Recently picked up an R56 after (regretfully) selling mine a few years back. It came with the gray center arm rest with black cushion like my old one did but I can't remember how it used to work.

The arm rest sits lower than horizontal, almost touching the handbrake and while I can lift it higher, there are no other locking points. Is this the intended behaviour or is it broken?

 

It shouldn’t rest on the Ebrake handle. In the down position, the center console should be level/horizontal.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/sho...diagId=51_6289

 

Thanks. I will look for a replacement then. This part seems unnecessarily expensive though!

 

Take it apart and find out why it’s leaning forward before you go looking for a replacement console. Could be a simple fix.

 

Picture of how it looks?

 

Sorry I dont have a picture because its fixed now. I added an aluminium at the hinge stop so the arm rest stops higher up. It is MUCH more comfortable in this position and I also took the chance to lubricate the hinges too. This required only the removal of 2 screws on the sides of the cupholder, another screw in the middle of the cupholder itself. Quick fix and made it so much better. I don't know if it was always intended to sit so low but the hinge stop is made of a hard rubber type of material so I guess it could have worn down over the years.

I'm looking for a stiffer spring or some other way to modify it to stop the cushion from sliding back so easily now that I can comfortably use the armrest.