So my car didn't come from the factory with the arm rest, but my wife and I wanted it. The dealer installed it for us and told us it's the factory / OEM armrest, and it looks to be, but I noticed in the manual that it's supposed to slide forward / back, but ours just tilts up and down and the top opens with a button at the front. Is this correct? it also kind of gets in the way of the parking brake, but I suppose that's normal.

Sounds like you have the MINI OEM Flip top armrest.

FlipTop Center Armrest Console - Black . Also called the Euro armrest . Part # 52160429935


http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/52160429935/




Then the standard OEM MINI ones. Found in most MINIs that order the armrest option from the factory. There is a white silver trim version and the carbon black version, its main difference is the trim on the main armrest support.



Silver version.





Black version or carbon black.



Thanks a

Yeah....I have the flip top one. It's positioned fine, but my issue with it is that it kind of gets in the way of the parking brake, which is a little annoying on a manual transmission car. The dealer didn't explain to me that this was not the factory armrest. I hate to give them a hard time, as the dealership was fantastic and very accommodating. They found us this car at another dealership and it had basically all the options we wanted. The only other thing I wish it had was the HK audio system, as the standard audio system is pretty terrible.

The Arm Rest you got is the dealer installed one, and even though it interferes with the hand brake, it is superior to the one installed at the factory. The slide top on the factory unit does not like to stay closed and is prone to breaking

I'm not certain of this but you would probably have the same issue with either arm rest.I have the flip top and like it very much.

Instead of using the emergency brake when you park your manual, see what you think about leaving it in gear (1st or reverse) unless you're parked going down hill in San Francisco. The compression of the engine will prevent your car from rolling.

I got that same one, got it for $200 on ebay, some dealer bought like 200 of them when MINI had a good price on them. I have an auto but understand you , it would be in the way if I used the hand brake alot. Easy to remove if you really don't like it. Just unbolt the rear of seat rails and lossen front bolts.

I have had the flip top on mine since day one. It is definitely a nice mod.

I have the factory one installed in my car. I can tell you it gets in the way of the parking brake as well. You'll get used to it and adjust accordingly with time. Either way its annoying at first. As berto said earlier the slide top factory one (again this is the one I have) does not stay closed. Its very annoying.

My factory sliding armrest stays closed just fine. Also it is not in the way of the hand brake at all.

Same here. I have the factory arm rest and I don't have any issues with it in terms of interference or staying closed. It is a bit further back than I would like, but that's a different matter.

In my case, when I first got the car, I would hit the arm rest when pulling the parking brake. My previous MINI did not have a center arm rest, so I wasn't really used to it. Now I no longer hit the arm rest anymore. But just about each time I get in the top has slid back about and inch or so. But I suppose that could even be my large winter coat hitting it as well. Either way, still annoying.