Does Anyone Have a Bird Armrest Installed? Opinions? // Installed w/ Photos
 

I had a Bird armrest in my last two 993s. Very nice, high quality build and material. Does anyone have one installed? Thoughts?

BIRD Armrest Cupholder for Boxster

http://www.birdautomotive.com/BoxsterArmest2-3.jpg

My car came equipped that way from the previous owner. I didn't know where he bought it until I saw your post. I like the higher armrest; it's a good fit for me. Also the compartment can accommodate lots of stuff. Never have used the cup holder though.

http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359911019.jpg


http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1359911043.jpg

Mine came equipped with one from the prior owner as well.I really like the much needed extra storage as my Box is a 2000 year model without a glove box in the dash.The cup holder is kinda cool looking.It is drilled out and has a robotic look!

thunbs up
 

Also got a Byrd with the car. Prior owner was from Conn., which is where designer for these started off. He is in CA now & still makes em.
Nice piece, is well done but not cheap, everyone assumes it is oem. I too,don't use the cup holder in spite of its slick engineering, I prefer the floor position for drinks. Modded mine further to include 12v x 3 & usb outlets, as well as re-integrating with the factory alarm for the oddments tray. Don't miss the glove box so much now. Oh, and mine came with a keyed lock for secure storage, even with the top down.:D
So i can safely charge a cell phone in unoccupied car with top down, or charge wife's phone while running gps & radar detector on trips.
But after 3 runs on the dyno, I can't detect an increase in whp. It just gets me in the car a little more. By butt dyno though, it seems to have netted at least as much speed as when I did the "passenger wiper delete", and the co-pilot is much happier!
01'S

I have been thinking about buying one. If they are going out of business then maybe I should plan on getting one now.

He has stopped making the 996/986 ones and is selling off what he has in stock.

Thanks, guess I better see if I can grab one while they are still available.

Spoke to Sam on Saturday. My armrest kit with cupholder is on the way!

Cool. I need to get off my butt and do the same.

It is in the mail. Got the UPS e-mail today.

Will be here tomorrow! :)

But I can't put it in until Friday! :(

Ah well this weekend will be good. Not only will I get the armrest installed, but my rear speakers too. It's too bad I can't fit my 2 pairs of Infinity 3.5" speakers. Could only get one to fit. Only OEM speaker size I could find (later) is a Power Bass 2.75" speaker. I'll have to see how well my current setup works before deciding if I must replace them. I'm concerned I may blow the Infinty with a single set since my amp can push out way more watts than the speaker was designed for.

Bird was a good quality vendor for Beverly Hills Motoring Accessories when I worked there in 1997. They have been around a long time.

OK.... I am in. Paid for and will be shipped today. He only has a few left for those on the fence.

I'm 6'2" and I have the seat set to the lowest position, this thing will get in the way of shifting....

I am 6-2 also.... I'll let you know.

Ok mine is installed. Helped that my lid was already off do to a broken hinge. Mine has a small wrinkle when installed. Wife said it was there to start but I'm not so sure. I think my drivers side center console cover plate may be the issue. I also used a dremel to clean up the broken hinge area. And still fitting the rear plate was tough. I cut off the ears on the plate but I don't think that is the issue. Just a tight fit. Might be same issue with the wrinkle.

As I plan to pull the center console again soon I'll have an opportunity to review it from underneath and readjust. It's too dark for picks but will grab some tomorrow to illustrate issue. Install takes about an hour.

Keep us posted. Look forward to the photos.

I got mine installed today. Not much to the install. I like it. It is comfortable while driving and gives me more storage space ('01 doesn't have a glove box).

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psfd6023dd.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps9323c43f.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...psf902e9a5.jpg

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v2...ps28da1548.jpg

Sorry for the delay, been swamped and unable to take the photos, but today I washed my car and took a few shots with the camera. The wrinkle pretty much worked its way out, but heres a coupl of shots of the interior ...

Rear attachment
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1361322874.jpg

As you can see the rear attachment is not all the way in to the center console. I still need to pull out the center console one more time to add a USB conection point for my secondary iPor/Phone accessory. When I do that, I'll see if I can find out why the armrest is not fitting all the way in to the console as it should.

Front attachment
http://986forum.com/forums/uploads01...1361322908.jpg

What about security....Does the cover still lock?

No, the top no longer locks. The original lock holds the Bird Armrest in place.

Thanks, kinda kills the idea for me then, I can use the rear shelf for storage and unless the armrest adds a huge comfort level, the cup holder is not enough for me to jump on the buy

Well I bought it for the comfort level. The cup holder is actually kind of just so-so. It works, but does get in the way of shifting. The armrest though is perfect. Just the right height and does not impact shifting (for me anyway). I might use the cup holder on a long trip for ease of use, but I'm still dabling with the idea of pulling it and inderting the cup holder I have that fits in the stock armrest area. I could still use it to carry my morning coffee to work without concern of any minor spills. Plus it does not impact shifting.

I bought a bike rack from Bird. I think I was one of the first Boxsters to have purchased it so he offered to install it on my car for free as a quality test. He was an older fella but jacked up my car, climbed right under and went right to work. He had it done in no time, would have taken me the whole day probably LOL. Too bad some jerk smashed into while I was parked in a strip mall. I had to get it on a lift just to pry it off.