. But I'm sure if you do a search, you will find it

 

http://www.aiwana.com/Merchant/merch...uct_Code=elbow

or

http://outmotoring.com/mini_cooper_padded_armrest.html

I thought they were the same, but now that I look at them they look a little different.

 

I have to vote for the MiniFini arm rest. It's the best quality I've seen - looks OEM and is very sturdy. Does not interfere with my shifting at all and fits me perfectly. No storage though, but I don't care about that.

MiniFini is now out of business so grab one while you can!

 

is MINI FINI definitely out or are they taking a hiatus and reorganizing?

 

Sadly, it looks like they're gone. I really wanted a SportLink but am not ready to buy right now. They'll be gone, I'm sure, when I am.

https://www.northamericanmotoring.co...ad.php?t=50585

 

I feel that the armrest from the factory is perfect for the car. It hold weight just fine and I did not buy my MINI to store things in. Less storage means less likely to have clutter in the car

Cheers
Shawn

 

You can also find the ELD at Moss MINI, and I've even seen them on eBay as part of a package.

 

I guess I'm the only one here that prefers the styling and function of the OEM arm-rest?

Although I wish it felt more solid, I do think that it is a little more functional with the little storage and the fact that it can be moved out of the way, and that the rear cup holder is still retained.

Plus it has the factory warranty as the rest of the car.