Mangled, almost destroyed the cupholder
08-02-2004, 06:48 AM
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But I managed to modify it so now I can put a can of soda, cup of Starbucks coffee, or paper cup of coke in it. I removed the entire assembly, popped the top cover off, and filed, scalloped, snipped, and removed a spring, so the 'vertical' piece that supports the bottom is actually vertical. Makes an amazing difference, everything now sits square in the cupholder. The second spring loaded piece doesn't crush paper cups either. Otherwise it functions in exactly the same way as the original.
What in gods name was the design team thinking when they put that thing together?? I've run a lot of design projects, and I would love to know what the specifications were that resulted in a cupholder that cannot hold the most common beverage containers securely.
Being Germans, it's probably designed to hold a custom shaped cup in a rollover situation.
What in gods name was the design team thinking when they put that thing together?? I've run a lot of design projects, and I would love to know what the specifications were that resulted in a cupholder that cannot hold the most common beverage containers securely.
Being Germans, it's probably designed to hold a custom shaped cup in a rollover situation.
08-02-2004, 07:03 AM
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wolverine, could you post a picture of this mod when you get a chance. The rears are great. The fronts are adequate, but such a mod could make them better. You might want to patent it before you post. 
08-02-2004, 07:05 AM
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My Ride: G30 M550i
Model Year: 2018
How many people have been frightened to death by the loud 'snap' that takes place a few minutes after a 20 ounce plastic bottle of Coke is put in the cupholder?
The curved shape of the bottle causes the spring loaded flap to go down when you put the bottle in but after some time, the flap snaps up (in the tapered area of the bottle) with such a noise that it sounds like a big rock just slammed into the windshield!
Any Coke/Diet Coke drinkers out there? If so, you'll learn to put the bottle in so the flap comes up right away!
The curved shape of the bottle causes the spring loaded flap to go down when you put the bottle in but after some time, the flap snaps up (in the tapered area of the bottle) with such a noise that it sounds like a big rock just slammed into the windshield!
Any Coke/Diet Coke drinkers out there? If so, you'll learn to put the bottle in so the flap comes up right away!
08-02-2004, 07:17 AM
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I think that the cupholders should be attached to the car's chassis for the US market 
Why in hell would you put a drink that is 1 and a bit UK pints into a bit of plastic that comes out of the dash?
Downsize!
Why in hell would you put a drink that is 1 and a bit UK pints into a bit of plastic that comes out of the dash?
Downsize!
08-02-2004, 07:26 AM
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My Ride: 2010 550i M Sport Package - Alpine White/Blk Nasca Leather, Premium hi-fi system, Sat Radio, Nav, Cold Weather Package, Value Package, Shift Paddles, Comfort Access keyless entry, Power rear Sunshade, Front Ventilated seats, Split fold-down rear seats, Heated rear seats, Automatic high beams
For the same reason everyone drives an auto (lazy).
I'll take biggy fries with that.
Wait a minute! does fries were responsible for making me fat, I filing a law suit.
I'll take biggy fries with that.
Wait a minute! does fries were responsible for making me fat, I filing a law suit.
08-02-2004, 07:28 AM
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Alternatively have your dealer install a huge drum in the boot with a mirror of the fuel filler flap on the outside then run a plastic pipe through the headlining, down the B pillar and finish in one of those little suction pieces that astronauts use. You can then drive into Starbucks, have the attendant fill the tank up with either Mocha or Latte and sip at your leisure through the hose system
Only kidding guys but your fascination with cup holders over there is a source of great amusement to those of us over here.
Only kidding guys but your fascination with cup holders over there is a source of great amusement to those of us over here.
08-02-2004, 08:05 AM
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My Ride: F02 LCI Individual
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Originally Posted by wolverine' date='Aug 2 2004, 04:48 PM
What in gods name was the design team thinking when they put that thing together?? I've run a lot of design projects, and I would love to know what the specifications were that resulted in a cupholder that cannot hold the most common beverage containers securely.
Being Germans, it's probably designed to hold a custom shaped cup in a rollover situation.
Being Germans, it's probably designed to hold a custom shaped cup in a rollover situation.
We're done with the design, Mr. Bangle... ohhhh... wait a minute... we forgot the cupholders for the USA... Hhhhmmm... not much space left... OK, we'll put thm right in here, now... At least we have some now...
I guess this is the price you have to pay for a German engineered car. Cupholders are not very popular in Germany... So they simply ignore those little things...
I myself am bothered by the design of those cupholders, since they don't hold the cups/bottles I use... And I don't use the biggie size
But I am not a typicall German, I guess... I might be an American born in the wrong country...
08-02-2004, 08:25 AM
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Originally Posted by browellm' date='Aug 2 2004, 10:17 AM
Why in hell would you put a drink that is 1 and a bit UK pints into a bit of plastic that comes out of the dash?
08-02-2004, 08:59 AM
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Originally Posted by ISUK' date='Aug 2 2004, 04:28 PM
Alternatively have your dealer install a huge drum in the boot with a mirror of the fuel filler flap on the outside then run a platic pipe through the headlining, down the B pillar and finish in one of those little suction pieces that astronauts use. You can then drive into Starbucks, have the attendant fill the tank up with either Mocha or Latte and sip at your leisure through the hose system
Only kidding guys but your fascination with cup holders over there is a source of great amusement to those of us over here.
Only kidding guys but your fascination with cup holders over there is a source of great amusement to those of us over here.
But seriously, the cupholders are designed for the standard 33cl cans, they fit perfectly in the cupholders and the centre armrest compartment.
08-02-2004, 09:18 AM
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My Ride: [i][b][u]Since 19 august 2004[/u][/b][/i]: [color=red][b]530i[/b] High Executive[/color], Silvergray with beige interior, Popular wood, Servotronic, Sportssuspension, electric foldable and dimmed mirrors, dimmed interior mirror, pappelmaser braun wood, cupholders, styling 123 18" wheels, Logic 7, Steptronic, alarm class 3, electric sunscreen in the rear and suncreens for sidewindows, Comfort seats, heated seats, Xenon with headlightwashers, Adaptive corner lights ALC, Advanced airconditioning, lightpackage, Nav Pro, 6 cd changer, side airbags rearseats, bluetooth siemens S55, chrome kidneys, gearlever with wood, voice recognition retrofit, front windshield with green band.
Waiting for trunkopener button from Hobi :)
How about the 0,5 litre bottles???? Hope they will fit!!