Rear Arm Rests Carbonised!

[BigFas]

Part 1

Hi guys, finally got around do doing a mod I've been putting off for a few weeks. As most of you know, I changed out the trim to silver CF and needed to do the rear armrests, so today was the day. I searched long and hard for a DIY to remove the doorcards but couldn't find anything, so I here's what I hope will be an informative DIY for anyone else that wants to try it. In short, it's pretty straightforward and out of 5 stars, 1 star being the easiest, 5 being the hardest, this is a 2.

Here's the stock silver armrest
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665117_Small_.JPG

Right, first of all, you need to remove the rear seats
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66511_Small_.JPG

Place your hand at the bottom of the seat and pull upwards, this will release the bottom half of the bench. Once you've done both side, you'll see the retaining bolt holding the seatbacks in place.
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66512_Small_.JPG

Using a 10mm socket, undo these on both sides. Once they're off, push upwards from the bottom to lift the rear of the seats clear of the bolt and there's also a lip which needs to be cleared which you can't see on the back itself. This lifts clear pretty easily and you're left with:

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66513_Small_.JPG

Next you will need a trim remover tool, you don't REALLY need one, but they're cheap so I used one:
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66514_Small_.JPG

You need to remove the rubber weather stripping around the door
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66515_Small_.JPG

Using the trim removal tool, pull out the round plastic retaining clip you can just see here
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66516_Small_.JPG

Pull away the rubber weather stripping
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66517_Small_.JPG

Once that's done, you will need the trim removal tool to pull away the bottom corner of the door card section away.

So you begin with this
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66519_Small_.JPG

And after pulling away, you get this
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/66518_Small_.JPG

That's the ONLY clip holding the door card in place.

[BigFas]

Underneath the armrest, there are 2 8mm bolts. Using a suitable socket, remove both
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665111_Small_.JPG


The doorcard is now free, just remove the wire connecting the rear tweeter
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665112_Small_.JPG

That's it, door card is now free.

Using a Torx 20 screw bit, remove the retaining screws holding the armrest in place
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665113_Small_.JPG

I had to re-use my leather pad, so just yank that sucka out
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665114_Small_.JPG

And place in the new CF piece
http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665115_Small_.JPG

Screw the new CF piece back into the doorcard and place doorcard back into place in the doorframe and secure everything back into place, basically reverse the process.

Once that's done, repeat for the other side.

Replace the rear seat and sit back and admire your handywork. (crap pics because I was tired and cold!)

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/665121_Small_.JPG

All in, it took me about 90 minutes for both sides, but now that I know what I'm doing, it'll take much less, 45mins-1hr tops.

Anyway, I hope that helps someone out who needs to do this

[330ciSport]

Looking good Fas! Nice photo how-to.

You don't have one for the door trim do you?

[peppernick]

Nice job! :D

[BeemerBoy888]

good job big man! :D

Might need your help to do mine sometime soon :confused: :confused: :)

[BigFas]

Beemerboy, come over next weekend, I'll happily fit them for you.

330Ci Sport, doors are even easier.

Follow this to get the door trim off

http://www.bmw330ci.com/DIY_Door_Panel_Removal.htm

Once it's off, you'll see the screws holding the armrest in place. Job done.

[Afif]

sweet write up :cool:. Definately looks good :)

[Ali_]

Lush.... great little write up BF :D

[BigFas]

It's 3.23am and I awoke with an epiphany and just had to post. I could have saved myseld some serious time on the install as there is absolutely NO need for the actual rear seats to come out! Durrrrr

Ah well, that's why I'm a pioneer, to bring you, the wider audience the knowledge of my experience :D

[BeemerBoy888]

Beemerboy, come over next weekend, I'll happily fit them for you
You da man :cool:

[nass]

makes a big difference! ur a nutta man thinking of changing ur motor but modding at the same time lol :D . on ur new car inshallah u get the numba
F 5YCO lol :D

[BigFas]

Raaar, you just gave me an idea for a plate :D

F45 YCO Both Fas and "Syco" :D

[Chaos]

Nice job Fas, nice job. :cool:

[BeemerBoy888]

Went to Fas' today as he kindly offered to help me complete my silver carbon trim by installing the two rear arm rests.

Anyhows, story went something like this:-

Fas: Its quite easy to remove the rear door card, I've worked out that you don't have to remove the rear bench.

Me: Cool bro.

Fas: Right we just remove the weather proof seal, remove tiny screw holding the seal in place. Undo the two 8mm bolts under the arm rest and pull the door car off. Unscrew the screws holding the armrest onto the door card and we're laughing. Ok, now where's your silver carbon trim, we can now put them on.

Me: (After 1 1/2 hour drive) Erm......... S~*T do you know something, I forgot to bring them!!!! :eek: :eek: :o (My bad!)

Anyway, after picking Fas up off the floor from him laughing, he kindly did as much as he could so I would be able to just screw the silver carbon trim onto the doorcard and replace the doorcard when I got home :)

Just to say Fas, thanks for all your help bro and it was really good to meet you and your lovely family.

I will try to complete the install tomorrow morning.

Also thanks to Teddy as always for installing the angel eyes for my brother.

Both top guys! :D

[Shuriken]

The phrase, "I tell you to do one bl**dy thing!" comes to mind lol :D

Looks good fas :)

Shuriken.

[BigFas]

Hey buddy, was a pleasure to meet you, your other half and your bro too.

And yeah, the story is pretty much spot on :D

Glad you came to visit Slough, definitely made a couple of good friends today. Let me know how the install goes, you have my numbers if anything goes wrong.

And Shuriken, abso-bloody-lutely mate :D

[BeemerBoy888]

The phrase, "I tell you to do one bl**dy thing!" comes to mind lol
LOL. Teddy if you are reading this, it was because I was making sure that I didn't forget to bring the ACS one piece lip spoiler for you :D :D

Fas bro, I've fixed the silver carbon armrests onto the doorcard and stuck the leather pads on with the good old "velcro" :) I'll attempt to replace the doorcard at first light :D Thanks for braving the artic conditions today.

BTW, your ride is looking sweet, loving the front Hamman spoiler.

[BigFas]

Good man. The main thing is, just line everything up properly. Don't force the 8mm bolts in, if they're not going in, it's not lined up. Also, there may be a situation with the bolts where they're just freely spinning and not grabbing the thread, again, same thing, the holes are not lined up.

Easiest way to line things up is to push the door card hard up into the upper most corner, the corner nearest the rear seatbelts / backrest, once that's snug, everything fits.

[BigFas]

Oh, and post pics ;)

[Ali_]

Thats awesome boys ahaha :D Cant wait to see the pics.

[Afif]

lol classic story. Was two of you aswell! Both forgot :o. O yea Fas my mum loves your house lol (well what she saw of it neways).

As for the trim. Looks waaaay better in person :D

[westside]

nice onme faqs looking good and wicked write up :-)

[BigFas]

No update. I'm scurred

[BeemerBoy888]

Update, I've replaced the door cards, only clicked them into place at the moment as I am trying to find a socket and 8mm in my house!!

Fas, the doorcards have clicked nicely in place, but I am having difficulty putting the rubber weather proof seal back into place nice and neatly. The drivers side has slightly broken and the passenger side's is still riding a little high for me to tuck it in properly and make it all look neat.

Any ideas bro?

Cheers

[BigFas]

I have one idea.

When I tried it to re-install the rubber seal, I started from the bottom up which I assume you did too right? Try this,

take the rubber seal away from the door as we did originally, now start reapplying it from the TOP, down. Line the top of the rubber seal, with the top of the pillar where it SHOULD go and work down. See if you can work the 3-4mm of slack into the door sill plastic, if that makes sense? When you line up the top of the rubber, I would re-attach the black "nail" so it stays put along with the window seal too (again, hope that makes sense!)

Let me know how you get on. Failing that, I'll take a trip up to you with my knife :D

[BeemerBoy888]

Cheers bro, that makes sense. I'll try lining the rubber seal from the Top, down and see how that goes.

I'll keep you posted :) (help......) :D

[BeemerBoy888]

Right managed to get some time this morning to try to finish replacing the rear door card with the silver carbon fibre arm rests (apologies for the amateur camera skills) :o
Front trim and door
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image15.pjpeg
Front trim (lighter than in the pic)
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image16.pjpeg
Front centre around SATNAV
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image17.pjpeg
Front left trim
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image18.pjpeg
Centre gear surround
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image19.pjpeg
Front door armrest
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image20.pjpeg
Weather proof seal (Fas bro, I took your advice and went from TOP, Down to fit this bit back in neatly, you da man :D
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image21.pjpeg
Dials
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image22.pjpeg
Rear arm rest
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image23.pjpeg
Under the hood :D :D
http://www.evotechnik.kanukai.com/images/image24.pjpeg
The pics of the silver carbon are a bit darker than in real, as it was sunny this morning, so I didn't bother using the flash.

All I need to really do now is to secure the four 8mm bolts back into the rear armrests.

Once again thanks and big ups to Teddy for supplying the parts and helping to install the front bits and to Fas for helping to do the rear armrests :)

There is some real nice contrast in the interior now, with the beige leather, silver carbon trim and my black ACS mats :D :D

[BigFas]

That looks AWESOME. Good job on the install, looks really good. 8mm bolts are the easiest bit :)

I need to see the silver CF cluster trim in person. That's a 50/50 mod for me, but from the pics it looks great.


Good job again

[Shuriken]

Yeah, that CF is set off really well by the beige, looks brilliant mate - nice one.

Shuriken.

[BeemerBoy888]

I need to see the silver CF cluster trim in person. That's a 50/50 mod for me, but from the pics it looks great.
Fas, the silver carbon cluster is wicked, I believe you have the white Lockwood dials? The contrast would be real sweet with the silver carbon behind your white dials bro :D

Just for anyone "thinking" about going for the 8 piece silver or black carbon trim, I would say go for it. The quality is really good and I can definitely say that any pics do not do it justice (anyone else who has done the install can back me up on that one??!!)

I originally had birch wood trim on my car (don't ask, brought it 1 year old) and it gave the interior a bit more of a "prestige" look, but the silver carbon transforms it to a much more "sportier" look. :cool:

[Ali_]

Thats looking fantastic mate congrats, it looks like such a tidy/sweet install u must be mega happy. ;)

[rossi46]

beemerboy
i realized you put a manual gearknob on your steptronic.
how does it work?
is it true that you can't use the S D mode?
nice mod by the way, i like the ACS matts too. :)

[Ali_]

While were on the topic of CF interior.
Id asked Teddy to have a look around for a saloon kit and unfortunately he wasnt able to source one for a right hand drive (once again i think there is a comspiracy against saloons ;) )
Anyway im in need of a CF panel around the gear shift and was wondering if the coupe is the same as the saloon in that respect??? Or even better what out of a coupe CF kit will fit a saloon if anything??

[BigFas]

Do you have front and rear electric windows? If so, coupe surround will fit. If only front electric windows. Sorry, shit outta luck. Again :D

[Ali_]

http://photos.e46fanatics.com/data/500/29271DSC01095-med.JPG
Well thats mine so im guessing im sweet :confused: :) Cheers Fas

[BigFas]

hmmm, i didn't account for the dirty great big window lock in the middle.

It looks similar to the convertible surround. Measure all the dimensions, length of sides, length of switch holes etc, I'll do the same and see if we have a match :)

[BeemerBoy888]

i realized you put a manual gearknob on your steptronic. how does it work?
rossi46, the only difference now is that you don't have the safety button which you would normally press in to select P R N D etc. It just slides straight up or straight down into the desired mode. Its very smooth and no problems :D

The steptronic works exactly the same as if an automatic gearknob was on.