Looking for E36 Front Armrest

[billzeebub]

I am looking for a BMW E36 Convertible Front Centre Armrest Unit. My vehicle has an unusual interior colour. I believe it was the 'Individual' option when the car was new. It consists of Tan leather seats and a darker (Light Brown/Caramel) dash area. I have been looking on auction sites, but they all seem to be selling the usual black or grey or beige.

Does anyone have such a part or know where is my best bet to find one, breakers?. I have even resorted to contacting a BMW 'Stealer', they informed me the part is discontinued.

I had an E36 previously with the same interior colouring, and seem to remember the armrest was the darker dash colour leather?!

Any help would be greatly appreciated...

[griffter]

Depending on your aspirations to perfection, you might be best off buying one in the wrong colour, then either recolouring it using vinylkote (or similar) or getting a trimmer to do it for you. I recoloured an entire TVR Griffith dashboard (leather) with vinylkote and the results, taking time and patience were very very good.

[E36GUY]

I have one in grey you can have for £40

[billzeebub]

Thanks for the advice/offer guys, but as my car is in almost as new condition I think I will hold out for an original part in the correct colour..I know it could be a long wait!..If anyone out there has an E36 with the armrest unit in the colour I am after (that they are not really fussed about) I would offer to swap the parts over with £ your way and would come to you?!...clutching at straws here...Ive logged details with a stack of dismantlers as well, for the light brown/biscuit/tan armrest..Im not sure of the exact colour name

[E36GUY]

billzeebub said:

Thanks for the advice/offer guys, but as my car is in almost as new condition I think I will hold out for an original part in the correct colour..I know it could be a long wait!..If anyone out there has an E36 with the armrest unit in the colour I am after (that they are not really fussed about) I would offer to swap the parts over with £ your way and would come to you?!...clutching at straws here...Ive logged details with a stack of dismantlers as well, for the light brown/biscuit/tan armrest..Im not sure of the exact colour name

I think you will find that cars with non-standard leather colours had black armrests. I've never seen one that isn't black or grey

[billzeebub]

I have seen one because I used to own it..exterior colour was that Individual Atlantis Blue/Green...It looked stunning!..I have seen a few cars for sale with the interior colour, the armrest is not the colour of the seats and doorcards..it is the same shade as the dash and roof lid. I rang BMW Info Line and they confirmed the interior is listed as beige. However it is darker than the champagne beige that I had in another E36 Convertible. The colour is a light brown/butterscotch. Quite rare but I hope to eventually find one