Disaster has struck - car almost undriveable!

[HPsauce]

You know how it is, just one little thing breaks and it's a total disaster.
I'm not sure how I'm going to cope now, my S8 is almost undriveable.
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Yes, the drivers armrest has broken off.



It's the square cross-section casting that goes across the top of the pillar connecting (and mounting) the two armrests. Snapped through on the drivers side.

It looks like taking the armrests apart is a no-no and getting a replacement bit of metal probably impossible, so is this an "opportunity"?

It's a PF car, and I've always liked the look of the D2 FL armrests. I'd need one with space for a phone handset (or are they all like that?).
Are the FL armrests mounted the same way, so just can just be bolted onto the existing pillar, or does the pillar have to come out too (I gather it's a tapered fit so careful tapping and prising to free it)?

Platinum interior, so nice grey leather armrests. Any matching FL ones available anywhere?

Edit: Not yet, but some nice FL ones that are a very close match are now fitted.

[Singh]

Nice excuse to upgrade. The facelift armrests are so much nicer and have a lot of storage. Worst case, get a black one and have it retrrimmed. Will probably be about £100. This would be one of my top mods for a PF D2.

[David's8]

The repair - if thats the way you choose - is here:

http://www.audipages.com/Tech_Articl...estrepair.html

[HPsauce]

Interesting solution, I like the idea of that location for the armrest, but way beyond my pay grade to do it even if the parts are cheap!

In the short term I'm rejoining the broken mounting with araldite - might hold for a while as long as I don't actually lean across it but just use it as an armrest.

Longer-term the FL armrest appeals.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by HPsauce

Are the FL armrests mounted the same way, so just can just be bolted onto the existing pillar, or does the pillar have to come out too

Well, the answer is no, but the pillar base is mounted the same way so just need the right bits.
All described here: http://www.audipages.com/upgrades/armrest.html

(I've taken all the existing bits off easily enough to make the temporary repair)

[Night Train]

Happened to mine as well, a few weeks ago

[Architex_mA8tey]

Looks like A8 parts have a grey FL pair - at THIS linky

[HPsauce]

Yes, spotted those earlier and sent them a couple of questions - no reply as yet.
Mainly concerned about the colour match to my platinum interior; the eBay picture is useless for that as it's taken in a very yellow light.

And the price they're asking!
Audipages suggests they can be found for about €175 (under £150) bought in Germany including shipping to USA, so that's more than double.

[HPsauce]

Originally Posted by Night Train

Happened to mine as well, a few weeks ago

What did you do in the end?

I've had another creative thought about repairs though............
Mine has a phone holder so the drivers arm is significantly larger and heavier - probably the main reason it failed at the pivot.

BUT I could reassemble it and cross-link the two arms so that they are held tightly together and support each other. A couple of suitable bolts straight throught from side to side or (less visible) a couple of repair plates on the underside bridging them. Anyone know what materials are inside and where the release mechanisms run from the buttons on the ends?
I rarely, if ever (only when doing work on the car) raise the armrests and always both of them, so that's no problem at all for useability.
BUT I'd know there was a bodge underneath.

And those FL armrests do look nice. Chrissie present maybe (from me to me, SWMBO would have a fit as they cost more than my best bottle of whisky )

[Night Train]

A friend of mine tried to ally weld the part back together, but it melted, as apparently the casting was fairly pourous.

Solution 2, he's going to machine up a new part in stainless, and attach it to the remainder of the casting, its not done yet, but I'm not moaning as its FOC