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Thread: Current project: E46 armrest into E36

  1. #26
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    Quote Originally Posted by newdeal2006
    Boosted...what stereo is that? The Nam&$@!...something?
    Looks like a Blaupunkt design, and I think it has the Blau "key card" there at the bottom...


    Quote Originally Posted by dallasfan824
    TC does not want ghey hookers you silly.

  2. #27
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    Oh ok...thanks

  3. #28
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    No Longer Available Blaupunkt Toronto

  4. #29
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boosted318is
    Thanks,
    your e46 mod looks great! Yes, I had a set of vader seats custom covered in OEM sand vinyl to match my sand interior.

    Your next mod should be the 3-spoke steering wheel with the stereo buttons. I just got my buttons to work with my aftermarket stereo...good stuff
    can you give us a few details on how you wired up that steering wheel to your radio? which slip ring did you use for it? I have the same wheel and haven't installed it yet.

    ----

    GP, wicked install of the armrest, incredible.

    Hey man, I'm a professional!

  5. #30
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    Quote Originally Posted by themadhatter
    GP, wicked install of the armrest, incredible.
    Thanks.

  6. #31
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    Quote Originally Posted by themadhatter
    can you give us a few details on how you wired up that steering wheel to your radio? which slip ring did you use for it? I have the same wheel and haven't installed it yet.

    ----

    GP, wicked install of the armrest, incredible.
    For my application I actually dissasembled a blaupunkt remote and hard wired it into the steering wheel buttons and 12V power source. It was a pretty difficult operation but it works great. There are a few options for the "general" retrofit.

    If your aftermarket stereo is controlled with an IR remote

    1) Get a newer 1999 dual stage airbag slip ring, and use it on an older single stage airbag This has 4 wires going into the steering wheel which allows the airbag to be connected along with additional source wires for a PAC Steering Wheel Audio Control Interface. I believe the stering wheel functions are communicated on 2 wires.

    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-aUHZEY9...8900&I=127SWIX

    E-mail me direct if you want to talk in more details and I would be glad to help.

  7. #32
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boosted318is
    For my application I actually dissasembled a blaupunkt remote and hard wired it into the steering wheel buttons and 12V power source. It was a pretty difficult operation but it works great. There are a few options for the "general" retrofit.

    If your aftermarket stereo is controlled with an IR remote

    1) Get a newer 1999 dual stage airbag slip ring, and use it on an older single stage airbag This has 4 wires going into the steering wheel which allows the airbag to be connected along with additional source wires for a PAC Steering Wheel Audio Control Interface. I believe the stering wheel functions are communicated on 2 wires.

    http://www.crutchfield.com/S-aUHZEY9...8900&I=127SWIX

    E-mail me direct if you want to talk in more details and I would be glad to help.
    sweet, thanks for the info. if I get snagged, I'll hit you up.

    I have a hand made 3 spoke wheel for an M5 that I want to wire up with my Alpine CDA-9855. could you guide me as to what airbag and slip ring I should pick up? the standard pre-dual phase bag and then a post '99 slip ring or the ring for an M5?

    thanks again!

    -Ron

    Hey man, I'm a professional!

  8. #33
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    Aug 2006
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    E36 318i
    Hmmm, would this mod be possible on an e36 with out the armrest to begin with (IE not luxury package, so just the 2 ashtrays are where the armrest would be). If you take out the console to begin with, fitting on the e46 retrofit kit would be the same?
    Also, curious on pictures of the armrest in the upright position. Does it stay there during spirited driving or does it fall down?
    Any insight to these questions would be great, i've always wanted an armrest because there's not much there right now to begin with! Also want to make sure it's worth it.

  9. #34
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    ^ same question i had..... i just want an armrest period....
    "Before you can think outside the box, you have to know whats in it"

    -Matthew

    M42 Club Member #126

  10. #35
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    You also need to get the armrest center console, but it all will bolt up just fine. Get the center console + e46 armrest on ebay and you are good to go.

  11. #36
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    Quote Originally Posted by Boosted318is View Post
    You also need to get the armrest center console, but it all will bolt up just fine. Get the center console + e46 armrest on ebay and you are good to go.
    Actually, I've done this e46 armrest conversion.

    There is a method which I figured out by which you can do the conversion, and basically not have to modify your existing console trim for the change in location of the e46 armrest hinge.

    If you noticed in the pictures and such, the E46 hinge point is about .5 inches forward and .5 inches higher than the E36 hinge point. The reason is that the armrest base is slightly different, as was shown in the DIY write up, in prior postings.

    What you can do is, instead of just bolting on the E46 base to the E36 trans tunnel (which it will bolt up), is to cut the bases and epoxy them together. The KEY is to cut the bases at the correct places. This allows you to convert the hinge to the E46 hinge, but retain it's E36 location in space. This also allows you to avoid the gap in the console trim at the back end. All you'll have to do is cut the E36 console trim on the back side for the wider E46 hinge, and that's it.

    Having done this some months ago, I don't remember exactly where the cut was, but I can take pictures of it and post them if someone is interested. Actually, I'd very much like to add to the DIY procedure online with this option.

    Also, the epoxy is JB weld...which is perfect for this type of plastic.

    -Chris

  12. #37
    RRSperry's Avatar
    RRSperry is offline Senior Moment Member BMW E36 M3 Expert
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    please do post pictures.
    No matter where you go, there you are...

  13. #38
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    Any pics yet? Why would it be better to cut and paste together 2 different consoles, if the E46 console will bolt right up? At least that's what I understand from reading above.
    97 Cosmos///M3 with Black Vaders, SSK, M50 mani, Stromung exhaust with cat delete, JB Racing Lightweight Flywheel with AA clutch, and suspension goodies!

    Oh yeah, Stage II HKS s/c from Active Autowerks
    ???whp/???tq

  14. #39
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    love to see more info
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  15. #40
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    Bump for my question above.
    97 Cosmos///M3 with Black Vaders, SSK, M50 mani, Stromung exhaust with cat delete, JB Racing Lightweight Flywheel with AA clutch, and suspension goodies!

    Oh yeah, Stage II HKS s/c from Active Autowerks
    ???whp/???tq

  16. #41
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    Bueller?
    97 Cosmos///M3 with Black Vaders, SSK, M50 mani, Stromung exhaust with cat delete, JB Racing Lightweight Flywheel with AA clutch, and suspension goodies!

    Oh yeah, Stage II HKS s/c from Active Autowerks
    ???whp/???tq

  17. #42
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    hi guys

    can someone please tell me where to buy this E46 Armrest retro fit kit

    my M3 didnt come with one. I have an individual nappa leather but most M3s ive seen without the extended leather console/lower dash have a black nappa armrest - so thats what im after

    i have the phone kit tray if that matters
    2005.8 E46 ///M3 - Lemans Blue/Light Ecru Nappa

  18. #43
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    You can buy the retrofit kit at your local BMW dealer.

  19. #44
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    It's a Blaupunkt

  20. #45
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    Quote Originally Posted by M Powr'd View Post
    Any pics yet? Why would it be better to cut and paste together 2 different consoles, if the E46 console will bolt right up? At least that's what I understand from reading above.
    Sorry. Haven't checked back on this thread in some time.

    The frozen northeast has been no good for car work lately, or for simply being outside. Will take pictures over the long Prez day weekend and post.

    -Chris

  21. #46
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    sweet...thanks!
    97 Cosmos///M3 with Black Vaders, SSK, M50 mani, Stromung exhaust with cat delete, JB Racing Lightweight Flywheel with AA clutch, and suspension goodies!

    Oh yeah, Stage II HKS s/c from Active Autowerks
    ???whp/???tq

  22. #47
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    Quote Originally Posted by cgraff View Post
    Sorry. Haven't checked back on this thread in some time.

    The frozen northeast has been no good for car work lately, or for simply being outside. Will take pictures over the long Prez day weekend and post.

    -Chris
    Here's the link:

    http://www.m535i.org/officers/ra/E46...t_into_E36.pdf

    -Chris

  23. #48
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  24. #49
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    Quote Originally Posted by G. P. Burdell View Post
    Nice write-up!
    Thanks.

    I think we hope that with every new project like this that's never been done before, we learn a few things and these write-ups can be useful for those down the line who want to do these things. And that we hope that these projects simply become formulaic, in that one just follows a simple set of directions.

    -Chris

  25. #50
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    Hey, this is a somewhat related question and I bet you'd know the answer:

    I need a new armrest top for my e46 as the leather is too worn.

    Is the e36 armrest top a fit for the e46 armrest ?

    If not, could I buy an e36 armrest top, take off the leather, and put it on the e46 frame?

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