My Cupholder Alternative Modification

[larryn]

Tagman requested that I post a pic of something I mentioned a few days ago. I popped the cover off of the auxiliary cupholder, unscrewed the cup bracket, and screwed on a half of a case to my GPS enabled phone. I remove the modified cupholder when I do not need nav.

As for power, I have a USB cord that normally tucks up under the dash, but is easily reachable and runs to the power point, by the USB port under the armrest. I have a 12v to USB adapter there that the other end of that USB cord goes to.

There's gotta be a bazillion ways to modify that snap out cupholder for whatever you want!

So, here's my (less than ingenious) pics of that po' mans Nav.

[yanks4285]

pretty damn cool.i would like to see all the possibilities

[BMW Dreamer]

Very creative. Many ideas can come from that.

[larryn]

Agreed! I'm hoping my hack spurs some thought in you all, and you come up with some great ideas, like:

Popsicle Holders
Trophy Stand
Bendy Straw Dispenser
Global Thermonuclear Reactor
Electric Passenger Thigh Poker
Tsk, Tsk Sound Maker for Speeding

Seriously, I bet real/dedicated navs can easily be made to use the stock cupholder location...

[stefan]

100% better than stock. Well done!
A trophy stand is even more useful.

[TagMan]

Originally Posted by larryn

Tagman requested that I post a pic of something I mentioned a few days ago. I popped the cover off of the auxiliary cupholder, unscrewed the cup bracket, and screwed on a half of a case to my GPS enabled phone. I remove the modified cupholder when I do not need nav.

As for power, I have a USB cord that normally tucks up under the dash, but is easily reachable and runs to the power point, by the USB port under the armrest. I have a 12v to USB adapter there that the other end of that USB cord goes to.

There's gotta be a bazillion ways to modify that snap out cupholder for whatever you want!

So, here's my (less than ingenious) pics of that po' mans Nav.

Ingenious is more like it!! I had more than a hunch I could count on you to show us a creative alternative to that cupholder.

Now EVERYONE will want that #442 cupholder just to get the auxilliary slot factory-installed.

You, sir, deserve the 1addicts very first #442 cupholder innovator's award.

That is so very, very clever. I know the creative juices will be flowing around here.

Thanks, Larry, for taking the time to honor my request. Most appreciated! Who knows?... one day we might need an official thread for #442 cupholder modifications and innovations... We'll just have to wait and see!

[larryn]

No problemo, kind sir.

To take apart the cupholder, there's a cap that just pops off, where the base of a cup would sit (it's obvious when you look closely at it). Then you have access to 3 small headed torx screws. I reused one of those torx screws for my application.

The good part about this mod is that I can put the cupholder back together, since I did not need to modify any pieces of it for this mod. :smile:

[0002s]

So James Bond.....

-nice job Larry

[Impulse]

Sweet

[YearOneOfThe1]

thats money...

[White Lightning]

A friend of mine is actually in the process of taking mine apart and making 5-6 different fiberglass mounts for different items, i.e. portable navi units, sirius starmates, xm receivers, boost gauges, etc. I will post up pics as soon as we get a bunch of this stuff done.

Steven

[Riss Racing]

You say "po' mans gps" I say "saved quite a bit of money smart mans GPS"

PS this really got my wheels turning. Great job!

[Xin1120]

HAHA, that is genius! Now, I'm going to wait for someone to make a laptop mod for it. I will be the first one to order.

[larryn]

How about a quick disconnect boost gauge? That seems like a good use for that critter, no?

[randomquickness]

I shamefully admit...mine serves as a water/green monster holder

[cozza]

G'day Larry. The cup holder isn't an option that's available to us in Australia, but I'm keen to find something that works. Do you think the cup holder could be utilised on RHD cars? i.e.: Could you place it on the left hand (driver's) side in your car if you so wished?

[Lester]

It needs the slot to slip into, that would have to be modified to work on the left hand side of the console.

[larryn]

Hi Cozza, As Lester states, the socket that the snap in cupholder snaps into is on the right hand side of the center console. Looking at RealOEM.com, even if I choose a right hand drive 1 Coupe, it still shows that third cupholder on the right side of the console. I am thinking they do not make one for the left side of it. Also, it's possible that there are wiring or mechanical bits under the left side of the console. :iono:

If you did mount it on the right side, as it is intended to fit, I think you'd have your leg hitting it, and if you flipped the snap in cupholder in 180deg to the socket, you might have shifter interference.

[cozza]

I see. I didn't realise there was a pre-existing slot for it on LHD cars. Ah well, I'll have to make do with what I've got or try something custom.

[Lester]

Originally Posted by cozza

I see. I didn't realise there was a pre-existing slot for it on LHD cars. Ah well, I'll have to make do with what I've got or try something custom.

Not on all LHD cars. Just ones that have iDrive, or were dealer orders.

Here is a picture of what the cupholder in the slot looks like.

The same cupholder would not work on RHD cars, as it would have to be the mirror image of the LHD one.