Center console comparison
 

I've been doing some research in attempts to install a better, more usable and in my opinion better looking console. I've been searching real oem high and low and need some things to be clarified by anyone who might know.

Now my current console is #1 in the picture here:

http://realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/x/n/10.png

Here is the e36 console I picked up and wanted to put in, only to find it was too short. As you can also see I have a cupholder/storage tray console in there already put in by the PO. That console doesn't seem to exist on realoem, at least not that I can find.

http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3179a7d4.jpg

Now doing some searches on realoem led me to 2 options. The first was to get an armrest console and my newer style e36 console would fit in there as it looks to be shorter. That would be this setup..
This:
http://realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/x/q/10.png
+
This:
http://i1092.photobucket.com/albums/...ps3a5a1311.jpg

But my question is, would that fit together properly or no?? Anyone have it installed in their car or have pictures of it installed in a 318ti?

Or the second option is to find this lower console which I came across by searching the org, but realoem doesn't list a part number for the lower just the upper section which I already have. Does this lower section even exist? Does anyone have a part number for it?

http://realoem.com/bmw/diagrams/e/y/53.png

And finally, If someone confirms the first option will work or someone has the second option for sale I'm looking to buy either. Preferably black but I can always dye/paint them.

from what I gathered from this site, the center console for the Ti is specific to the Ti. Console out of a sedan or coupe wont fit.
There is an option for an armrest console, which I got from my dealer. but they can be hard to find.
scroll down a page or so and you'll find a thread about armrest center console

http://318ti.org/forum/showthread.php?t=36775