russianintrigue

This is where I purchased my replacement automotive vinyl center console arm rest cover. You can have it professionally installed by anyone who does this type of work. Or you can try it yourself, it comes with instructions. I can't tell the difference from OEM.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200712853716...ht_1459wt_1144

EL19

iTrader: (4)

Good find, although I don't see that they offer black. Mine has just started to bubble. I'm going to contact them to see if they have black

EDIT: NVM found it in black

RL Chi-town

I think this is an awesome fine... love it...

russianintrigue

I removed the old damaged vinyl material myself (one of the first hands-on tasks I have done on my car) by literally pulling it away from the material bellow it. It's lightly glued on and will come off completely clean.

I am trying to find a drivers-side replacement leather armrest now.

IanVS

Isn't the OEM door armrest made of some kind of rubber or something? Doesn't seem like vinyl or leather.

russianintrigue

It looks like leather but it's probably some leatherette-like material. Regardless of what the material is, I don't like the fact that it's getting all stretched out and looks very unkept at this point. I have been able to find entire door inserts on Ebay, just looking to find the right match (grey colored, drivers door). It appears you have to replace the entire door panel.

IanVS

You can take the armrest piece off (I've done it, have some instructions for doing it if you need them). OEM part is $63.27 at oemacuraparts.com: http://www.oemacuraparts.com/product...a-a03zb-acura/

russianintrigue

Thank you, I will have to purchase the driver side armrest then. Is it difficult to take it off and replace?

IanVS

It's not too hard, no. I did it by myself, but it would have been nice to have a second person there to help support the door while I fiddled with disconnecting and reconnecting the plugs. I posted instructions at: https://acurazine.com/forums/showpos...97&postcount=2

russianintrigue

Thank you, I'll have to convert the .doc file to pdf since the visuals aren't coming up on my mac. It opens in word 08.

IanVS

Attached a pdf version. Hopefully that works better for you.

russianintrigue

Gracias....

TampaRLX-SH

The driver's door armrest is leather.
The center console armrests are pleather.

I have replaced both when the car was under warranty. The dealer replaced the door armrest and the entire upper console (the folding armrests cannot be purchased seperately).

But then my center console armrest bubbled again. It is not seperating from the foam padding as you would think, but instead the vinyl skin delaminates from the fabric substrate.

So I had a local upholsterer recover the console armrests in real leather (with stitching as is OEM). It has supassed both previous OEM replacements.

There are threads about this going back as far as 2007.

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=upholsterer

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=upholsterer

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=upholsterer

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=upholsterer

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...ht=upholsterer

https://acurazine.com/forums/showthr...onsole+armrest

russianintrigue

I wish I would have seen this earlier. I mentioned the armrest to my dealer several times when it was under warranty, aside from it being obviously torn up at the time. I was told it was not under warranty every time..... Ugh......

253RL

Any test subjects who would send their drivers arm rest piece to this eBay vendor if possible? I'd def be on the bandwagon to purchase one as I have heavy elbows too. Will be installing my new eBay armrest covers this weekend.. Hopefully.. Having him make a template like the console should be cake.. I'd think ?

blaser

Guys

Anyone has instructions on how to remove the center armrest?
Mine started to bubble and I would like to remove it and take it to an automotive upholstery for replacement, it shouldn't be so expensive, I will post pictures after and price

russianintrigue

It's very easy, remove the stickers that are under the round black feet. There are screw holes behind them. Take the plastic cover off the handle and there are screw holes behind them. Make sure you take a picture of the hole position and the screw position underneath the first series of screws as it can be a little tricky if you have never done it before. Don't over think it, I am not handy at all and it took me several minutes to take it apart and to assemble it as well.

forcemac101

I just did mine this week. Like everyone says its pretty easy, just remove those rubber/sticker covers ocer the holes. Remove three screws, then take small screw driver to pop off the plastic cover up by latch...there are two ore screws there. Then seperate and rotate the plastic under side of the arm rest. There are four more screws that hold a metal plate to the armrest hinges. Unscrew those and the top leatherette armrest is free. Take it to your shop.

When putting back together, reatching th metal plate, armrest and hinges is tricky, becuase of play in the hinges and in the screw holes. I what i did was to insert the 3 screws that were i itally hidden under the rubber/stickers to hold the plate to the new armrest, while i jimmy'd the hinge screws in. They didn't want to go back in straight for me as the metal plate and hinges didnlt align easily...

blaser

Thanks, it was easy

Toppatop

I just rewrapped my center console armrest in leather and it looks beautiful. Better than when the VCR was brand new. I used the eBay vendor sent it in overnight Monday received back Friday. Total cost including shipping $100. $30 for leather cover $40 for labor and $20 for shipping. I must say I am very impressed. This is the link to the one I used.

http://item.mobileweb.ebay.com/viewi...d=170906226845

Toppatop

http://pho.to/AnAE

oo7spy

zip5famu

Will you send me the instructions?

zip5famu

Will you send me instructions on how to remove lids?

Tony Torque

Need to do this to my driver side door armrest!

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

most of us do

oo7spy

1 bubble!

HybridCB7

Hey Guys. New Member here. Just recently picked up an 05 in Silver.

After looking at both links which one would you guys recommend? One claims to be real leather and the other says it is vinyl

http://www.ebay.com/itm/170904504197...84.m1423.l2649

http://www.ebay.com/itm/200599128430...84.m1423.l2649

I'm leaning towards the vinyl for the simple fact that it is cheaper and comes with directions. Just want to get insight from fellow members before pulling the trigger. Has anybody on here bought either? What are your opinions on them?

HybridCB7

Just wanted to update people if anybody was interested....

I bought the replacement lids and sent out my old lids to the ebay vendor.

Long story short, they came out terrible. I would have been better off just keeping my lids as is.

The new lid covers are still quite loose and not much excess leather was removed so now it does not fit nearly as snug as the OEM lids did. I am in the process of reaching out to the vendor to find out a solution to this, we will see.

I want to hear what he has to say. I may try to salvage the lids myself but if not I may just have to bite the bullet and have an actual professional refinish these for me as what I have right now looks nothing like I was expecting(They weren't that high to begin with...)

BDoggPrelude

I think the best solution for this is to just contact a local auto upholstery shop to recover the armrest for you. I had mine done by a guy in my area for $90. Looks great and came with a 2 year warranty. Have them add some extra padding to the armrest while you're at it, your elbow will thank you for it.

phishfood

Picture?

BDoggPrelude

Color match is perfect. The guy actually sourced some lambskin leather because it is thinner. I think the reason Acura chose the pleather to begin with is because of the tight tolerances on the underside of the armrest. He was unsure that the thicker cowhide leather would fold under correctly without showing a bunch of folds on the outside.

phishfood

Picture?

jose3031

Mine has started to bubble

HybridCB7

Never took pictures. It came out terrible. In defense of the ebay seller. He was good with communicating and gave me a partial refund.

HybridCB7

Should have done this from the very beginning

My locak guy charged me $70 and it looks EXACTLY like OEM. Such a good job.

StReCh4130

iTrader: (1)

At first glance, I thought the ebay route was my best bet, but I guess I will be searching for someone to re-do my upholster my armrest in the NYC Tristate area.

If anyone has any suggestions I'm all ears.

HybridCB7

Definitely try and shop around in your area first. And if you do physically go to these people and show them the arm rests as they will give you different quotes assuming it will be much harder than it really is.

HEAVY_RL

iTrader: (1)

If you do not go to an upholstery shop or a stereo shop and get them covered then there will be no sympathy.

Lobo160

How do I send the items to them to be recovered? I don't see any address or call info on their we-page?