Figure 1
The first generation Scion xB is still fond in the heart of veteran and new owners alike. And with tens of thousands of them becoming more affordable, many new xB owners are joining the family every day. And usually once you get your new Box home you fast find the areas in need of your first mods. When we brought home our 2004 Scion xB Release 1 in Molten Lava it was a hit all around. But while it was cool like that, it lacked decent storage space for little things like sunglasses and CD’s.
Figure 2
Yes there is all those nooks in the dash, but who wants stuff falling out of those all the time. Luckily we found a new CD Center Armrest kit (Figure 1) from Boomerang Enterprises in Boulder, CO. Made right here in the USA, the center armrest kit has a padded armrest that opens to a deep storage area. Included is even a custom made CD case that slips into the larger slot, leaving a smaller area for other items. And if you desire, the padded lid can easily be customized with your own material. Best of all, this unit fits in both the xA and the xB.
Figure 3
The Center Armrest kit is of top quality with OEM color and texture so it looks factory installed and matches the interior fit and finish of the Scion. Boomerang has a long history of making these products for Ford and even Range Rover, so they have it down pretty well and know what they are doing. We installed ours in about 20 minutes with only three tools: a small, medium and large cross-tip (Philips head) screwdrivers. It is a level 1 job so virtually anyone can accomplish the install. To do this install we found it easiest to push the two front seats forward and simply sit in the back seat as you can see from the photos.
Figure 4
Now our xB already had the dealer accessory pedestal armrest that served well as a place to lean, but had no storage. Most xB’s don’t even have this. So our first task was to remove the old armrest which first required the removal of a small screw at the back of the post (Figure 2) with the medium cross-tip screwdriver. Once that was out the whole unit lifted right out. The lower mount was held into the storage cubby with a steel spring. It simply lifted out and the lower legs pulled from their hook locations at the bottom of the seat tracks (Figure 3). Then the mounting post lifted right off.
Figure 5
The next task is to remove the single screw that holds the lower center console to the floor at the rear (Figure 4). Once you have this out you can discard the old screw as the new Boomerang Arm Rest comes with a new one. To keep the new taller and heavier Center Arm Rest stable, the new unit comes with two plastic stabilizers (Figure 5) that slide onto the bottom of the console at the rear. These serve to prevent the console from rocking from side to side. They have molded slots that match the console base and slide right on. To install them, lift up on the lower console but be careful not to slide it forward because it has slide anchors up front and will come completely loose. Once you have them in place, set it back down and make sure it is aligned with the original imprints in your carpeting (Figure 6).
Figure 6
Then the fun part comes. Simply set the armrest base in place. It sits into the storage cubbies nice and snug (Figure 7). Insert the new longer screw into the base and align with the hole in the floor where the other screw came out and tighten with a larger cross-tip screwdriver. You might find it a challenge to get it aligned at first, but it will find its place. Be careful not to over tighten as it can strip the sheet metal. Just make it tight enough to keep the console base still.
Figure 7
The top cap of the new Center Arm Rest sits down and is attached with four small included screws. This is where the small cross-tip screwdriver comes in handy (Figure 8). You want them tight, but not too tight as they can indeed strip. Once this is complete, you’re done. The padded lid closes and is held with a magnetic latch. The Boomerang logo custom CD case holds up to 32 CD’s and is a pretty high quality item on its own.
Figure 8
Now we have a place to keep our garage door opener and our CD’s Yay! The Boomerang Center Armrest retails for about $129. You can get them direct from Boomerang or through some Toyota dealers and aftermarket parts outlets. In the end we are very happy with not only the quality of the unit but the overall look, fit and finish. Now for some more mods.
More information at: www.boomerangarmrests.com
