Cup Holder sticking... any DIY or fixes?

NRG x Mpower · 12-08-2010, 07:23 PM

hey guys,

my cup holder (the one closer to the driver side) seems to be sticking. if i push it to eject it, it comes out about 20% before i have to grab and pull it out the rest of the way. i think it's due to stick residue from soda/drinks.

any DIY on how to fix/clean this? or options? thanks in advanced!

goowatchi · 12-08-2010, 07:49 PM

clean it?

remove trim (search), unscrew two screws, remove and clean.

fdriller9 · 12-08-2010, 08:11 PM

Yea you need to clean it. Or reseat it.

Have you gotten any work done to your car? My dealer re-installed my cup holders incorrectly and they didn't slide out smoothly. I had to reseat them myself.

The trim piece around the slots is friction fit....pry it off with a small flat head wrapped in a cloth or tapped up or something. From there it's quite obvious.

To open the cup holders, there is a, not sure what to call it, plug? that you need to remove. It prevents the whole tray from coming out so you need to remove it to clean it. Also don't use WD-40 for lube.....use a silicone or similar grease. WD-40 will dry things out eventually.

NRG x Mpower · 12-09-2010, 12:51 AM

awesome! thanks for the post!

sn0pea · 12-09-2010, 08:41 AM

I had a problem with my cupholder where the latches that connected the top to the bottom of the cupholder came undone and I just had to press them hard to connect them again. Doesn't sound like your problem, but possibly.

tony20009 · 12-09-2010, 09:03 AM

I recommend something akin to Formula 409, a cloth, maybe a few cotton swabs and a bit of elbow/wrist energy.

I had a similar issue after my coffee spilled once. Nothing more to it than just cleaning the thing.

Good luck.

NRG x Mpower · 12-09-2010, 11:24 AM

thanks guys! just looking to see how to take the damn thing apart and clean it down/re-grease. i'll work on it this weekend! appreciate it!

12-08-2010, 07:23 PM	#1
NRG x Mpower 2011 BMW 535i 17 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 535i Msport Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Newport Beach iTrader: (2)	Cup Holder sticking... any DIY or fixes? hey guys, my cup holder (the one closer to the driver side) seems to be sticking. if i push it to eject it, it comes out about 20% before i have to grab and pull it out the rest of the way. i think it's due to stick residue from soda/drinks. any DIY on how to fix/clean this? or options? thanks in advanced! __________________ GARAGE: 05 Lamborghini Gallardo \| 09 BMW 335i coupe \| 04 Honda S2000 \| 08 Lexus GS350 \| 05 Lotus Elise \| 95 Acura NSX-T \| 93 Acura NSX \| 03 Infiniti G35 coupe \| etc \|
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12-08-2010, 07:49 PM	#2
goowatchi Chairman of the Board. 16 Rep 452 Posts Drives: F15 X5 Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: CA iTrader: (7)	clean it? remove trim (search), unscrew two screws, remove and clean.
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12-08-2010, 08:11 PM	#3
fdriller9 Banned 253 Rep 7,089 Posts Drives: '06 AW 330xi Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: North Jersey/Philly/NYC iTrader: (4) Garage List 2006 330xi [6.44]	Yea you need to clean it. Or reseat it. Have you gotten any work done to your car? My dealer re-installed my cup holders incorrectly and they didn't slide out smoothly. I had to reseat them myself. The trim piece around the slots is friction fit....pry it off with a small flat head wrapped in a cloth or tapped up or something. From there it's quite obvious. To open the cup holders, there is a, not sure what to call it, plug? that you need to remove. It prevents the whole tray from coming out so you need to remove it to clean it. Also don't use WD-40 for lube.....use a silicone or similar grease. WD-40 will dry things out eventually.
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12-09-2010, 12:51 AM	#4
NRG x Mpower 2011 BMW 535i 17 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 535i Msport Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Newport Beach iTrader: (2)	awesome! thanks for the post! __________________ GARAGE: 05 Lamborghini Gallardo \| 09 BMW 335i coupe \| 04 Honda S2000 \| 08 Lexus GS350 \| 05 Lotus Elise \| 95 Acura NSX-T \| 93 Acura NSX \| 03 Infiniti G35 coupe \| etc \|
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12-09-2010, 08:41 AM	#5
sn0pea Captain 48 Rep 842 Posts Drives: Black 325i 2006 Join Date: Oct 2010 Location: OK iTrader: (1)	I had a problem with my cupholder where the latches that connected the top to the bottom of the cupholder came undone and I just had to press them hard to connect them again. Doesn't sound like your problem, but possibly.
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12-09-2010, 09:03 AM	#6
tony20009 Major General 1052 Rep 5,660 Posts Drives: BMW 335i - Coupe Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Washington, DC iTrader: (0)	I recommend something akin to Formula 409, a cloth, maybe a few cotton swabs and a bit of elbow/wrist energy. I had a similar issue after my coffee spilled once. Nothing more to it than just cleaning the thing. Good luck. __________________ Cheers, Tony ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------ '07, e92 335i, *Sparkling Graphite, Coral Leather, Aluminum, 6-speed*
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12-09-2010, 11:24 AM	#7
NRG x Mpower 2011 BMW 535i 17 Rep 125 Posts Drives: 2011 BMW 535i Msport Join Date: Dec 2009 Location: Newport Beach iTrader: (2)	thanks guys! just looking to see how to take the damn thing apart and clean it down/re-grease. i'll work on it this weekend! appreciate it! __________________ GARAGE: 05 Lamborghini Gallardo \| 09 BMW 335i coupe \| 04 Honda S2000 \| 08 Lexus GS350 \| 05 Lotus Elise \| 95 Acura NSX-T \| 93 Acura NSX \| 03 Infiniti G35 coupe \| etc \|
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