armrest cover removal

[h_2_o]

OK so i removed the top part of my armrest because it is nasty. Now i am curious if anyone knows how to remove the cloth part of it so i can recover it?


thanks

[scarabY2k]

Profile info- what we see in the top right corner of your posts....
Where ya from?- someone might be near you to help
What type of nB do you have?- different years, different designs, i.e. armrests

just sayin'

Now I have a 2000 nB, automatic. I just went out to the garage to refresh my memory on how I did mine.

Now if you had the cover seperated, and looked at the top portion (the part that's covered in cloth), the back of that cover (where your elbow would rest), has two claw/hooks on it- substantial in size. When remounting, you'd have to mount it bringing the cover forward from the back, so the hooks can catch- is that making sense?

Now I used a thin, flathead screwdriver to pry my cover loose, from the front of the cover. Now i'm not sure if others were successful, but a couple of the plastic grab tabs broke. No matter- I reattached with glue, nothing major. One things for sure, you do need to pry the cover apart (gently) starting from the front, so as you don't break the bigger claws in the rear of the cover.

Once you get the cover apart, you'll notice that the cover was attached by staples... yes staples. You'll see them around the perimeter of the inside. So you're, more than likely will have to glue/hot glue your new fabric onto the frame.

As mentioned, a couple of my grab tabs broke, but I used glue to put it back together. e6000 or even a hot glue will do the job of reattaching your newly upholstered cover. I wouldn't go with a very strong glue such as liquid nails or an epoxy stick- if you want to change the fabric in the future, removal might be a chore and you might suffer more breakage than just a couple of grab tabs.

BTW, Cup, my beetle's armrest is covered in black tweed

All the best buddy- let us know how things go and post a pic or two when you're done

[The NEW Ringo]

Hello,

I like your thread as I was wondering the same thing. I also would like to ask kind of on topic where you can get a replacement lid for the arm rest as my plastic tabs in the back broke. This is very frustrating as when I am hot my arm stick to the arm rest and the top comes up with my arm when I move. I would also like to recover it but would need a new top that does not have broken tabs.

thanks
marc

[h_2_o]

sorry about that, i updated my profile. but it is a 2000 tdi NB. I saw what you were talking about with the tabs but i have yet to go after them. When i do i will take some pictures and post up hopefully helping others.

thanks for the info.

[scarabY2k]

Originally Posted by h_2_o

sorry about that, i updated my profile. but it is a 2000 tdi NB. I saw what you were talking about with the tabs but i have yet to go after them. When i do i will take some pictures and post up hopefully helping others.

thanks for the info.

No worries mang We're all here to help one another. You're a part of the Beetlehood- it's what we do

And yes please.... keep us posted on your progress. What you do will be a wealth of info for others in the future

[h_2_o]

all right i tore it apart tonight. Below are the images, sorry for the lazy iphone pics but i was too lazy to get the SLR out. anyway the later pictures with the green foam is what I'm thinking of replacing it all with. I like me some arm padding. Anyway instead of the dumb clip system I'm thinking of using some small screws on the underside of the armrest then to cover that up use a very thin piece of wood and cover it on one side with the same material then use 2 long strips of Velcro to attach it to the underside. All would be hidden and hopefully not look horrible. I'll keep posting up pics of what gets done. Now i have to go find some fabric that i like.

[h_2_o]

OK first thing to overcome, since i'm not re-doing the entire interior finding a suitable replacement fabric. Trying to match anything to the original is impossible so now onto finding something that accents the interior of the car. Any suggestions are welcome

[scarabY2k]

One thing you'll discover with a lot of beetle nuts is that our bugs are wip's- works in progress. A headliner here, an armrest there, and a dash, wheels, and other things later down the line.

If you're planning on doing your interior in a totally different motif, I'd first make a plan on what you're gonna go with, make you a list, a triage if you will, then start from the top. It sounds like your armrest is that starting point.

I'd scan the org for some of the other beetles to get some inspiration. Go to the home page and look at the beetles in the "popular photos" section. There's quite a few that have done interior re-dos and can be a big help to you. The one beetle missing in that section is smartchick2009's beelte- go to the search section and you should find it.

You should get some ideas on what kind of fabric to go with also.

There's a few headliner jobs displayed in this thread...CLICK HERE


The biggest key is to be active on the org- it is a wealth of info and source for new beetle gatherings.

[bugshop]

Originally Posted by h_2_o

OK first thing to overcome, since i'm not re-doing the entire interior finding a suitable replacement fabric. Trying to match anything to the original is impossible so now onto finding something that accents the interior of the car. Any suggestions are welcome

One thing you can think about as far as OEM fabric is to hit your local junk yard. You may be able to find a car that the seat was damaged and they may let you cut a section of fabric large enough to do what you are wanting to do.
I'd make sure that is OK with them before you cut or they may want to make you buy the seat...
Just a thought on OEM patchwork

[BUGSTUFF]

h2o,

Excellent pics and write-up.

As I am about to undertake this same project on my daughter's car, I'm thinking this will be very helpful.

As for the fabric, I found something very similar at Hobby Lobby today. I can't remember what it was called and the receipt has no description. But it is pretty close and it was on sale for 50% off. I also bought some "Warm Blend" batting for a little extra padding.

Now for a question: how did you remove the lid from the rest of the armrest?

Thanks and good luck with your project.

[h_2_o]

actually do not have this project finished yet, but i will get to that in a minute. to remove it from the base towards the rear there are 2(i think) screws that hold it in i removed those and it came off.

now if you are talking about removing the bottom piece from the part that is wrapped that is a different story, the black piece that has the original wrapping on it on the bottom of it are clips that break when you remove it. I have a different strategy on how to replace it but other things have taken over since then, hopefully sometime soon i'll get it done. let me know if you have any other questions.

[BUGSTUFF]

Are those the two phillips screws that are inside the storage compartment at the back?

[h_2_o]

OK i lied i was thinking of another part, i had to go look and see what i was telling you incorrectly. Anyway i found a thread that describes it pretty well on another forum, look here

How do you remove the armrest lid? - uk-mkivs

basically there are pins on both side you have to gently push out of the way gently with a flat head screw driver.