Does the armrest get in the way of shifting in a Clubman S? I ordered mine without the armrest, but visited the dealer today and thought maybe it would be more comfortable to rest my arm b/w shifting.

Will it be a big deal to add it after I get my car?

 

I'd ask them to do it before you receive the car. And no it shouldn't make a difference with shifting or not because you can always move the armrest up if you don't like it during your commute.

 

Nope, no shifting issues. I would recommend getting the flip top one rather than the slide top one, though.

 

I have an armrest w/ manual, doesn't bother me. I like it, but whenever i wanna get aggressive, i just flip it up and go at it! lol

 

The OEM arm rest was a distraction and a object of interference on my R55...
I tore mine out and sold it.

- Erik

 

I find my armrest pretty much a necessity in my R56. It gives me a nice, comfortable place to... well rest my arm while between shifts or in stop and go traffic.

I can't imagine not having it!

Like Rob said, the sliding top one is a bit annoying at times. I often accidentally slide open the top while my arm is resting on it. I didn't know they made a fliptop one tho, unless you're talking about the european version which I've heard is different and better.

 

I retrofitted the OEM one in my old 2003 and while it was tolerable, I prefer not having it. You definitely have to alter your shift throw a bit to work around it. Flipping it vertical always irritated me more than having it down because my elbow would hit it. Plus not having it encourages me to keep both hands on the wheel, which is probably a good thing.

It all depends on your driving style, though.

 

The factory one is the slide. When I designed my first MINI, my motoring assistant stressed how annoying the factory one was and suggested I have the dealership do the armrest install. There's was the European model. SO MUCH BETTER than that factory one I have in my new MINI. I friggin' hate it.

 

My wife has the Euro one in her MINI and it does not get in the way and if it were to, just flip it up!

 

This.

 

I've had both the aftermarket flip top arm rest in my manual 2010 and the factory slider in my 2012. Given the choice, I'd say the aftermarket one is more useful but neither interferes with driving. The arm rest is usually a must have for passengers who have to sit through a lot of curves.

 

I have this armrest http://www.waymotorworks.com/center-...7-r58-r59.html and it never gets in the way of shifting, it is the perfect height to rest elbow between/during shifts.


But it does get in the way of pulling the e-brake handle

 

Agreed on no shifting problems, but personally I prefer the slider (which I had on my R53) to the flip top (which I have now). Can't get the flip top completely out of the way to easily grab the e-brake for turns, you see…

 

We have the slide-top one in our S and it doesn't ever interfere with shifting but the sliding top does occasionally open when you don't want it to and I am not a fan of this arm rest. In our JCW we have a 3rd part cheap plastic armrest that I don't like so I am looking to replace it with the European version.

Both of the arm rests make using the emergency brake more difficult but you adjust and it's not an issue.

I really like having a center arm rest and I simply wouldn't own a daily driver without one.

 

The deluxe armrest (flip top) on my R-55 does interfere with spirited shifting... and operating the emergency brake. I hated it (and was going to remove it) until I tore a muscle in my right bicep. Having a place to rest my arm is now appreciated.

The loaners I've driven with the sliding armrest do not interfere... but can slide forward unexpectedly. Come on, MINI, an armrest ain't rocket science.

Overheard in Munich-on-the-Thames: "OK you fat Yanks. You want cup holders? Here!" (spits one out). "You want an 'arm rest' for your fat arms?" (spits again).

 

That's the same one I have in my clubman and it works great.

 

I just retrofit the eurostyle arm rest to my 2013. I dont think it gets in the way of shifting. I think it is actually nice because your hand is right there to flick the shifter into the next gear. Without the arm rest, I tend to rest my hand on the shifter, which is supposed to be bad for the shifter.

 

I've got the silly slide-top armrest in my R55, and it does not get in the way at all with shifting. I enjoy having it there on long trips. I don't see how it would get in the way, unless you move your arm like crazy when you shift...but definitely check one out before you get it to make sure.

The slide-top armrest itself (as many have noted) is an incredibly bad design, just like more than a few other things in a MINI; one does wonder if someone in grade school is designing things like this, and how it gets approved to be on the car? Like someone else said: MINI, it's an armrest -- it ain't rocket science (I would apply this statement to many things such as the auto window up/down switches, the windshield wiper controls, etc.!).