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For starters, in the US, all BMW 5-series (E39) recieve a vinyl armrest with a plastic tray to accept a BMW phone--a "phone tray", if you will. The M5, I believe, is the exception and receives a leather one instead. The base this "US armrest" sits on/bolts to slides to and fro but does not tilt or open up in any fashion. This unit is shown at the right in black. Armrests come in many colors: black, grey, and sand are all we need to worry about for the most part in the United States Armrests come in 2 materials: leather (Montana, Smooth, Nappa, Connolly, etc.) and vinyl (or leatherette) Armrests come in 2 styles: one with a phone tray and one with a continuous top (no phone tray) Bases, the part the armrest bolts to, come in 4 styles: (a) non-tiliting and slides (so-called "US" style, see pic on the
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I've received lots of inquires wondering if the tilting/sliding base will easily mate to the US spec, vinyl, phone tray. The answer is: IT DEPENDS! With a little bit of cutting to the phone tray, the armrest can be made to bolt to the tiliting/sliding base. I went far enough to at least determine this but didn't chop up my phone tray so I cannot offer any information beyond that. If you go this route, PLEASE TAKE PICTURES AND LET ME/US KNOW ABOUT IT!
| Montana Leather | Vinyl | |||
| Phone Tray | Continuous | Phone Tray | Continuous | |
| Black | 51 16 8 213 881 | 51 16 8 190 199 | 51 16 8 213 868 | 51 16 8 196 951 |
| Grey | 51 16 8 213 882 | 51 16 8 190 200 | 51 16 8 213 869 | 51 16 8 196 952 |
| Sand | 51 16 8 213 884 | 51 16 8 190 202 | 51 16 8 213 871 | 51 16 8 196 954 |
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for bases that tilt or open |
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There are some "package deals" available as well and they are normally cheaper overall than buying all the parts separately. Included is the tilting/sliding base, continuous (no phone tray) Smooth leather armrest, and a storage tray. |
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This package deal includes a vinyl, continuous (no phone tray) armrest, tilting/non-sliding base, and a storage tray. |
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A few more notes:
The leather seats and door panels in the US-Spec E39 BMW 5-series is called Montana leather. It refers to the specific texturing and type of leather used. If you want to PERFECTLY match the armrest leather to the other leather in your car, be sure and order the Montana armrest and not the "package deal" listed above. Next, order the base (tilting/sliding, for example) and the storage tray (if ordering a base that tilts open).
It is my personal opinion that the Smooth leather is not distracting at all from the Montana leather. If you wish to save ~$50 and aren't incredibly picky, you will be happy ordering the "package deal," in my opinion.
This installation is performed on a 2001 BMW 530i and so
your car may be slightly different although not tremendously so.
This is a grey, vinyl, phone slot, non-tilting/slider that all E39s
save the M5 get standard: armrest is 51 16 8 213 869 and base is 51 16 8
213 874
The part
installed is the black unit from "package deal #1", part number 51 16 2 427 367.
The first step is to pull out the rear storage bin. It can be very
tough but essentially, one inserts one's fingers all the way in, and uses
one's fingers to press upwards while pulling out. This should be enough to
either pop it completely free or pull out an edge where one can carefully
insert a screwdriver to gently pop it free. Cup holders from the 1997-2000
E39s work in a similar way: open the holder and start to gently pry it
free.
Here is a view of what is behind the rear storage tray or rear cup
holders
Gently pull down on the rear air vent to free it and pull out of the
way. Careful! There are wires connected but they should be long enough
that you don't need to disconnect them.
Here is a view of what is behind the air vent. That cable is connected
to the air vent.
Get your #2 Phillips screwdriver and remove those two screws you see.
Save them to reattach your new armrest/base later.
Pull the old armrest unit off and here is what is left. The wiring
harness you see is for the BMW phone. You will need to disconnect this and
stuff it back through the hole otherwise the storage tray will not fit.
A close-up of the phone harness. It will disappear back into that
square hole "from whence it came." That black cable holder needs removed
as well. Incidentally, I haven't "buzzed" the wires there but I am sure
there is power there--could be useful for some future install of
something.
Okay! So basically, you plop the new armrest back on and secure it
back down with the screws that were removed earlier.
Notice these two threaded bolts portruding through. Yep, the armrest
doesn't come with the needed nuts/washers but I am 100% positive they
exist under some unknown BMW part number! These two threaded posts support
the armrest when it is open.
Here is what I recommend you get to secure the armrest. The locknut
has a small ring of white plastic embedded into it to prevent the screw
from loosening...I figured "what the hey!"
Secured nuts and washers...ready to reinstall the vent and storage
bin.
Here is a view without the storage tray installed.
Install the storage tray.
A job well done! In case you are wondering, my seat color is Stone
Green...I have the two-tone interior Stone Green/Black.
Here is an unfortunate gap but it IS the way it is
supposed to be...I have confirmed this.
Seems to work fine! Enjoy! :^)