I apologize in advance if this has already been discussed. But, what is the deal with Mini charging $250 for an armrest? I am trying to outfit a 2010 mini, but am struggling with the idea of paying $250 for something that should be free. Is the armrest really necessary if I am going with the 6 speed? Thanks!

 

How tall/short are you? I am 5'4 and get ZERO use out of the armrest because I have the seat up so far. If youre taller I could see it....but I have never been a fan of the OEM armrest. Im sure you will hear about the lid sliding back with little effort or it being flimsy as well.

 

I'm 5'6" & with the seats down all the way, I use it to rest my arm on while driving. If I adjust my seats all the way up, I can't rest my arm there.

I use the storage every day. MINI's don't have tons of storage space, so I appreciate every inch of storage I can find...but the door does slide open sometimes.

If you find an aftermarket arm rest you like better, or has a better price, you might want to make the project a DYI. It isn't too dificult to put one in. But it might be different in the newer models. I run an 2005 MCc.

 

5'9" here. It takes a lil time to get used too but if you do long distance driving it is totally worth it a lil pricey but hey thats BMW/MINI

 

It is good if you want to have your cell phone connected to your vehicle's exterior antenna for better transmit/receive and for charging. It stores minor things and looks good. The bad things are it does cost extra, the top slides open a lot, it doesn't fit all drivers, the storage area is too small, and some say it gets in the way of the hand brake. I wouldn't have a MINI without one though.

 

Im 5'7" and i use the arm rest every time i motor. Totally worth it to me even if its a little pricey. We are talking mini not a nissan versa - so you are not getting a "bargain car" in any way. Im ok with that tho.

 

Would not want to do without mine - It's a personal driving habit - some of us do - others don't.

This is the one I have (it is OEM and available from the dealer :http://www.outmotoring.com/mini-coop...h_storage.html

 

I would pay them $250 to take it out.

 

I'm 6'3" and don't have it since I bought off the lot. I thought I'd hate not having it but don't miss it as an arm rest. Might like the storage inside but I don't miss not having it.

 

Funny you should ask. I'm actually really tall (6'8). Are there any tall drivers out there that don't have the armrest who can comment? When I went to test drive the dealership didn't have any w/o an armrest.

 

You really dislike it that much?

 

If it is like the one in my earlier post -- You remove 2 bolts, loosen two bolts and install / remove the armrest. The Mini service bulletin shows ( .2) hours or (12) minutes for the install.

 

I think he means the stock armrest, the one that is connected to the center console, not the seat bolts. I asked the dealer if he can omit it on the order, even if the cost was not reimbursed (I really didn't want it but wanted the convenience package it was part of). Although it is always up while I drive (my MCS has an MT), it is nice to have some sort of armrest while I'm sitting in my car, and the parking brake up solves the flimsy problem.

 

I have the armrest in my clubman and I use it everytime I motor as well, I'm 5'9 and sit with the seat about 3/4 up and about 2/3 back. I however do not find mine to be flimsy (compared To my friends Toyota). I also was annoyed by the fact that it does slide back and forth alot, but have found it stays put just find if you "click" it in all the way forward. But, this may just be because mine is so new (week old). I personally was not going to order it and I ended up with it since I bought off the lot. Now that I have it I can't imagine life without it. 2 cents- Jon

 

I use my arm rest all the time, but agree that $250 is steep -- like all Mini options!!!

 

I am 5'10'' with auto trans. and is totally worth it. For a manual trans. maybe not.

 

Don't buy it. It will become a pain in the ****, and irritate your hand when you try to buckle up. Not worth the 250.00

V

 

I love my MINI 'Euro' version Armrest, link in my sig and pix in my Gallery (I have added Memory Foam padding).

Price has increased this year, there is a (non OEM) 'look alike' version on eBay that screws into console for less than $100.

 

I had Mini-Fini's arm rest in Maggie, my 06R53, but she was stolen back in June. Being 5' 9", I prefer to have the seats almost all the way forward and all the way down and I loved the arm rest, especially for the long drives I'd take, like this one. The price is comparable to the other after market ones, however, I really, really like this arm rest as it is very stable. It doesn't sag or have the plastic-y feel to it when you lean on it like the OEM version does, IMHO. This thing is rock solid. I have since ordered and received the R56 version arm rest for Maggie, Too my week 46 production 2010 JCW! Only 55 days until the car gets here and I start motoring and modding!

Cheers!!

 

Poppa Bear I looked at the photo of the armrest on Mini-Finas website and it looks like the base fits into the rear cupholder. Does this provide a real sturdy base or is there more to this as far as how it attaches? I wanted an armrest but the in stock '09 I bought didn't have it and the dealer wanted $375 to install the OEM variety. So I might be interested in the Mini-Fina offering if it is a basically "stick it in" effort. Stilll don't like the price.

Ben

 

I use mine everyday but always a little worried when I put weight through it and it bends like its gonna break off! It can be a little annoying when the lid slides back on it's own when your driving and resting your arm on it.

 

I bought my car with out it, and have drove it for 18 months with out, picked one up a few weeks ago and would not now drive without it

 

Wow I see a lot of Motorers here that are just gripeing now. It is not that bad. I found it annoying not having one cause when I was highway cruising I would have to rest my arm in my lap. I admit it does take some time to get used to it but once you do you hardly notice it. And are we talking the one with the storage or the one with out cause the without is useless cause it is so small.

 

I have to chuckle when people make comments about expensive accessories. Before the Mini, I had a Honda Gold Wing that I had converted to a trike. All Gold Wing and certainly all trike accessories are expensive - I had over $40k invested, including a trailer - so when I came to the Mini, I was not surprised and $250-300 for an armrest is what I would expect...but I don't have one.

At barely 5'8", I have my seat almost all the way back and all the way down. I like to stretch out my legs. My wife has a small round neck pillow she uses when she is tired and when not, it sits on the console between the seats. I rest my arm on it when driving so I can see where someone might like an armrest. The difference being that the pillow cost only a few dollars and if I don't want it I just toss it in the back seat. Of course it doesn't have any storage room.

 

I could not drive a car without an armrest cause whenever I do it drives me crazy figuring out what to do with my arm.