Armrest Cover

[rhend]

Dear Alll.
Someone asked is it easy to re-cover central armrest in real leather.
No it is not, but I did it anyway. It is simple to remove,just 2 screws.
The difficult bit is getting two pieces to seperate as they are glued together.
I used a stiff bladed broad knife to break the glue and some strong fingers. Be carefull and it will come apart. I tried every where to get a good piece of quality leather but ended up at local charity shop. Mens leather jackets £10.00,enough for 4 armrest and in a good cause too. You will also need some strong superglue not the cheap stuff.I will try to post pics as I'm new to MB Club I not sure how it works, you could always PM me.

 

[Anders]

You beat me to it!

Went to see an auto-upholsterer yesterday, who managed to find an exact match colour and grainwise. He also added 15 mm of extra padding, and after 1,5 hours of very professional work I parted with £ 30 and is extremely happy with the result! Looks so much better than the cheap & nasty plastic "leather".

As per the previous post, the cover is in two parts, and you need strong fingers and a flatbladed screwdriver to carefully wedge the two parts apart.

Will post pictures later, when I have access to my digital.

 

[Shude]

I replaced my armrest lid with the oem phone console version, extra pocket, piston inside to open it and two buttons on the front so you can choose which pocket you want. If you don't like the stock one you might not like this one either, it's really hard plastic with a textured moulding! I did wonder about getting it leather covered but it's bigger and bulkier than the stock one as it is, would probably end up looking a bit silly.

 

[1998K]

You beat me to it!

Went to see an auto-upholsterer yesterday, who managed to find an exact match colour and grainwise. He also added 15 mm of extra padding, and after 1,5 hours of very professional work I parted with £ 30 and is extremely happy with the result! Looks so much better than the cheap & nasty plastic "leather".

As per the previous post, the cover is in two parts, and you need strong fingers and a flatbladed screwdriver to carefully wedge the two parts apart.


Will post pictures later, when I have access to my digital.

really well done. Pictures will be much appreciated since I'm wondering the same thing since I owned my W202. That cover is really too bad. But please clarify me: do you take off the plastic leather replacing with new real leather? When you say "wedge the two parts apart" you intend the plastic leather from the cover itself?

Hey Shude, that is intersting because I was wondering to install the same armrest you have but now you confirm my worry: it's also another plastig and rigid piece!

 

[Shude]

Hey Shude, that is intersting because I was wondering to install the same armrest you have but now you confirm my worry: it's also another plastig and rigid piece!

It's very hard plastic, the standard one looks nicer and is softer, but the upgraded phone console armrest is a bit more heavy-duty, it has big springs in it and a piston to assist it's opening! I think covering in leather would be tricky due to the buttons at the front.

 

[1998K]

thanks for your reply Shude.


I'm waiting to the promised pictures by the other Guys.

 

[Anders]

really well done. Pictures will be much appreciated since I'm wondering the same thing since I owned my W202. That cover is really too bad. But please clarify me: do you take off the plastic leather replacing with new real leather? When you say "wedge the two parts apart" you intend the plastic leather from the cover itself?

Pictures will only follow Friday, but to clarify: The cover is obviously one piece when assembled, but it consists of two parts: The part which is visible when open, and which screws (x2) into the back of the console. If you look carefully, there is a ridge all the way round it. Use a flat bladed screwdriver to prise it open, and you will see that the top of the cover, which is the padded plastic part, is glued to the lower part. In order to obtain a proper finish, you will need to wedge the two parts apart.

I guess this is one of these posts that is pretty useless without pictures...

 

[1998K]

Pictures will only follow Friday, but to clarify: The cover is obviously one piece when assembled, but it consists of two parts: The part which is visible when open, and which screws (x2) into the back of the console. If you look carefully, there is a ridge all the way round it. Use a flat bladed screwdriver to prise it open, and you will see that the top of the cover, which is the padded plastic part, is glued to the lower part. In order to obtain a proper finish, you will need to wedge the two parts apart.

I guess this is one of these posts that is pretty useless without pictures...

thanks Anders, it's as I was wondering.

You have also utilized some extra padding, it's really a good idea.

Really well done

 

[rhend]

Hi All.
Tried again to send pics of my real leather replacement armrest cover. No go,but I'm
pretty sure I could send them email if anyone's interested.

 

[1998K]

Hi All.
Tried again to send pics of my real leather replacement armrest cover. No go,but I'm
pretty sure I could send them email if anyone's interested.

thanks again for the photos you sent me by e-mail.

 

[DJNash]

Could you please POST piccies

ta

 

[Blue Lightning]

Please tell which auto-upholsterer you went to? If too private, please email me.

Kind regards

 

[Anders]

Sorry about the late posting, but here are the pictures. The colour is slightly off, but once it has had some leather polish it should be an exact match.

 

[1998K]

it seems also more comfortable now, with added foam doesn't it?

 

[A-AvantGarde]

Very impressive, looks great yet also original. :bannana: