Cup holder

[Lanister]

Hey guys,

Silly question. Is it typical for the cup holder to start peeling? or is it particular to my car and how the previous owner used it? It's totally fine functionality-wise but visually it's a bit of an eye sore. :foottap

Thoughts?

[az3579]

Typical. Solution is to replace.

[BimmerWill]

Justification for euro tray if you've been interested in one of those. Mine needs replacement as well.

Sent from S4

[danewilson77]

Typical. Solution is to replace.

Yes. Absolutely. And condiment tray as well.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

[Lanister]

Figures! Does the eurotray offer any advantages?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

[johnrando]

Just buy new, or sand/paint. I have one in decent shape (swapped out), just pay shipping and it's yours. It's black. BTW, I don't think they usually peel.

[Avetiso]

Just buy a new one. Painting and sanding isn't worth the time, imho.

Sent from a junkyard via GS4.

[danewilson77]

Figures! Does the eurotray offer any advantages?

Sent from my SCH-I535 using Tapatalk 4

IMO... It looks cleaner than the cup holders and will accept a Starbucks Coffee, a bottle of soda or a bottle of water.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

[Lanister]

IMO... It looks cleaner than the cup holders and will accept a Starbucks Coffee, a bottle of soda or a bottle of water.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

I'd agree that e46 lacks in in-cabin storage department. Especially for people with NAV. Nothing but a glove box. Besides, out of the two cup holders, one is always obstructed by the arm rest, which I won't give up!

Is Eurotray an easily attainable part?

Dario, yeah, it's like a $30 part... and my interior is gray. Good luck with paint matching. I'd rather not!

[Lanister]

Just buy new, or sand/paint. I have one in decent shape (swapped out), just pay shipping and it's yours. It's black. BTW, I don't think they usually peel.

Thanks for the offer! I do kind of wish my interior was black but I like gray too.

[danewilson77]

I'd agree that e46 lacks in in-cabin storage department. Especially for people with NAV. Nothing but a glove box. Besides, out of the two cup holders, one is always obstructed by the arm rest, which I won't give up!

Is Eurotray an easily attainable part?

Dario, yeah, it's like a $30 part... and my interior is gray. Good luck with paint matching. I'd rather not!

I got mine over at TMS.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

[johnrando]

Thanks for the offer! I do kind of wish my interior was black but I like gray too.

Ah np. And Dario, I spray painted mine (no sanding) with black and it looked just fine. I did end up swapping it out a year later because I got a different used one free, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well the spray paint worked. No one noticed.

[Avetiso]

Ah np. And Dario, I spray painted mine (no sanding) with black and it looked just fine. I did end up swapping it out a year later because I got a different used one free, but I was pleasantly surprised at how well the spray paint worked. No one noticed.

Hmm. Mine never turned out very well. :(

Sent from a junkyard via GS4.

[E_Rak]

A lot of guys will go with a black tray even with an off-colored interior anyway

[Lanister]

So is this what I'm looking for?

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51167043093/ES83097/

or this

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Search/SiteSearch/Tray/ES86853/

Hmmm both look like a much better use of space than the cup holders. I kind of like the one with the lid because it keeps the contents hidden from the unwanted eyes.

The one with the roller top has some hinges on the inside, any idea what they're for? Seems like a mounting point for maybe a cup holder?

[Lanister]

I got mine over at TMS.

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

Sorry for a noob question. What's TMS?

[Avetiso]

So is this what I'm looking for?

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51167043093/ES83097/

or this

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Search/SiteSearch/Tray/ES86853/

Hmmm both look like a much better use of space than the cup holders. I kind of like the one with the lid because it keeps the contents hidden from the unwanted eyes.
I'd try to get the long euro console. It's like the one with the slider, just longer.

Sorry for a noob question. What's TMS?
Turner Motorsports

[Hermes]

This is the long euro tray

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Interior/Center_Console/ES83038/

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/zhp%20projects/189652DF-8082-49E2-9F14-850B05E78082-1514-0000017072896EA5.jpg

[Lanister]

This is the long euro tray

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Interior/Center_Console/ES83038/

http://i29.photobucket.com/albums/c288/jhermes/zhp%20projects/189652DF-8082-49E2-9F14-850B05E78082-1514-0000017072896EA5.jpg

Oh that's the way to go! Best of both worlds.

[Lanister]

Since we're on the topic of best space arrangements for the center console. The smoker's storage compartment for the passenger seats gets nicely replaced with storage-only space. I'm so getting this.

http://www.ecstuning.com/Search/SiteSearch/51168225986/

[Hermes]

That's not what that is, you already have the compartment with the ashtray in it. Just pull the ashtray out

[johnrando]

Sorry for a noob question. What's TMS?

No noob questions here in the family. Check out their site. They race E46s, and are a quality parts supplier/"manufacturer". Just remember, while all those trays CAN hold cups, etc, IIRC none of the have an actual cupholder so it's not quite as secure I'd imagine. Someone can correct me if wrong.

[Lanister]

That's not what that is, you already have the compartment with the ashtray in it. Just pull the ashtray out

:blink :facepalm :shift

Thanks for the tip! :fistpump

[danewilson77]

No noob questions here in the family. Check out their site. They race E46s, and are a quality parts supplier/"manufacturer". Just remember, while all those trays CAN hold cups, etc, IIRC none of the have an actual cupholder so it's not quite as secure I'd imagine. Someone can correct me if wrong.

You're correct. Eurotray will not accept most mugs, but will accept bottles, cans, and like a venti carmel mocha latte from Starbucks. Just rest it in the front part and slide the cover up to it, and it stays pretty good.

My thought here is any event that will cause a mess from the Eurotray, will most likely cause a mess from the cup holders as well.

[Lanister]

You're correct. Eurotray will not accept most mugs, but will accept bottles, cans, and like a venti carmel mocha latte from Starbucks. Just rest it in the front part and slide the cover up to it, and it stays pretty good.

My thought here is any event that will cause a mess from the Eurotray, will most likely cause a mess from the cup holders as well.

Naturally. The eurotray seems like a no-brainer to me. Right now I am trying to decide whether to go with the short or long version. I do like how my coins are neatly arranged. Choices choices.

While looking through various parts diagrams I found an option for the eurotray that would hold cassette tapes where the coin collector is. That cracked me up. I didn't think that German engineers would be such old-schoolies. I guess we should be happy there's no option for a record holder :)

[Avetiso]

I'd go with long tray, but I never carry change.

[Lanister]

Me neither but I do like to have some quarters on me for when I need to park on a busy street. Nothing worse than running from store to store asking to break a dollar. I am starting to realize that I have no use for the front ashtray. Perhaps I could turn that into my coin tray instead. :)

[danewilson77]

You can also get smokers delete package for the front as well.

http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts.do?model=EV53&mospid=47725&btnr=51_3233&hg=51&fg=35

[Crickett]

My $0.02: I'd get the long covered tray ("Eurotray") & pick up one or two of these:

http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/images/empty-320-ds.jpg (http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/)

Charlie has one in his M3; that's enough of an endorsement for me! :roundel

As for replacing the ashtrays, my understaning is that the only difference between the "smokers" & "non-smokers" tray holders (not the ashtrays themselves) is that the ashtray versions have little bulbs inside that the non-ashtray ones don't. Those bulbs stick out a bit too much to simply swap out the ashtray for the storage compartment, though you might be able to shave down the plastic around them to make it work . . .

[Lanister]

My $0.02: I'd get the long covered tray ("Eurotray") & pick up one or two of these:

http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/images/empty-320-ds.jpg (http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/)

Charlie has one in his M3; that's enough of an endorsement for me! :roundel

As for replacing the ashtrays, my understanding is that the only difference between the "smokers" & "non-smokers" tray holders (not the ashtrays themselves) is that the ashtray versions have little bulbs inside that the non-ashtray ones don't. Those bulbs stick out a bit too much to simply swap out the ashtray for the storage compartment, though you might be able to shave down the plastic around them to make it work . . .

Travis, thanks for the tip on the cup holder. That looks like a very good solution indeed. I couldn't quite agree with the universal, door-mounted cup holder. It really seems like a mess waiting to happen. Just imagine forgetting your extra large caramel in the door and slamming that thing shut. Oh the sticky carpets. :facepalm

As for the smoker's package delete. Damn, seems like a lot of parts or the dremel tool. What I read today is that non-smokers package was not even available in the U.S. How bizarre.

[Hermes]

I have the Ultimate Cupholders (pic Travis posted) in the E38 since the stock cupholder is the ultimate worst design ever.

As for coins, that's what I use the rear ashtray for

[HokieZHP]

Those ultimate cup holders are awesome! I had one in my car since my rear cup holder was used for coins.

[johnrando]

I have one too (Ultimate), it works fine but I don't love it.

[Lanister]

I have one too (Ultimate), it works fine but I don't love it.

Why is it that? Does it mess with your Chi? Or does it physically get in the way from time to time?

[johnrando]

Physically gets in the way of passengers some times, and sometimes it just doesn't stay in all that well. It's better than nothing, and it holds bigger things, but it's not a tight, solid, gotta good feeling it's gonna hold kind of cupholder. No worries bout my Chi though. :biggrin

[Lanister]

I hear ya. That was the first thing that crossed my mind when I saw the pics. I knew I'd bump it with my foot so ain't no way I'm putting my hot coffee down there. I reckon that the the euro tray with a slide top will take care of my coffee just fine :)

[derbo]

and if you need more compartments, there is the first aid kit box as well.

http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330i-M54_3.0L/Search/SiteSearch/First_Aid_Kit/ES137520/

http://www.zhpmafia.com/forums/showthread.php?6266-DIY-OEM-Underseat-First-Aid-Compartment


I personally like my euro cupholder over the cupholders. and if you really need in a bind, you can open the tray and put a cup there and close the tray to hold it in place like it was a cupholder..

[cakM3]

My $0.02: I'd get the long covered tray ("Eurotray") & pick up one or two of these:

http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/images/empty-320-ds.jpg (http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/)

Charlie has one in his M3; that's enough of an endorsement for me! :roundel


Travis PM'd me about this the other day and I told him that I love my Ultimate cup holder.

I agree with Rando in that it is not 100% perfect but compared to other cup holders out there....this is the only one I would put in my ///M.

As for passenger comfort? I'm not too much worried where that is concerned because I am usually the only one in the ///M (as it should be) :)

One thing to note... there are some adjustments that have to be made to the neck of this cup holder so that when inserted into the center console area in front of the seats, the cup holder will remain in place. It took me a few tries and now my cup holder stays in place. :thumbsup Also, I like how it looks :)

[ELCID86]

Looking for an alternate to my peeling tan cup holder. If these are used is the arm rest removed? Can a few of you post pics of the various types installed.

[danewilson77]

http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7214/7242028162_46e0563116_b.jpg (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dw77zhpmafia/7242028162/)
BMW Perf Shift Knob and New boots (http://www.flickr.com/photos/dw77zhpmafia/7242028162/) by Dane Wilson77 (http://www.flickr.com/people/dw77zhpmafia/), on Flickr

Sent from my Samsung Galaxy S4

[Vas]

Bad picture but no cupholders, euro tray and arm rest delete
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v720/vsamoylov/IMAG1407_zpsc27c2526.jpg

[ELCID86]

Fancy DW! So the compartment swap is just a plug-n-play pull out the old and drop in the new?

Like this one: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Interior/Center_Console/Storage/ES83032/

Can I just replace the existing with it?

[ELCID86]

I love this from http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/competitors.html.
Gotta love a company with a sense of humor.
http://www.ultimatecupholders.com/images/shoe.jpg
(Wedge the toe under the seat, cup goes in the opening. High-tops work best. (I actually knew someone who did this.)

[az3579]

Fancy DW! So the compartment swap is just a plug-n-play pull out the old and drop in the new?

Like this one: http://www.ecstuning.com/BMW-E46-330Ci-M54_3.0L/Interior/Center_Console/Storage/ES83032/

Can I just replace the existing with it?

Pull old out. Put new in. Easy peasy.

[mimalmo]

The cupholder in my old ZHP had began peeling so I replaced it with the Eurotray. Great mod, also made it work better for phones, iPod, aux-in cable, etc. I don't know if Seth kept it when he changed the interior stuff but I'd be happy to tell him he was foolish if he sold it.

[ELCID86]

I'll take it if it's tan and he still has it Eli. Otherwise I think I'll order one. I just ordered two Ultimate Cup-holders for my son for his birthday (21) next month. (He wanted a pistol--sorry dude).

[ELCID86]

Pull old out. Put new in. Easy peasy.
Thanks BP.

[330i ZHP]

nice

[mimalmo]

I'll take it if it's tan and he still has it Eli. Otherwise I think I'll order one. I just ordered two Ultimate Cup-holders for my son for his birthday (21) next month. (He wanted a pistol--sorry dude).

I haven't a clue if he still has it. It was black anyways.

You should get your son the pistol if he's turning 21. Shooting at the range or hunting is a great family activity.

[ELCID86]

I went ahead and ordered two "Ultimates". Yeah, that's what he said! I have a 9mm FNH he is welcome to use. Heck I didn't get a pistol until I was ~45. I figure he can wait a bit.

[ELCID86]

I sent the owner an email as I didn't realize they were here in the NOVA area. Nice to deal with a US and local company.
His prompt reply:

"From: mike@ultimatecupholders.com [mailto:mike@ultimatecupholders.com]
Sent: Sunday, September 22, 2013 1:09 AM
To: 'Faherty, Shawn and Kim'
Subject: RE: Order Confirmation

Yep, not too far.

Should be there Monday I'd think.

Just let me know if you have any questions and I'll be happy to help.

Thanks again.

Mike"

[derbo]

Bad picture but no cupholders, euro tray and arm rest delete
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v720/vsamoylov/IMAG1407_zpsc27c2526.jpg

Damn I need to do this.

[johnrando]

I think I'd go crazy w/o that arm rest.

[Lanister]

I think I'd go crazy w/o that arm rest.

+1

On my last trip to Hawaii, I rented the cheapest POS I could source. Expectantly, it came without an arm rest and I don't remember a day I didn't curse about it not having one.

[ELCID86]

Got this today along with the first aid box. Can someone tell me what the black plastic part is on the driver's side? Pen holder??

1060310604

Can't figure out why theses are upside down. They look right on my PC but wrong on my iphone. Oh well.

[derbo]

pen holder, and the side is business card holder. ;) it is an executive saloon.

[ELCID86]

Wow, I'm impressed. #swag

Thanks Derek.

[328ioc]

pen holder, and the side is business card holder. ;) it is an executive saloon.

I was wondering what the hell those were as well.

Thanks for the info.

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