Armrest retro-fit complete!

[jdp1962]

I started with an armrest housing supplied by Unikarl for £15. I got a bracket and leather-covered lid from Bexley Audi, ordered yesterday, collected this afternoon - combined cost £118.31. They didn't have the 13mm hexagonal nuts needed, but I got these from my local hardware store - with washers - for the princely sum of 40p. Hence, total cost, £133.71.

Working without a template, I cut the hole using nothing more that a hand-held rechargeable drill and a hacksaw blade. It was a perfect fit. The whole thing took less than an hour, and I am delighted with the result, all bar one tiny detail. Here are the pics. Can you spot the one flaw?

 

[3DTDi]

its the wrong colour?

 

[jdp1962]

its the wrong colour?

Damn, you spotted it!

Karl, how come neither of us noticed last night that your interior is blue and mine is grey?!

 

[3DTDi]

Damn, you spotted it!:

Eagle eyed i am! So its quite easy then, literally cut the console away in the right places and bolt it in?

 

[jdp1962]

Eagle eyed i am! So its quite easy then, literally cut the console away in the right places and bolt it in?

Pretty much. The trick is to start cutting a smaller hole, inside the line of where you need it to be, and then gradually widen it out. I covered the area with masking tape, measured and marked out the area covered by the housing, and drilled a series of holes to create the square through which the metal foot passes to marry up with the bolt. Once it was big enough, I dropped the armrest in, noted where the locating lugs on each side came into contact with the console, and then created the slots for them to drop into.

The rest was easy. Remove the masking tape, hoover up the mess, drop the armrest in, and tighten the nut to secure it in place.

Now to figure out how to change the colour to dark grey.....

 

[3DTDi]

Now to figure out how to change the colour to dark grey.....

Lol good luck with that!

 

[weekenny]

Is there anything else that can fill the hole if I remove my armrest? Like an extra ashtray option or something ? As I cant stand the rest.

 

[jdp1962]

Is there anything else that can fill the hole if I remove my armrest? Like an extra ashtray option or something ? As I cant stand the rest.

Your best bet would be to find someone who wants an armrest, and swap consoles with them.

Make sure the interiors are the same colour, though.

 

[unikarl]

Erm..... I have no idea how we didn't spot that!

Mate, I'll send you your money back for it... It can go towards the right coloured one.

Sorry about that.

 

[jdp1962]

Erm..... I have no idea how we didn't spot that!

Mate, I'll send you your money back for it... It can go towards the right coloured one.

Sorry about that.

No need for that, Karl. I'm using the Liquid Leather colour wash stuff I told you about to paint it the right colour.

 

[jdp1962]

Oh, mate, you've already refunded the dosh. There was no need, honestly.

 

[unikarl]

Its only fair really. Hope the liquid leather works anyway.

 

[jdp1962]

Its only fair really. Hope the liquid leather works anyway.

Here we go,have a look, tell me what you think. That's after two coats.

 

[ntp]

Hi guys, can you help me with some information on how to fi a squeaky noise? It seems that the armrest sounds like an old door that needs new hinges. How can I open it and oil it a bit? Or do I need to do anything else? The car is so well put together that this squeaky noise is making me go mad.

Thanks

 

[Pabs]

hi jdp1962, whats this liquid leather stuff, i have got a grey leather interior in my b6 but have just bought a black and cherry red interior with matching door cards. The only problem is my armrest is grey and so is my centre console and my glove box etc, would this liquid leather work on this??
Cheers for your help

 

[jdp1962]

hi jdp1962, whats this liquid leather stuff, i have got a grey leather interior in my b6 but have just bought a black and cherry red interior with matching door cards. The only problem is my armrest is grey and so is my centre console and my glove box etc, would this liquid leather work on this??
Cheers for your help

Liquid Leather Website

Take a look at the "Scuffmaster" page