I think a big part of it is the diference between what cans and cups you get in Germany and those you get in the USA.

Here they work perfect with coke cans, which is all i ever drink in the car

 

Don't drink and drive !!!!

 

BMW ought to take a serious look at the cupholders in the new Porsche 911 and Boxster. They are works of art hidden behind an attractive, fold down trim panel not useless carbuncles sprouting from an unsightly, colour and texture mismatched plastic abomination on the dash. Can you tell that the varying colour and surface textures in the E60 are one of my pet hates?

 

You said it! I'm one of the very few, like our original poster, who has had success with the E60's stock cupholders, knock on wood. My only issue is with 20oz platic bottles of pepsi/diet pepsi. These go in fine and securely, but sometimes get a bit stuck coming out. I'm afraid I'll break it getting it out. So far, so good. Take-out small and medium sodas fit fine. McD's drink tops are notoriously unreliable though. Anything with a top and not "preposterously oversized" (well-said) has worked well. IMO, they're a siginificant improvement over my E39's, espeicially the rears. All that said, the fronts aren't the ultimate in solidity, but if treated reasonably, they've functioned well for me. A contentious topic.

Sam

 

You said it! I'm one of the very few, like our original poster, who has had success with the E60's stock cupholders, knock on wood. My only issue is with 20oz platic bottles of pepsi/diet pepsi. These go in fine and securely, but sometimes get a bit stuck coming out. I'm afraid I'll break it getting it out. So far, so good. Take-out small and medium sodas fit fine. McD's drink tops are notoriously unreliable though. Anything with a top and not "preposterously oversized" (well-said) has worked well. IMO, they're a siginificant improvement over my E39's, espeicially the rears. All that said, the fronts aren't the ultimate in solidity, but if treated reasonably, they've functioned well for me. A contentious topic.

Sam
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Nothing to do with preposterous sized drinks - I just can't find a standard travel coffee cup that fits in them!!! They are a work of art though, and cans do fit.

 

Mine are exactly opposite. If I put a standard sized soda can or a 16.9 oz Dasani water in mine they will fly out when going around a turn. I have never tried one of those huge cups from MCds so I can't comment on them.

 

What's ironic is..... there is some new BMW CD-Rom that came out.... and on it Chris Bangle is talking about the innovations in the new 645.

The thing he talked about most was the cupholder.

In all honesty, it's a much better cupholder than the E60... but it's ironic that he talks so much about something that BMW is notorious for having no ability to build.

 

My driver-side cupholder holds a bag of jelly beans perfectly.

 

I'm with you Skipper...my cupholders are more like "launchers" Put something in them, regardless of size, and without fail, whatever you put there will get some "air" :'(

 

I guess I'm one of the fortunate few that has had no problem with the cupholders. I use the drivers side cupholder every day with a variety of beverages with no problems. Go figure?