Front additional cup holder. Anyone ever bought it?

[Jrman]

One of the only things I do not like about my 135i Cabrini is the lack of functional cup holders. With the arm rest down, there is really only one. I searched and found out that BMW had an extra one that could be purchased. It just clips to the passenger side. Does anyone own one? If so, is it work $60?

[2WheelDave]

Our car had one when we bought it. It's functional for medium sized cups. Larger or insulated containers aren't going to fit. Good thing it's removeable too. On longer trips, it's pretty annoying for someone riding in the passenger seat.

[JimD]

If you have the idrive you don't really have any usable cup holders, the idrive goes where the one useful one is. So they add the cup holder on the passengers side of the tunnel.

I don't have idrive but wanted two usable cup holders so I bought one and added it. The installation is not very difficult but it is pretty involved since you have to remove the plastic tunnel which has a lot of steps. I found a good DIY that included this removal and followed that. But you also have to cut the opening in the plastic piece. That's a bit scary but not hard, the place it goes is already shaped into the underside of what I am calling the tunnel. After you cut the hole you screw the socket for the cup holder on and you are good to go (after reassembly). I did this in my 2009 and my ex-wife's 2013. Same process for both.

I use this cup holder the most. My ex did complain about it being in her space but she complained about a lot of things. Nobody else has ever complained about it. The one series does give the driver a bit more room than the passenger, however, and that probably was part of her problem. She liked driving more than riding.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by Jrman

One of the only things I do not like about my 135i Cabrini is the lack of functional cup holders. With the arm rest down, there is really only one. I searched and found out that BMW had an extra one that could be purchased. It just clips to the passenger side. Does anyone own one? If so, is it work $60?

You can get identical ones (OEM Quality) from Amazon for cheaper. Just search the part number. I have an extra one sitting in my spare parts box somewhere.

[swunder]

I use mine all the time - drinks, cell phone, sunglasses. Very sturdy and useful. Hardly ever have passengers so not sure how annoying it is for them.

The cupholders behind the idrive are only good for holding gum... or maybe a can of soda... but who drinks cans in a car.

[Kheadley]

No idrive on mine, but I use the extra one for my phone to easily change music or maps.

[rennwerkes]

Is there any DIY somewhere?
I'm guessing you need to remove the center panel?

[JimD]

There is no DIY for this but there are a couple that I found very helpful, both written by "AndyM". If you look at the DIY index under interior you will find one for removal of the console and another for installation of a smoker package. There may be others that would help. Once the console is out, you turn it over and look for the place to install the mount. I remember that it was fairly easy to spot based upon the way the console is molded.

[Ric in RVA]

I need to get one for my new car. I built this for my old car.

https://www.1addicts.com/forums/show...ight=ram+mount

[duder13]

Another option is an armrest delete, which frees up the second cup holder. It’s one of my favorite mods.

[JimVonBaden]

Originally Posted by swunder

I use mine all the time - drinks, cell phone, sunglasses. Very sturdy and useful. Hardly ever have passengers so not sure how annoying it is for them.

The cupholders behind the idrive are only good for holding gum... or maybe a can of soda... but who drinks cans in a car.

Same here. It is really useful, and doesn't seem to get in the way of my passengers.

[bobdavisnpf]

Seems like a great early mod to get into it. Definitely worth it; I'd get the Genuine BMW part but ymmv.

My wife and I thought "that'll be the first thing to go" but it's a great fit for my phone+case, and she likes it for her drinks.

[Soterios]

Man. I really hate how it looks, but drinks interfere with shifting, so I hate putting them in either of the two spots. Sunglasses fall out of the tiny tray in the middle. I just need a little more 'stuff space' in this thing. Maybe I can get creative with this thing.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by Soterios

Man. I really hate how it looks, but drinks interfere with shifting, so I hate putting them in either of the two spots. Sunglasses fall out of the tiny tray in the middle. I just need a little more 'stuff space' in this thing. Maybe I can get creative with this thing.

An easy way to get some storage is replace the grab handle with a glasses holder.

[zx10guy]

So this didn't come installed from the factory? I already had this cup holder installed when I bought my car new and don't recall any listing on the options sheet as it being an optional accessory.

[dtla1]

Originally Posted by Soterios

Man. I really hate how it looks, but drinks interfere with shifting, so I hate putting them in either of the two spots. Sunglasses fall out of the tiny tray in the middle. I just need a little more 'stuff space' in this thing. Maybe I can get creative with this thing.

Not to get off topic, but the Sunglasses tray that replaces the driver overhead handle is a super useful and very easy mod, 100% recommend.

[The Wind Breezes]

No cupholder needed. Gotta drink those beers fast so you can hide the evidence.

[swunder]

Originally Posted by dtla1

Not to get off topic, but the Sunglasses tray that replaces the driver overhead handle is a super useful and very easy mod, 100% recommend.

I... didn't know this existed! Ordered.

[MightyMouseTech]

Originally Posted by zx10guy

So this didn't come installed from the factory? I already had this cup holder installed when I bought my car new and don't recall any listing on the options sheet as it being an optional accessory.

Was wondering the same thing. My car came with it from the factory.

[gjm120]

Originally Posted by MightyMouseTech

Was wondering the same thing. My car came with it from the factory.

Mine had it and I'm sure the first owner didn't do it. Maybe it was added for 2013 model year? All 3 of us who said it was there have 2013's. Kind of hard to believe they would add anything given the penny pinching that became so prevalent.

[duder13]

Originally Posted by dtla1

Not to get off topic, but the Sunglasses tray that replaces the driver overhead handle is a super useful and very easy mod, 100% recommend.

No way! I didn’t know that existed, thanks!

[JimD]

The cup holder on the side of the tunnel was standard with iDrive but apparently showed up sometimes on cars without the iDrive controller taking the only useful cupholder.

So if you have the iDrive controller in the spot of the useful cupholder, it is entirely normal for you to have the one on the tunnel. If you do not, it was either added or you are lucky.