The Official MINI Armrest Revealed

For those curious here’s a short video of the armrest. I found that it’s not quite as sturdy as I one would hope. Certainly not close the BMW 3 series armrest.

Looks nice, but you have to put your hand thru the back of the unit to get to the cup holder. I bought the provious version of the official Armrest and love it. It is sturdy, has a compartment and mounts under the seat tracks at the rear of the seat. It took 15 minutes to install. It is not intrusive in the back.

I would like this one better if it opened like the one in this picture you posted earlier.

http://www.motoringfile.com/pictures/05_armrest2.jpg

It looks identical to me. Could it be a cost cutting measure to not make it open for storage ?

Otherwise, I have to say I like the look of this one better than any of the others. The “original official” always looked a little bulky to me, and I didn’t like the way it looked from the rear seat. I always thought it looked like an afterthought that had been bolted on. This one looks more integrated, but Chuck is right, you might as well not have the rear cupholder if you have this installed.

I’ll ask the inevitable questions just to get them out of the way….

1. Can it be retrofitted ?

2. How much does it cost ?

Jay

UGH. Well I am so happy I have last year’s armrest.

First and foremost reason: That silver matches nothing in my anthracite and chrome interior! It’s bad enough my steering wheel has it, but that’s it…no need to add more. (Of course, looks great with silver interior). Why don’t they offer two colors like they do the downtubes etc?

Second: It is clearly less sturdy. And while my metal legs might be slightly less attractive, the new one really interferes with the rear passenger space.

Third: No storage!

It does however seem to be slightly shorter and therefore more out of the way of the shifter.

…but again it makes no logical sense why this replaced mine!

Rudy – it’s common in many drivers cars to not have anything like an armrest that could possibly impede with driving. Many people I’ve talked to in the UK or Europe tend to look at armrests as meant for the casual driver.

Personally if it had come standard in my car I’d find a way to un-install it.

Regarding the armrest philosophy in UK and European cars: From what I understand these same reasons are why cupholders are usually small, seem like after-thoughts/have bad placement or are simply non-existant. A good example is Jaguar. It took them years to put cupholders in some of their cars — Actually, I think cupholders didn’t start showing up in them until after Ford bought Jaguar.

Originally, I thought it was silly to not have an armrest in my MCS and figured to add one asap. They’ve come standard on most other vehicles I’ve owned. The reality, after owning the car for almost a year, is that I don’t miss it at all.

The only reason I considered the original “official” armrest was for the additional storage and they seem to have eliminated that option.

I agree with most of the comments here. The armrest was going to be one of my first additions to the car, but now I don’t even remember why I wanted one.

Also, it’s just one more thing that will get kicked around and scuffed when people are trying to get in the back seat, looks like no armrest for me.

I have the “original” original armrest through the first group buy with Alex. I like this one too! It is more stylish than the previous, but the connections look delicate… So, we can have a perfect armrest if we merge the two :)

Gabe… there must be a way to “slide” the top portion of the new armrest. Otherwise, why would they make the bottom part so deep, if it does not provide a storage? We’ll see…

Maybe he sent yours to me. He accidentally sent me two and charged me for them both. We got it all figured out, though.

Stout, but not hearty. Hmm. It’s a swollen tongue that doesn’t sit right in the up or down position, aesthetically.

Too bad it doesn’t at least offer to plug-in, secure & charge an iPOD or cell phone.

All this time, MINI. ???

I got the original official armrest from Alex, and it’s great. This one, although more stylish, does seem a bit obtrusive from the rear. Now if only one of you bright sparks will come up with a ‘mod’ for hiding the metal arms (legs?) on the original, THAT version would get more style point. Perhaps a stick on padding on the metal legs much like that pad i saw for the drivers side knee bolster?? Any handy person out there?

Hi! Attention that the number 52 12 0 154 307 is NOT the for the armrest showned at the Chiaco Auto Show! i control this number with my dealer in Itlay last saturday and if yuo order this number arrived another armrest! Bye

hi there!! i wanna know this units part number?? i think that now i like one of these armrests:) gabe!! please help me!!

The picture shows a terrible misfit between the upper and lower silver mouldings. The paint finish looks standard MagnaKansei also which means that the thing will be covered in scratches within a couple of weeks just as the silver downtubes on MINI end up.

My 3″ X 3″ MINI Brochure says center armrest comes standard. My MA says it’s about $400 installed. My MINI is on the way.

I have a 2005 Mini Cooper and I want the arm rest. I called my dealer and they checked my last 7 Vin number and it will fit, but all the parts add up to $346.52 That is a lot. Is there anywhere else I can order it?

Gabe,

Do you (or anyone else, I suppose) happen to know a part number or part numbers for this armrest and/or other reuqired bits to install it? My MINI is an 03.

I like the “new” armrest and would like to order one but my dealer in Oakville, Ontario, CANADA said he has never heard of it. I had to print our the photo’s and show them!!

Any idea what the part # is so they can look it up?

A very happy ’03 Mini owner.

Do you know where I can find the instalation instructions for the official mini armrest on line?