The armrest is one of our most popular MINI Countryman accessories.  Installation is fairly simple if you have the single rail that goes from the front to the back of the rear seat. The split rail adds a few more steps including a slight trimming of one of the plastic trims
.


To Install This Armrest
You will need the following tools: 

  • T-20 Torx driver 
  • T-25 Torx driver 
  • 13mm socket wrench 
  • Small flat blade screwdriver (for split rail) 

For the Countryman with the SINGLE rail:

1. Lift up the thin rubber strip inside the rail 

2. Remove the bolts located towards the front and rear of the rail 

3. Remove screws in the bottom of the front cup holders (under the rubber bottom) and lift up on the trim around the gear shift lever. 

4. Lift up rail. There are a couple connectors for the fiber optic light that needs to be unplugged under the gear shift trim. Unplug the connector at the far end of the cable, not at the rail. 

5. Remove existing support bracket and replace with the supplied bracket using existing hardware. 

6. Re-install rail and attach main armrest using 2 of the existing bolts plus the 2 supplied bolts 

7. Tighten and test 

8. Install plastic trim panels supplied with new armrest that cover the base 

 

For the Countryman with the SPLIT rail:

1. Lift up the thin rubber strip inside the rail 

2. Remove the bolts and screws located towards the front and rear of the rail 

3. Remove screws in the bottom of the front cup holders (under the rubber bottom) and lift up on the trim around the gear shift lever. 

4. There are a couple connectors for the fiber optic light that needs to be unplugged under the gear shift trim. Unplug the connector at the far end of the cable, not at the rail. 

5. Remove the round access panel on the back side at the back end of the front rail using a small flat blade screwdriver, remove the screws to pop off the rear rail trim (pull the sides away from the center to release - spread apart). 

6. Lift up rail and remove. 

7. Remove existing support bracket and replace with the supplied bracket using existing hardware (lift up center tunnel cover to release from the bracket - then lift up on the tunnel cover while you remove the old bracket - there is enough 'give' to get the bracket out). 

8. Re-install the rail, reconnect the plugs for the fiber optic lighting. 

9. Install the Armrest with the supplied 4 screws 'loosely', re-install the remaining rail screws. Once all screws are in, tighten all of them. 

11. Slide together the front and rear base covers that came with the kit. They should 'snap' together once they meet over the base. 

12. Before you re-install the rear rail trim, you will need to trim a little plastic on the rear rail trim to clear the Armrest base cover which 'tucks' into the rear trim. Do a test fit to see what needs to be removed, then trim the plastic as needed. 

13. Re-install the gear shift trim. 

14. You will need to 'shorten' the thin rubber strip before re-installing since the trim needs to stop at the armrest base, carefully measure to see what needs to be cut. 

15. Install thin rubber strip.