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Subject: Cupholder FIX, better than new! Author: dshealey : member since December, 2004 : 46 posts Posted on: 2005-11-25 13:21:25

I had the common broken cup holder in my 2001 740iL, and sure did not want to spend the rather large amount of money to put a new one in, and still have the weak point to just break again.

I pulled it out and saw what breaks, the two small plastic "hooks" that keep it from coming out too far.

I came up with a fix that is MUCH stronger than that. I use two pieces of stiff steel wire, bent into a straight "Z" shape. I drilled two holes in the steel plate for one end of the wire hooks to slip into (careful not to drill through the plastic!). I bent the ends that go into the steel plate first, put the wire in and marked it where it needed to bend up to make the retaining hooks. Then I soldered the wire to the metal plate. The wires spring to the side just like the plastic retainers did to allow installation of the front into the rear. Pictures attached.

• Cupholder FIX, better than new! - dshealey 2005-11-25 13:21:25 (993 views)
  • Thanks! I have the same break and am looking forward to trying. (nt) - bghark 2005-11-25 17:35:12 (239 views)
  • I used nylon suture material - noahas 2005-11-25 17:08:59 (327 views)
  • Did you observe the catch that holds it in while it was apart? (nt) - collison944 2005-11-25 16:51:22 (244 views)
    • Re: Did you observe the catch that holds it in while it was apart? - dshealey 2005-11-25 17:54:03 (258 views)
  • Nice project. Wire length, straight and bent demensions would be cool on e38.or (nt) - collison944 2005-11-25 16:39:53 (176 views)
    • Re: Nice project. Wire length, straight and bent demensions would be cool on e3 - dshealey 2005-11-25 17:47:21 (194 views)
  • Clever fix!!! (nt) - pauld 2005-11-25 13:47:35 (151 views)
  • Re: Cupholder FIX, better than new! - pdef1949 2005-11-25 13:38:05 (217 views)
    • Re: Cupholder FIX, better than new! - dshealey 2005-11-25 15:07:17 (172 views)
      • Re: Cupholder FIX, better than new! - photekz 2005-11-25 19:52:25 (141 views)
        • Re: Cupholder FIX, better than new! - dshealey 2005-11-25 21:36:38 (168 views)
        • Buying Wire - pdef1949 2005-11-25 21:33:02 (109 views)
          • Re: Buying Wire - dshealey 2005-11-25 22:03:57 (136 views)
        • To buy wire, try hobby or hardware stores. - ibew 595 2005-11-25 20:28:39 (140 views)
  • Re: Cupholder FIX, better than new! (pic) - dshealey 2005-11-25 13:23:29 (2942 views)
    • You could epoxy them too - ibew 595 2005-11-25 13:43:42 (183 views)
      • Re: You could epoxy them too - dshealey 2005-11-25 15:05:27 (167 views)
      • Re: You could epoxy them too - dshealey 2005-11-25 15:03:27 (148 views)
    • Job well done. Put pix with post together for E38.org? (nt) - bmw635 2005-11-25 13:29:52 (172 views)
      • Re: Job well done. Put pix with post together for E38.org? - dshealey 2005-11-25 15:11:00 (136 views)
        • That would do it! Pics are always great for DIY info. Nice job!!! (nt) - sealbeach740 2005-11-25 16:30:40 (198 views)