W168 Arm Rest Retrofit Project

[rubbergrape]

Evening all,

I'm about to have a go at retrofitting the centre consol arm rest to my A140 Classic, pre face lift. I got a colour matched arm rest from dronsfiled for £35.

Has anyone out there done that before? Any handy hints, or do it make it up as I go along???

Must admit I'm seriously worried about loosing the cup holders

Thanks!!!!

Dave

 

[area51]

I retro-fitted the front armrest to my pre-facelift A160 recently.

Do you have all the fittings [large bracket thing that bolts to the floor, bolts etc] ?

When I fitted mine I found it easier to remove the front seats, I could then lift up the centre console and carpet to gain access to the area of the floor that the armrest bolts to.

If I can help further just ask..


Chris

 

[rubbergrape]

Thanks Chris - much apreciated.

Yes I have the big black bracket thing, no bolts though - looks like I need 8 off m8 bolts (a trip to B&Q)

Thanks for the tip about the front seats. I will give it a go at the weekend & post some photies.

I'm still worried about loosing the cupholders thou - I do like a cuppa T on the way in to work - thought I would get something from halfords and stick it the drivers door just below the tweeter.

Cheers, Dave.

 

[area51]

Dave,

The M8 bolts that secure the bracket to the floor are very short, you might be better off getting them from M-B.

The cupholder is secured by a single screw, this screws into a speed nut. The speed nut has to be changed for an M8 speed nut [ this will probably make more sense when you take your car apart].

The armrest itself fixes to the top of the mounting bracket using three M8 bolts, one of which will screw into the new speed nut.

I can supply part numbers if you want them, hope this helps..


Chris

 

[rubbergrape]

W168 Armrest retrofit completed & pics

Chris - thanks for the offer of help on the bolts. I'd gone ahead and bought a pack of M8x25mm from B&Q for like £2, and cut them down - 5 off 12mm and 3 off 16mm.

Well I've fitted the armrest - you're right - it would be impossible to do without removing the front seats !! i couldn't beleive the dirt down there so took the opportunity to clean the seats, all plastic, and carpet ... very satisfying.

I've been living with the armrest for a week or so now ... and yes it's real anoying the handbrake is partly obscured ... but I wouldn't be without it now. The storage box alone is really useful ... I'm missing that cup holder though... been looking around and can't abide the air-vent-mounted ones that proliferate the market ... will keep looking.

Anyway, heres the install in pictures:



Thanks all, Dave.

 

[EN4CER]

Hello All,

This is my first post here, so let me start by saying hello

I just bought a brand new armrest and side cheeks to go into my A140 Avantgarde. I believed I might only need some bolts to fit it, but after ready this post and seeing the picture at the bottom, it looks like I may need a mounting bracket as well

Can a kind sole confirm the above and help me out with some part numbers and costing for 1. The mounting bracket? and 2. The bolts.

Any and all help is greatly appreciated.

Thanks

EN4

 

[rubbergrape]

Hi EN4,

Yes you need the bracket. Yes you need bolts. I will try find you some part numbers ... will be a few days though. As for costs you will have to ask mercedes or ask at www.dronsfields.com

Did you buy your (brand new) armrest and side cheeks from Mercedes? I would like to know if the side cheeks include the cup holder or not (like pictures above)

Cheers, Dave.

 

[area51]

Part numbers to retro-fit armrest:

MN000000 003853 Screw [M8x16] x3 0.45p each

MN000000 001151 Hexalobular[!] bolt [M8x12] x5 0.70p each

MA004 994 18 45 Lock [M8 speed nut] x1 £1.00

MA168 610 35 31 Console [mounting bracket] x1 £37.60

Prices [April 2010] +VAT

Hope this helps
Chris

 

[Reedswood]

@Dave, how long did it take you to fit the armrest from start to finish?

Is there any drilling to do?

I phoned MB last week about one, and they quoted me around £700 fitted new!

 

[area51]

Reedswood,

No drilling needed, fitting should take 2-3 hours taking your time.
I spent more time cleaning those parts of the car that are inaccessible with the seats in place than I did fitting the armrest.

Chris

 

[Reedswood]

Thanks, Chris for the info, and Dave for the pics...this is a really useful thread!

 

[rubbergrape]

Reedswood - Chris has said it all 2/3 hrs etc. Good luck - hope this saves you a bag of ££ and P.S. it is worth the trouble/effort - I like the arm rest almost as much as my cruise control - lol

Cheers Dave.

 

[Sgfinnie]

Part numbers to retro-fit armrest:

MN000000 003853 Screw [M8x16] x3 0.45p each

MN000000 001151 Hexalobular[!] bolt [M8x12] x5 0.70p each

MA004 994 18 45 Lock [M8 speed nut] x1 £1.00

MA168 610 35 31 Console [mounting bracket] x1 £37.60

Prices [April 2010] +VAT

Hope this helps
Chris

Hi Chris, do you know where I can buy the side cheeks in grey without the cup holder in the back? Do you know what the part number is for this? Thankyou and regards

 

[area51]

Welcome to the forum, Sgfinnie. There are [to my knowledge] two different shades of grey interior for the W168.

Slate grey is a darkish grey [with a hint of blue about it]. Quartz is a very light grey [almost silver ish].

I am guessing that as you require the panels without the cupholder that yours is an early [pre-facelift] car?

In which case the part numbers for slate grey [as in my car] are
A1686832108/7D88 and A1686832208/7D88. These were £4.25 each[+VAT] in April 2010 from my local Mercedes dealer.

Considering the price, buying direct from Mercedes is probably the best/easiest option but they will most likely need your cars' VIN to be certain of getting the correct parts.

Hope this helps
Chris

 

[Sgfinnie]

Thanks Chris it is the pre-face liftmodel, slate grey interior. This really helps, I am going to try and order one tomorrow. Thanks again and kind regards Sam

 

[Sgfinnie]

Just picked up side cheeks for armrest and they fit like a glove, am very happy. I was charged £11 including VAT. Thanks again Area 51...the mercedes garage were adamant they never made one without a rear cupholder, without the part numbers you supplied I was getting no-where.
Kind regards and have a good weekend.

 

[area51]

Sam,

Pleased to hear that you got the parts you were after. Always happy to help.

All the best,
Chris

 

[rubbergrape]

Sam,

Maybe i should have looked at this before you bought those cupholder-less covers for your arm rest ...

On the off chance ... can i assume you have covers with the cupholder in? Would you like to sell them (& the little "pot" that fits inside) to me?

Thanks!!

Dave.

 

[area51]

Dave,

I am not 100% sure but I think the armrest covers with the cupholder will only fit the facelift cars.The centre console is a slightly different shape at the back.

I know that Mercedes do cupholders that fit into the door pockets [for the front and back doors], but I am uncertain if they are for pre or post facelift. I can supply part numbers if needed.

Chris

 

[rubbergrape]

hi Chris,

interesting ... I'm 90% certain the arm rest i retrofited to my prefacelift came from a facelift car. so if thats right, cheeks should be interchangable.

I've seen the door pocket cupholders and am 100% they only fit in facelift cars. My interior front door handles are going yuk and sticky so I would like to change my front door cards to postface lift ... if not too dear ... and gaining cupholders as a side effect.

... got to finish renovating the kitchen before any of that will fit in my schedule thou !

Dave.