How To Guide Fitting E46 arm rest Z3

[Sean d]

Not sure if this has been put on here before.
I bought the armrest off ebay for £17, its been laying around for a weeks and decided I would have a crack at it today, it comes with a huge plastic mount and you only need about 15% of it, as I have the 2.2 breaker I initially used that as fitment, it does take a lot of test fitting, keep cutting and trying, I got it bang on height and as far back as I could, then I tried it in my 2.8, due to the Storm gear knob it was to high so had to start again, I got to the point where it sits comfortaby in position and just need a couple of fitting which will be done from the back side as I don't want any fitting showing.
I will also recolour it to match the seats

This is what you finish up with and I couldn't go any lower

In position

Extra storage

 

[Craig Machin]

That looks great Sean great job. May give it a go myself over the winter

 

[Mazza]

Hi Sean, Like this......... I assume its cut down to fit inside the tray....but how do you fix it ???

 

[Sean d]

Hi Sean, Like this......... I assume its cut down to fit inside the tray....but how do you fix it ???

There is some solid pastic on it that can be drilled and rivnuts fitted, I will also fabricate a steel backplate that will sit on the underside of the console to give the fixing points some strength

 

[t-tony]

Blu-tac.

Tony.

 

[Stevo7682]

Blu-tac.

Tony.

Or sticky back plastic

 

[t-tony]

Pink buddies.

Tony.

 

[Philip unsworth]

Looks awesome great job

 

[Jjim]

Good job @Sean d

Exactly as I did it for my Blue Z3.

 

[Sean d]

Painted the leather and got it fitted to the console but forgot to take the pics of it fitted, also painted the trim in satin black

 

[mwpe]

Looks OK in red as well. I copied Jim.

 

[t-tony]

That looks very nice Mike.

Tony.

 

[Jjim]

Good job lads

Must admit I love my armrest on long trips.

 

[t-tony]

I have to say the armrest I bought from Leather Zee for my Z4 is really a great addition.

Tony.

 

[Mazza]

This is what happens when you are a computer nerd like me......

Looking on ebay for an E46 armrest, and found two so put a bid on each thinking One may be accepted....what I have now realised that if both bids are accepted I have to buy both.... ( yes I know I am a plonker),

I may have to find someone to recolour the armrest to Tanin red, but it will be a good addition to my Zed.

 

[t-tony]

Easy to colour it yourself Malc. If you end up with 2 you could colour it and make a bit.

Tony.

 

[mwpe]

I may have to find someone to recolour the armrest to Tanin red, but it will be a good addition to my Zed.

I could recolour it, I have some Tanin red Scuffmaster that I used on mine.

 

[Jjim]

This is what happens when you are a computer nerd like me......

Looking on ebay for an E46 armrest, and found two so put a bid on each thinking One may be accepted....what I have now realised that if both bids are accepted I have to buy both.... ( yes I know I am a plonker),

I may have to find someone to recolour the armrest to Tanin red, but it will be a good addition to my Zed.

I’ve got some Tanin Red leather dye and could dye it for you.

 

[Jjim]

I could recolour it, I have some Tanin red Scuffmaster that I used on mine.

Just beat me to it

 

[Mazza]

I will be in touch once I get an armrest sorted and done all the mods to fit it.

@ t-tony, If I end up with two I will mod both so that they will both fit on a Z3, and get one coloured to go in mine, .......not sure about the colouring the second, but would be happy to pass the second one on if someone wants to fit one. (Plus I will make two sets of fixing brackets.)