Essing

I have some shrinking leather on the cup holder cover, staples are now showing. I want to see if I can remedy the thing. Two questions.
1. How to remove the cup holder cover from the arm rest assembly (I have the cup holder part out)
2. How to disassemble the cup holder cover itself, the base with 'arms' from the part that has the upholstery on it.

I've broken my share of BMW plastic. Any help is appreciated.

-B

JayArras

What year is your car?

Essing

2010 M-Sport 535Xi

donpb

@Essing I think its high time for you to visit a re-upholstering shop. Unless you plan on re-upholstering it yourself.

Essing

No, it's not that time until I get the cover off of the arm rest and split the cover in two.

donpb

Wow, the price for that part is $209.

Essing

$209, I think that is the price for the fake leather units. The real leather part is another $40 plus freight. I won't be buying a new part. I think I can MacGyver it, if I can get it out and apart without destroying that it. Hopefully someone out there has done this.

donpb

I mentioned an upholsterer because they will take it out, reupholster and put it back in. I doubt it will cost that much. I had my front seat bottom reupholstered and it did not cost much at all.

Essing

I'm seeing entire arm rests for $50 to $100 on ebay. Option 1 see if there is any clues out there, option 2 break something buy a replacement from ebay.

donpb

So you're just trying to remove the cover? I bet its something that just pops out using panel tools. I don't even use my rear armrest but I can take a peek at it.