Just like most of the other B7 owners, the latch on my armrest broke (for the second time). I don't feel like paying another 300 just for that piece. I was thinking about using magnets to secure the lid, has anyone come up with any solutions for this pain in the ***?

 

By arm rest, do you mean center console lid? If so you and you're talking about the little plastic piece/latch that you reach under on the front to open the console lid.

You can go to shapeways.com and they use a 3D printer to make that piece. There is a video on youtube showing how to remove the lid them insert the new latch.

Assuming you still have the metal wire piece that serves as the spring to tension the latch you are good. If you lost the metal spring you can just use a piece of foam sponge and insert that which will act as a spring, that's what I did.

This is of course for an A4 B7 console lid.

PM me if you need more info., I can maybe find my order info.

 

I pulled up my order history from shapeways.com.

Go to shapeways.com, search Audi A4. This will bring up several options for the latch.

I ordered the one under the heading "Audi A4 B6 B7 armrest lid standart". I selected black (many colored available).

My price was $14.16 for the part, and $6.50 for shipping, total $20.66.

I installed in March of this year and couldn't be happier. Quality part, very strong and identical to OEM which you can not buy separately without buying the entire armrest.

Looks like they now offer ones with different logo (quattro, 4 circles, etc.) and one with a plastic spring if you lost your metal spring.