Front left cup holder not coming out all the way.

wannabe · 10-05-2011, 04:20 PM

I searched, didn't want to sift through results.

But is the front left cup holder supposed to come all the way out when I press on it? Right now, I press, it comes out a little, then I have to pull it all the way out.

MiscExpense · 10-05-2011, 07:59 PM

Sound like what I have seen before, and if it is it's an easy fix if you have a steamer. Its gummed up from a drink with sugar in it. Just steam it for a while, and use a MF cloth and plenty of qtips to get in all the creases.

If all else fails I think you can get to the mechanics if it from the glove box. From here you can steam the back parts. Although all the parts are plastic make sure you dry everything.

mike3000fl · 10-05-2011, 09:53 PM

also make sure someone didnt bump it and knock the pins out of the joints that they swivel in.

hard to explain but with the holder fully extended, push the bottom collapsible part up and let it down again a few times.

where it pivots there are places that snap together, if one comes unsnapped it wont open or close right when you try to push the whole thing in or out.

usually one of the two right under the base the cups sits on will come undone.

worth checking.

hard to snap back. a gerber or pliers works great but try not to break the part.

Jace_91 · 10-05-2011, 11:11 PM

If your still under warranty which it looks like you are I would just have the dealer fix it, they fixed mine but not sure what they did.

wannabe · 10-06-2011, 01:23 AM

Thanks. Now I know that something is gunking up the works.

I'll get to fixing it once I finish the plywood spoiler I'm putting on the car.

Michael Schott · 10-06-2011, 10:14 AM

I'm having the same issue. It's probably from a Slurpee that sweated into the cup holder works. I removed the cup holder assembly and cleaned it thoroughly but it's still sticking. I may have to contact the dealer.

By the way it's very easy to remove the cup holder assembly. Pry the trim piece back with a pocket knife and you will see the 2 Phillips head screws that hold it in the dash. Remove the screws and the entire assembly comes out in one piece. Its quite the engineering masterpiece by the way.

fdriller9 · 10-06-2011, 12:14 PM

The cup holders are very easy to remove.

Pry the trim surrounding the 2 cup holders off, it's friction fit. Then you have access to 4 Phillips head screws, 2 per holder.

The holders come out like cartridges. After you remove them, test the function of them. If they operate normally they were seated incorrectly. You'll need to place around with placement to get them to pop out on their own.

If they are dirty, clean them. lol

10-05-2011, 04:20 PM	#1
wannabe Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i e93 6MT Join Date: May 2005 Location: Az iTrader: (0)	Front left cup holder not coming out all the way. I searched, didn't want to sift through results. But is the front left cup holder supposed to come all the way out when I press on it? Right now, I press, it comes out a little, then I have to pull it all the way out.
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10-05-2011, 07:59 PM	#2
MiscExpense Private First Class 16 Rep 172 Posts Drives: E92 M3 Jerez Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Block away from nowhere iTrader: (2)	Sound like what I have seen before, and if it is it's an easy fix if you have a steamer. Its gummed up from a drink with sugar in it. Just steam it for a while, and use a MF cloth and plenty of qtips to get in all the creases. If all else fails I think you can get to the mechanics if it from the glove box. From here you can steam the back parts. Although all the parts are plastic make sure you dry everything. __________________ E92 Jerez Black, NAV, DCT. Mach Mchnell Stage 2, BBS CH-R Titanium, M/// Performance Exhaust.
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10-05-2011, 09:53 PM	#3
mike3000fl Banned 138 Rep 2,731 Posts Drives: 06 330i Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Tampa iTrader: (0)	also make sure someone didnt bump it and knock the pins out of the joints that they swivel in. hard to explain but with the holder fully extended, push the bottom collapsible part up and let it down again a few times. where it pivots there are places that snap together, if one comes unsnapped it wont open or close right when you try to push the whole thing in or out. usually one of the two right under the base the cups sits on will come undone. worth checking. hard to snap back. a gerber or pliers works great but try not to break the part.
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10-05-2011, 11:11 PM	#4
Jace_91 First Lieutenant 9 Rep 365 Posts Drives: 2008 335i Coupe Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: South Florida - Hollywood iTrader: (0)	If your still under warranty which it looks like you are I would just have the dealer fix it, they fixed mine but not sure what they did.
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10-06-2011, 01:23 AM	#5
wannabe Second Lieutenant 12 Rep 204 Posts Drives: 2008 BMW 335i e93 6MT Join Date: May 2005 Location: Az iTrader: (0)	Thanks. Now I know that something is gunking up the works. I'll get to fixing it once I finish the plywood spoiler I'm putting on the car.
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10-06-2011, 10:14 AM	#6
Michael Schott Colonel 343 Rep 2,118 Posts Drives: 2017 VW GTI Sport Join Date: Dec 2007 Location: Farmington Hills, MI iTrader: (0)	I'm having the same issue. It's probably from a Slurpee that sweated into the cup holder works. I removed the cup holder assembly and cleaned it thoroughly but it's still sticking. I may have to contact the dealer. By the way it's very easy to remove the cup holder assembly. Pry the trim piece back with a pocket knife and you will see the 2 Phillips head screws that hold it in the dash. Remove the screws and the entire assembly comes out in one piece. Its quite the engineering masterpiece by the way.
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10-06-2011, 12:14 PM	#7
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]	The cup holders are very easy to remove. Pry the trim surrounding the 2 cup holders off, it's friction fit. Then you have access to 4 Phillips head screws, 2 per holder. The holders come out like cartridges. After you remove them, test the function of them. If they operate normally they were seated incorrectly. You'll need to place around with placement to get them to pop out on their own. If they are dirty, clean them. lol
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