Crappy Cup Holders!!!
04-04-2008, 03:46 PM
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Okay all you retro-fitting geniuses out there...
I have taken my 2004 530i in for service several times over the past month for small repairs under warranty. Each time, I get a loaner. These have all been 2008 cars (5 series, 7 series, 3 series). I have noticed one very obvious difference between my car and the 2008's: The cup holders in the 2008's WORK and the ones in my 2004 DON'T!!!
The question: Does anyone know, or has anyone tried to buy a 2008 cup holder and fit it into a 2004-ish e60?
I asked one of the service techs to show me how to remove the cup holder from my car (very easy, just two torx screws that are hidden under black stickers), but he didn't know if the cup holders from the 2008 series would fit.
I (and I'm sure everyone else driving a pre-2008 car) would really appreciate it if anyone could give me some info on this. I have actually caught a hlaf-full, open bottle of water in mid-air after it came flying out of the cup holder!!!
Thanks in advance!!!
I have taken my 2004 530i in for service several times over the past month for small repairs under warranty. Each time, I get a loaner. These have all been 2008 cars (5 series, 7 series, 3 series). I have noticed one very obvious difference between my car and the 2008's: The cup holders in the 2008's WORK and the ones in my 2004 DON'T!!!
The question: Does anyone know, or has anyone tried to buy a 2008 cup holder and fit it into a 2004-ish e60?
I asked one of the service techs to show me how to remove the cup holder from my car (very easy, just two torx screws that are hidden under black stickers), but he didn't know if the cup holders from the 2008 series would fit.
I (and I'm sure everyone else driving a pre-2008 car) would really appreciate it if anyone could give me some info on this. I have actually caught a hlaf-full, open bottle of water in mid-air after it came flying out of the cup holder!!!
Thanks in advance!!!
04-04-2008, 06:36 PM
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Originally Posted by Tex735' post='556319' date='Apr 4 2008, 07:46 PM
I have actually caught a hlaf-full, open bottle of water in mid-air after it came flying out of the cup holder!!!
04-04-2008, 06:49 PM
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My Ride: 2005 530i Sport & Premium package with bluetooth, 6 disk cd-Changer, stock 18's dunlop wrapped, leather, adaptive headlights, CPO, See my gallery :DR.I.P...Stock Silver 2004 530i with grey interior, HID,
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according to www.realoem.com there is no dfference at all between the '04 and '06 530i cup holders... im not sure if there is a difference between the 06 and newer but hopefully someone will chime in.
my cup holders work fine... do your cup holders have the foam edge that keeps the drink securely in place?
here is a diagram...
my cup holders work fine... do your cup holders have the foam edge that keeps the drink securely in place?
here is a diagram...
04-04-2008, 06:52 PM
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I had both cupholders replaced under warranty due to the release buttons sticking. I was told I have the "updated" version but wasn't told "2008". The design still looks the same except for one miniscule detail ... the wine glass symbol has been replaced with a symbol resembling an open book with "i" imprinted on one of the pages. That's all I could see that was different.
04-04-2008, 06:57 PM
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This is my first e60 (LCI), but by the looks of the diagram posted by orlee, the cup holder's look the same, if that diagram is for the 04-06 models...
04-04-2008, 07:00 PM
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Originally Posted by geneatals' post='556383' date='Apr 4 2008, 10:57 PM
This is my first e60 (LCI), but by the looks of the diagram posted by orlee, the cup holder's look the same, if that diagram is for the 04-06 models...
04-05-2008, 11:08 AM
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Let me see if I can explain the difference.
If you look at the cup holder when it is open, on the side of the opening towards the rear of the car (closest to you while sitting in the passenger seat), you will notice that the ring is split. The parts that I'm talking about are the two little flaps that will move out of the way if a cup is too big to fit in the "default" sized hole. They serve as an expansion feature to enlarge the hole for larger size bottles. On my 2004, those flaps are of a different size than the ones on the 2008's. What happens is when you take a typical bottle (say a Coke or my favorite, Dasani water) and set it in the cup holder in my car, the inner most flap moves down and the secondary flap is also pushed down out of the way. They remain in this "pushed down" position until the bottle is removed. On the 2008 models, when you do this, the inner flap and the secondary flaps move out of the way to accomodate the wider lower portion of the bottle, but then the secondary ring will return to the "default" position, essentially locking the bottle in place. The only way to remove the bottle from the 2008 cup holder is to lean it toward yourself, pushing the secondary ring back down, while lifting the bottle up and out of the cup holder.
If this doesn't make any sense, take a bottle to the dealership and try it out. You will quickly see what I mean.
If this discribes the 2006 cup holders, then I need to know if a 2006 cup holder will fit in a 2004.
Thanks again!!
If you look at the cup holder when it is open, on the side of the opening towards the rear of the car (closest to you while sitting in the passenger seat), you will notice that the ring is split. The parts that I'm talking about are the two little flaps that will move out of the way if a cup is too big to fit in the "default" sized hole. They serve as an expansion feature to enlarge the hole for larger size bottles. On my 2004, those flaps are of a different size than the ones on the 2008's. What happens is when you take a typical bottle (say a Coke or my favorite, Dasani water) and set it in the cup holder in my car, the inner most flap moves down and the secondary flap is also pushed down out of the way. They remain in this "pushed down" position until the bottle is removed. On the 2008 models, when you do this, the inner flap and the secondary flaps move out of the way to accomodate the wider lower portion of the bottle, but then the secondary ring will return to the "default" position, essentially locking the bottle in place. The only way to remove the bottle from the 2008 cup holder is to lean it toward yourself, pushing the secondary ring back down, while lifting the bottle up and out of the cup holder.
If this doesn't make any sense, take a bottle to the dealership and try it out. You will quickly see what I mean.
If this discribes the 2006 cup holders, then I need to know if a 2006 cup holder will fit in a 2004.
Thanks again!!
04-05-2008, 11:43 AM
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Originally Posted by Tex735' post='556591' date='Apr 5 2008, 03:08 PM
Let me see if I can explain the difference.
If you look at the cup holder when it is open, on the side of the opening towards the rear of the car (closest to you while sitting in the passenger seat), you will notice that the ring is split. The parts that I'm talking about are the two little flaps that will move out of the way if a cup is too big to fit in the "default" sized hole. They serve as an expansion feature to enlarge the hole for larger size bottles. On my 2004, those flaps are of a different size than the ones on the 2008's. What happens is when you take a typical bottle (say a Coke or my favorite, Dasani water) and set it in the cup holder in my car, the inner most flap moves down and the secondary flap is also pushed down out of the way. They remain in this "pushed down" position until the bottle is removed. On the 2008 models, when you do this, the inner flap and the secondary flaps move out of the way to accomodate the wider lower portion of the bottle, but then the secondary ring will return to the "default" position, essentially locking the bottle in place. The only way to remove the bottle from the 2008 cup holder is to lean it toward yourself, pushing the secondary ring back down, while lifting the bottle up and out of the cup holder.
If this doesn't make any sense, take a bottle to the dealership and try it out. You will quickly see what I mean.
If this discribes the 2006 cup holders, then I need to know if a 2006 cup holder will fit in a 2004.
Thanks again!!
If you look at the cup holder when it is open, on the side of the opening towards the rear of the car (closest to you while sitting in the passenger seat), you will notice that the ring is split. The parts that I'm talking about are the two little flaps that will move out of the way if a cup is too big to fit in the "default" sized hole. They serve as an expansion feature to enlarge the hole for larger size bottles. On my 2004, those flaps are of a different size than the ones on the 2008's. What happens is when you take a typical bottle (say a Coke or my favorite, Dasani water) and set it in the cup holder in my car, the inner most flap moves down and the secondary flap is also pushed down out of the way. They remain in this "pushed down" position until the bottle is removed. On the 2008 models, when you do this, the inner flap and the secondary flaps move out of the way to accomodate the wider lower portion of the bottle, but then the secondary ring will return to the "default" position, essentially locking the bottle in place. The only way to remove the bottle from the 2008 cup holder is to lean it toward yourself, pushing the secondary ring back down, while lifting the bottle up and out of the cup holder.
If this doesn't make any sense, take a bottle to the dealership and try it out. You will quickly see what I mean.
If this discribes the 2006 cup holders, then I need to know if a 2006 cup holder will fit in a 2004.
Thanks again!!
My biggest issue with it is a rattle quite often when its in use.
I can't help with the pre '08 design.