DIY

Schneller! · 05-16-2009, 02:07 PM

The little spring-loaded latch on my third cupholder broke the other day

, so I did some research...: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ight=cupholder

Seems like this has happened to a lot of people, and the only fix from the dealer appears to be to give you another springloaded latch that will undoubtedly break again

...here's my solution which seems to be working...Sorry for no pics, but it should be easy enough to explain

Materials I used:
- Set of small jewelers screw-drivers
- Spring bar (a.k.a. "watch band pin")
- Snub-nose snips (commonly used by Telco-professionals)
- Tiny sharp nail (small drill if you have a bit small enough)

1. (I am assuming that the latch is already detached from the assembly) Remove the small metal bar that holds the spring onto the latch and set the spring aside.

2. Using the jewelers screw-driver (small drillbit?), adust the size of the holes in the latch to allow the spring bar to pass through.

3. Assemble the latch by passing the spring bar through the holes (latch and spring). Basically, you're replacing the original bar with the spring bar.

NOTE: If you look at the underside of the housing area the latch affixes to, you will notice two "nubs" protruding from each side and one in the middle. DON'T MESS WITH THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE.

4. Using the snips, shave/cut the nubs down to flush with the housing area. Then, (as close to 'center' as possible) carefully use the tiny sharp nail (drill bit if you're lucky) and force an indention where the "nubs" used to be. The housing is now altered to guide the ends of the spring bar in place.

5. Now reassemble using the same method you would replace the spring bar in your watch with; making sure to properly seat the spring over the "nub" in the center of the housing.

...and that's it! I know I didn't find an extra 50 HP or anything here, but it was REALLY annoying to have no useable cupholder in my 4000-mile-old car. Driving the 1er makes me thirsty....

Lemme know if anyone has any questions/comments...

voerman · 05-16-2009, 05:55 PM

Absolutely brilliant - works like a charm.

This is the way BMW should have designed it in the first place.

Thanks for the DIY.

Lou

DylPickle85 · 07-17-2012, 03:01 PM

Great guide! Pics would be a nice edition on Rev 2

Regarding the Spring Bar, can you advise on the exact size/length? There are a lot of options, and want to be sure the size I get fits the part well.

fixation88 · 07-19-2012, 01:08 PM

Pictures please

GaryS · 07-19-2012, 07:37 PM

I predict you will not get any pics, considering the OP hasn't posted here in three years.

BostonBeemah · 07-24-2012, 08:27 AM

pics please!! mine broke for the second time yesterday lol

andrey_gta · 07-24-2012, 12:18 PM

just cut it up and make it a phone mount

Schneller! · 07-25-2012, 07:10 AM

wow... guess I am still subscribed to this. Sorry folks, no pics and I no longer have the car. Wife and I had a kid (#2 on the way) and now we have an X535i and a 328i. Anyway...

I just bought a watch repair kit that had 5 - 10 different sized watch band posts and then just forced it to work

...

good news is - it worked flawlessly until I traded in the car. Good luck

AngelesCrest · 08-29-2019, 02:34 PM

Wow this is and awesome fix!!! I’m into watches so I had a ton of 20mm spring bars so I just sanded flat the two nubs and drilled two small holes where those nubs were, slid in the spring bar and bam it’s better than OEM!!! Thanks for this fix!!

05-16-2009, 02:07 PM	#1
Schneller! Private 6 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi & 2010 X535i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Janesville, Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	DIY - Fix your cupholder! The little spring-loaded latch on my third cupholder broke the other day, so I did some research...: http://www.1addicts.com/forums/showt...ight=cupholder Seems like this has happened to a lot of people, and the only fix from the dealer appears to be to give you another springloaded latch that will undoubtedly break again...here's my solution which seems to be working...Sorry for no pics, but it should be easy enough to explain Materials I used: - Set of small jewelers screw-drivers - Spring bar (a.k.a. "watch band pin") - Snub-nose snips (commonly used by Telco-professionals) - Tiny sharp nail (small drill if you have a bit small enough) 1. (I am assuming that the latch is already detached from the assembly) Remove the small metal bar that holds the spring onto the latch and set the spring aside. 2. Using the jewelers screw-driver (small drillbit?), adust the size of the holes in the latch to allow the spring bar to pass through. 3. Assemble the latch by passing the spring bar through the holes (latch and spring). Basically, you're replacing the original bar with the spring bar. NOTE: If you look at the underside of the housing area the latch affixes to, you will notice two "nubs" protruding from each side and one in the middle. DON'T MESS WITH THE ONE IN THE MIDDLE. 4. Using the snips, shave/cut the nubs down to flush with the housing area. Then, (as close to 'center' as possible) carefully use the tiny sharp nail (drill bit if you're lucky) and force an indention where the "nubs" used to be. The housing is now altered to guide the ends of the spring bar in place. 5. Now reassemble using the same method you would replace the spring bar in your watch with; making sure to properly seat the spring over the "nub" in the center of the housing. ...and that's it! I know I didn't find an extra 50 HP or anything here, but it was REALLY annoying to have no useable cupholder in my 4000-mile-old car. Driving the 1er makes me thirsty.... Lemme know if anyone has any questions/comments... __________________ Model: 135i Coupe/Alpine White/Black Leatherette/6 Speed/PDC/premium hi-fi/i-Pod/USB Adaptor/AluminumTrim/M-Sport Package/NAV system/Lead foot Last edited by Schneller!; 05-18-2009 at 03:28 PM..
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07-17-2012, 03:01 PM	#3
DylPickle85 Child of God 10 Rep 41 Posts Drives: Join Date: May 2008 iTrader: (0)	Spring Bar size? Great guide! Pics would be a nice edition on Rev 2 Regarding the Spring Bar, can you advise on the exact size/length? There are a lot of options, and want to be sure the size I get fits the part well.
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07-19-2012, 01:08 PM	#4
fixation88 Enlisted Member 2 Rep 39 Posts Drives: '08 135i Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: IL iTrader: (0)	Pictures please
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07-19-2012, 07:37 PM	#5
GaryS Colonel 39 Rep 2,084 Posts Drives: 2009 135i 6MT Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Maryland iTrader: (0) Garage List 2009 135i [6.50]	I predict you will not get any pics, considering the OP hasn't posted here in three years.
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07-24-2012, 08:27 AM	#6
BostonBeemah Lieutenant 75 Rep 524 Posts Drives: AW 135i 6spd Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: Belmont, Ma iTrader: (4)	pics please!! mine broke for the second time yesterday lol __________________ 2010 AW/BLK 135i VM 6465 Single Turbo, JB4 + MHD, VRSF CP & Tial, Big Tom, Fuel-It PI + Stage 3 + Return + Ethanol Sensor, BMW PE, MFactory LSD, Spec 3+ & MFactory SMFW, RB External PCV Best stock turbo 12.5 @ 19.46 spinning all the way down RIP 2008 AW/BL 135i
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05-16-2009, 05:55 PM	#2
voerman Member 4 Rep 99 Posts Drives: '19 530e Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: NC iTrader: (0)	Absolutely brilliant - works like a charm. This is the way BMW should have designed it in the first place. Thanks for the DIY. Lou
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07-24-2012, 12:18 PM	#7
andrey_gta Brigadier General 317 Rep 4,040 Posts Drives: 130i coupé ;) Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Bimmerpost iTrader: (1) Garage List 2008 BMW 128i [10.00]	just cut it up and make it a phone mount __________________ 128i Sport 6MT converted to Euro 130i spec, 3.73 diff, tuned by evolve ~220 whp 207 wtq(ft-lb) SAE In-progress: //M front arm, M3 rack, e36M lip Wishlist: Coils, n55 mnts, headers, LSD, e60 finn diff "The 1-series is the last car that BMW engineered before the Germans, as a car-making culture, fell out of love with driving." - R&T 2013 135is
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07-25-2012, 07:10 AM	#8
Schneller! Private 6 Rep 72 Posts Drives: 2008 328xi & 2010 X535i Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Janesville, Wisconsin iTrader: (0)	...blast from the past... wow... guess I am still subscribed to this. Sorry folks, no pics and I no longer have the car. Wife and I had a kid (#2 on the way) and now we have an X535i and a 328i. Anyway... I just bought a watch repair kit that had 5 - 10 different sized watch band posts and then just forced it to work... good news is - it worked flawlessly until I traded in the car. Good luck __________________ Model: 135i Coupe/Alpine White/Black Leatherette/6 Speed/PDC/premium hi-fi/i-Pod/USB Adaptor/AluminumTrim/M-Sport Package/NAV system/Lead foot
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08-29-2019, 02:34 PM	#9
AngelesCrest Registered 2 Rep 1 Posts Drives: 135i Join Date: Jul 2019 Location: San Fernando iTrader: (0)	Wow this is and awesome fix!!! I’m into watches so I had a ton of 20mm spring bars so I just sanded flat the two nubs and drilled two small holes where those nubs were, slid in the spring bar and bam it’s better than OEM!!! Thanks for this fix!!
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