98 e39 door panel armrest

My parrot chewed up my front right door armrest. Does anybody know where I might be able to find just the armrest? I've called the dealer and they only sell the entire door panel. Otherwise does anybody know if I can simply swap out the front right armrest with the one in the rear right door? they seem to be the same exact part.

Thanks.

If you could, what would you then do about the rear armrest???

Or you don't care since you don't sit back there. That's how I feel sometimes... but then my car conscience nags at me til I fix whatever it is

exactly, for now if my only option is to buy the panel for $700.00 I'll just move the eyesore to the backseat till I can find the part.
Do you know if both front and rear right side armrests are identical?

I really don't know for sure but my guess would be no. I don't recall being in any car where the front and rear armrests were identical. I would imagine this is especially true in high end cars where the manufacturers go to great lengths to ensure your return to the dealer at some point. But if you think they appear to be interchangeable then why not give it a shot? The worst that can happen is you have to put the chewed one back up front.

And keep that parrot out of the bimmer! :iceslolan

is removing the door panel simple? will I damage the clips in the process?

any tips?

Hmm. Please keep in mind that I have an Accord, not a BMW so I don't know if its drastically different in your car.
*AutomotiveForums.com is not liable for any damage done to vehicles under assumptions based on advice from members:rolleyes:

That being said, in my accord and in Hondas in general there are a series of screws, usually hidden and located in the door handle assembly and along the bottom edge of the door panel, that must be undone.

In doing so you should have disconnected the handle and switch (windows/locks) assemblies from the rest of the panel. Behind these may be more screws holding the panel to the metal door frame. Also, you will see the metal lever system that opens the door. This will probably need to be disconnected before being able to fully remove the door panel.

You might notice at this point that the door panel is still very much attached to the frame. This is because there are plastic gromets/clips (4 on my Accord) holding it together. With a little leverage and force, these pop out without damage and are perfectly fine to be reinserted once the job is done.

With all the gromets popped and screws removed, the panel should lift up out of its guides and be removed. Keep in mind to guide it over the locks.

What is involved in removing the actual handle after that is most likely nothing more than about 3 screws and a clip or two.

But again, Please keep in mind that I have an Accord, not a BMW so I don't know if its drastically different in your car.

You may want to wait for a reply from somebody who has a 5 series, or at least a BMW, or at least a car made in the same country :icon16:

well u can't take off the arm rests on bmw's but u can take off dorr panels which is easy enough and don't pry too hard but u have to give it a little tug but it won't damage the clips bad news is it won't fit the rear the front has speaker wires and is normally bigger sry for all the bad news and besides i wouldn't pay that much for one either i'd get one in the junk yard.

although it may be glued on really good but i wouldn't get any ideas.