It just drive 600 miles to pick my new Clubman and I love it.

However, since I had limited choice of features by price, it is lacking the center armrest. The MA said I could add it. But without calling the dealer and paying through the nose for a part I think all minis should have a center armrest as standard.

So, where can I get one cheaper than full price and has anyone installed it aft purchasing?

 

Outmotoring has them.

http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...g_storage.html

Dave

 

I for one am happy it does NOT come with the crummy center armrest! You might want to find somebody nearby that has it installed to see if it is a nuissance for you. Shorter people seem to have issues with it and I find it would get in the way of shifting. Not to mention it's a rather cheap piece of kit...

 

Jeeze, what a grouchy response! The OP wanted to know where else to get one, other than from a dealer.

I have one, it came with my car, it is a quality armrest with a metal frame! It flips up, if you think it'll get in the way of your shifting, though I don't see how it could.

Anyway, I like it and am also surprised that it doesn't come a standard equipment.

Dave

 

Grouchy? hmmm, maybe.

Anyways, the previous poster gave details on where to buy it so I gave my opinion as the original poster did not indicate if he has tried the armrest or not. When it's folded up, I would somehow bump my elbow, when it's down I didn't like it either. The armrest in the car I tried was flimsy and poor quality - maybe they changed parts?? Everyone has their opinion and I don't like it. Cost cutting is probably the reason it is not standard.

 

$299? No, but thanks. I thought $250 was too much.

It should be like $100. I'll wait a little.

 

Wow, pricey.

 

order on amazon?

http://www.amazon.com/MINI-Cooper-Ge...9127506&sr=8-2

a little cheaper and you don't pay taxes :D

 

I've had a Cooper without and Clubman S with. I like it.

 

Hi all,

I just got my Clubman and cannot stand the absence of the armrest. Anyone have experience with either of the armrests discussed here? The OEM one on Amazon looks chintzy and the outdoor motoring one is rather expensive. Any thoughts?

Thanks,

Kevin

 

No way is the one sold on Amazon an OEM, I specifically ordered Molly's Arm Rest and did so knowing that it would be shared by both my Husband and I AND at the same time!! Sometimes one of us has to give a little more room to the other's elbow, but so what isn't that what L@VE and the MINI are all about!!

 

My clubman has the arm rest. It was a MUST have. Every time I take my car in for service I get a loaner without the armrest and find it extremely annoying to have no where for my arm to rest. Personally I think it's worth every dime.

 

I have an armrest my BFF purchased for me off eBay. I need to get the parts to put it in (it came with the armrest itself and the bolts; none of the parts for conversion of the center console). I'm looking forward to installing it...I miss having an armrest!

...anyone deinstall one in a clubbie? I'd like to discuss getting the parts from you...

 

My R53 didn't have it, and my R56 does. It's worth the money, I kid you not. My arms sit perfectly even in terms of height as I rest one along the door's armrest and one on the center. Perfection.

 

Driving, I can tolerate going without.

I actually need it for getting in and out. You see, I am old (42).

 

I guess I don't need one since I have both hands on the wheel!

 

I purchased one I found on FleaBay. It was about $99, IIRC and I've had it in my car for over 2 years. It rests atop the handbrake "console" and screws into it using self-tapping screws. It is reasonably sturdy, has a flip up top with a good amt. of storage and it also flips out of the way when need be.

Mine is *similar* to this:
http://cgi.ebay.com/ebaymotors/OEM-U...Q5fAccessories

 

I like resting my arm on it and I keep toothpicks, an ink pen and glasses in it.

How is an armrest helpful for getting in and out of the car? I gotta know

 

When I get in without the armrest, I tend to fall into the passenger seat...NO kidding I guess I have gotten used to getting in and resting my right arm on it for leverage.

 

Have one the heavier metal base ones in the R56 and the lighter all plastic ones in the R55. The metal one is nice as there is a little more storage and it's a bit more substantial but it gets in the way of shifting a little bit and in the way of the hand brake a lot. And it can't be flipped up fully out of the way.

The plastic one is reasonably solid and less in the way. Overall, both do a decent job of giving you a place for your arm.

 

I have the one pctured in the Amazon Ad. I like mine a lot. I always seem to rest my arm on it while driving.

As far as installing it, they come with instructions. (I found them on Outmotoring's website) and they are super-easy to install. I had to remove mine while replacing by shifter and handbrake boots. They are anchored by the same bolts that hold in your seat rails. All you do is remove the two back ones and loosen the two front ones nearest the console, slide it underneath the rear ones and put everythig back together. It is really a 20 to 30 minute job.

 

Actually it is an OEM Armrest but it is the one they sell in Europe and in this country is actually called the Euro armrest

 

I have one in my S and love it. Don't have one in my wife's S and I also fall in the passenger seat as well. Plus I feel lost in hers because I have no place to rest my arm. To me without it is uncomfy.

 

I was sort-of in the same situation when I purchased my JCW Clubman used: it came with what it came with, and among the things mine did not have was the center armrest. Like you, I felt a bit shorted, and began exploring what it would take to retrofit one. I quickly discovered it was not as straight-forward as one might have hoped...

Then I began reading on the forum that many people were not happy with the standard OEM center armrest that is installed in North American vehicles, and held off. Now I'm kind-of glad that I did...

I just took my Clubman in today for its last round of free maintenance, and was supplied a loaner Cooper S with a 6-speed and the center armrest. Almost from the moment I sat down in the vehicle, I began discovering what others were complaining about. When I slid into the driver's seat, my right elbow knocked the top of the center armrest rearward, exposing the small (and essentially useless, from a storage standpoint) compartment it covered. And while it didn't seem to interfere with me working the gear shift (I guess it's just the way I hold my arm from my driving position), it did mask the parking brake lever (the use of which is essential around here in hilly Pittsburgh -- especially with a manual transmission); every time I reached for the parking brake lever to engage or disengage it, there was that blasted center armrest interfering.

I finally swung the stupid thing out of the way, and have no interest in retrofitting one any longer...