Removing armrest lid - help!

[Sooty torques]

My armrest has given up the ghost after nigh on four years of faithful service - its decided to stay locked in upright position. Have removed it from the car and the locking pins are mucho dead, plus there's an unpleasant tinkling sound of broken bits when shaken...

As it's a leather job in excellent nick, I was thinking about getting hold of a fabric one and swapping the lids over - anyone know how easy it is to get the lids off? and on again? How to do it?

 

[CRAIGLCR]

yeh its easy!!! i got an armrest out of a golf mk4 from a scrapyard. the lid was fabric and worn, i managed to get another fabric lid from a damaged armrest in the same scrap yard and then swapped them over when i got home to make 1 good one that looks like new!!!

if you flip the lid open and just get a knife in the hinge pry the "knobs" on the hinge towards the centre whilst pulling up on the lid it should come out piece of p*ss!!! do one side at a time!!! then the other one just clips straight in!!

im just at the stage now where i have got the centre console in the house and i have cut out the hole where the armrest fits!!! tomorrow awaits the fitment!!!!

 

[Phil K]

sorry slightly off topic, but, how close is the match with mk4 golf black cloth to that of the LCR?

Cheers

 

[Sooty torques]

Cheers craiglcr! As you say, was dead easy. Now to source a fabric job and swap over the lids...

 

[CRAIGLCR]

phil, the match is actually quite good. I am a perfectionist and hate things slightly outta place. but im going to leave the cloth as it is until it starts to wear, then i will just get it recovered in the cupra r cloth.

fitted it this morning, all back together now and im damn chuffed with the results!!!!!

only problem is cant drive my car for 10 weeks got my leg in plaster!!! any offers of a chaffeur????????????LOL

 

[GrayT]

Yep, as Craig said it's very easily done. I took my lid off to attach this: lifehammer

 

[claudefrog]

CraigLCR.. how did you swap the fabric over?

someone got into my car the other night and as i opened the armrest lid they hit my arm and broke one of the hinges from the lid

now i have a leather lid with a broken hinge, thinking of going to the breakers looking a fabric lid as a replacement

 

[CRAIGLCR]

not quite sure if you can just change the fabric, although it is only stapled on!!! i changed the complete lid. damaged fabric one for a spot on fabric one!!!
the one i have spare now, i was goin to take to a professional upholsterers to get the fabric changed!! they will be able to just change the fabric for sure!!!!!!

 

[claudefrog]

thanks for that, i shall keep an eye out from a breakers

unless you want to sell me the lid you have that has damaged fabric, i could try to swop the leather to it

 

[Sooty torques]

Just been on to the stealers for latest prices: fabric lid alone £45+VAT; body (not sure if this includes fabric lid or not) £149-46+VAT... Ouch!

 

[CRAIGLCR]

scour the breakers boys you will be sure to find one!!!the breakers where i had mine from have a few more in!!! but its near nantwich cheshire?? dont know how close you are?? the hinge is slightly damaged on the one that was taken off claudefrog!!! sorry mate!!

 

[Sooty torques]

Well got interesting prices from breakers, most wrong side of £75... some were scratched, marked and filthy too.

So contacted ibexparts and paid £123 for a complete, brand new one with fabric lid. Ordered Tuesday, arrived this morning by UPS, genuine sealed SEAT box, all nicely wrapped.

Have just swapped over my old leather lid and so now have a brand new, wrapped and totally unused black fabric lid going begging (£45+VAT from a UK SEAT dealer!). Any one want to make me an offer? Also going begging are the mounts and all fixing bolts for attaching the armrest to the car body. Plus I've got a complete armrest (sans lid) with not a scratch or mark on it, just the adjusting bits dont work...

 

[RobM]

Sounds like you got a damn good deal there! I've not heard of Ibexparts before though, so will be checking them out I think

 

[Sooty torques]

I've used them for non-urgent and more expensive parts over the last 5-odd years for both my Leons. Excellent service, excellent prices.

 

[RobM]

How quick are they to deliver? And can you order online, or do you have to phone Manuel to place an order?

 

[Sooty torques]

They don't have an on-line order service as such. I just email in English what bit I want, full description plus full car details (inc. model year and chassis number), and within 5 - 10 mins you get an email with price (in euros) back plus delivery time. Check this against what exchange rate currently is and if price is good, either post cheque (safest), fax card details (OK) or email card details. Suppose it's the paying part that sounds most dodgy, but I've never had any probs.

Like I said, emailed on Tuesday, quoted 142.50 euros for armrest and 25.00 euros UPS delivery = about £128 to my rough reckoning, and quoted delivery of 3 days. You can track your parts en route via the UPS tracking system. Actual cost was £123.79 and UPS delivered at 9am today. Done deal.

 

[RobM]

Sounds good to me! Will check them out for sure as there are a couple of bits I'd like for a project or two I have in mind

 

[CRAIGLCR]

Come On Then Rob Wot U Got In Mind??????