BMW Cup Holders Suck

faz · 09-03-2010, 02:15 PM

Cup holders in E90 are flimsy, noisy (squeak/rattle with a bottle of water in them, so much so that my wife just takes the bottle water out and just lays it flat next to herself in the passenger seat, and just closes the cup holder), and definitely an after thought.

Yeah yeah yeah, germans are great, they don't drink, they are all race car drivers who only pay attention to the road, fat americans, blah blah blah.... excuse us for wanting a decent place to put our water bottle.

BMW (and MB too, for the most part) sucks at cup holders.

idrift4wd · 09-03-2010, 02:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony20009

So I had my first issue -- in three years -- with spilled drinks this a.m. Went to a Starbucks and bought coffee. Driving out of the parking lot, I went over a speed bump and a bit of coffee spilled out the top. I must have jinxed myself with this thread I started...just figures...

same. This happened yesterday morning. Saw it in slow motion and then my dumbass proceeded to pick up the cup to drink some to prevent further full cup spillage....not a good idea. spilled some over my pants.Mind you I just walked out of the store 2 minutes ago so the coffee was HOT

kaishang · 09-03-2010, 02:56 PM

I buy 500 millilitre bottes of diet coke and put 'em in the drivers side cupholder.

If I give it a boot accelerating from the lights or accelerating in a turn, the coke falls over.

OTOH I once went to the supermarket and bought a watermelon and put it in the trunk. On the way home I forgot I had bought the watermelon and gave the car a bit of stick around some corners. When I got home, the trunk was covered in smashed up watermelon....

tony20009 · 09-03-2010, 03:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by faz

...Yeah yeah yeah, germans are great, they don't drink, they are all race car drivers who only pay attention to the road, fat americans, blah blah blah.... excuse us for wanting a decent place to put our water bottle....

At least he didn't ask forgiveness for drinking rather than paying exclusive attention to the driving activity....

1QuikWS6 · 09-03-2010, 03:53 PM

I agree the cup holders suck. They appear to be nothing other than an afterthought in an otherwise excellent vehicle - basically no good for anything taller or bigger diameter than a can of pop or cup holder will spit out the offending object at the slightest spirited turn or take off...

But I bought the car for the important aspects that BMW concentrates on. I don't drink in the car anyway, but frequently bring home the fast food drinks, found out early on to ask for the cardboard cupholder when bringing home takeout...

Peteypab2133 · 09-03-2010, 03:59 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tony20009

What is so bad about the cup holders? I read several reviews that complain about them. Heading into my fourth year with the car, I don't see so much wrong with them. And who the hell bought a competing vehicle because they think the cup holders suck?

I don't find the reach to the driver's one so far away, but then my seat isn't set in the supine position when I drive the car.
I've never had a container fall out of them.
Neither of them has broken, but then I don't leave them extended when there's nothing in them.
They dissuade cluttering up the car as one can't just toss "stuff" into them.

The one complaint I have about the ones in front is that they won't hold a regular sized Gatorade bottle, which caused me to switch to Life Water.

The spring mechanism stopped allowing mine to come out. $37.50 for a new one. After buying it, they changed the design to add a silver tacky insignia in the middle of the face plate. To make the other one match it cost me another $7.50

Plus my time to pull them out and change them.

As for the design, I dont mind it. But there are often times when I drink 2 drinks. An energy drink (redbull,monster etc) and a water. Water is SOOOO far away when its about to touch the pass mirror. I find myself just setting it on my pass seat.

I rate my cup holders a 4/10

Stock-ish · 09-03-2010, 04:00 PM

Mine will hold a giant cup of Dew from Taco Bell with no problem. I worried at first, but it works out well. I've repeated the test just to be sure....and because I was hungry...

alex2364 · 09-03-2010, 04:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

But I bought the car for the important aspects that BMW concentrates on. I don't drink in the car anyway, but frequently bring home the fast food drinks, found out early on to ask for the cardboard cupholder when bringing home takeout...

Exactly what I do. I don't drink in the car, but often pick up food and drinks from fast food places. I always have to drive like a grandma on the way back to make sure I don't spill anything.

pruettfan · 09-03-2010, 05:53 PM

I actually think they are quite good. I prefer them over those that are in the positioned near gear shifts etc. Of course they are not large enough for a super tanker full of diet coke but they are great for a bottle of water or regular sized soda.

Britter · 09-03-2010, 06:16 PM

Never had a problem with a bottle or can of beer spilling once...

Ricer X · 09-03-2010, 06:31 PM

which brings to mind a motto to live by....don't drink and drive...you might spill it.

ede92 · 09-03-2010, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WWONG

I own an E39 LCI as a daily beater. I don't think you should complain until you've tried living with THOSE cup holders! The E9X cup holders still suck, but are much better.

SUMMARY: It could be worse.

Seriously. Had 2 E39s. You would have had to only driven backwards to avoid spilling drinks

Syndicategt · 09-03-2010, 07:04 PM

If you want cupholders then buy a 7-series. Don't generalize "BMW's" as they are very different from your base 1 and 3 series to other models. I drive my car however, I don't see a need to have a 64oz big gulp while doing so.

SpeedBuggy · 09-03-2010, 08:29 PM

Anyone try one of the BMW Travel Mugs with the Rubber Grip? Just wondering how well they fit in the drink cup?

:

BTM · 09-03-2010, 08:34 PM

My complaint is just that they are too shallow - a regular size bottle of water "tips" if you hit the gas with any more vigor than a geriatric...it stays in the cupholder and everything but it gets annoying. Very minor complaint, and wouldn't buy another car over it, but since you asked...

ENINTY · 09-03-2010, 08:44 PM

As long as they hold a can of beer, then I'm okay with them.

The BMW coffee mugs work great in them, BTW.

sickem · 09-03-2010, 09:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedBuggy

Anyone try one of the BMW Travel Mugs with the Rubber Grip? Just wondering how well they fit in the drink cup?

:

actually these are horrible! I bought one and while the travel mug itself is great, it only stays in the cupholder when FULL or close to it. But the time you get to the bottom of your joe it'll fly out the cupholder when you make a turn!!!!

sickem · 09-03-2010, 09:01 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BTM

My complaint is just that they are too shallow - a regular size bottle of water "tips" if you hit the gas with any more vigor than a geriatric...it stays in the cupholder and everything but it gets annoying. Very minor complaint, and wouldn't buy another car over it, but since you asked...

yeah for such great engineers, they didn't apply the same "center of gravity" principles to the cupholders that make our cars so awesome!!!!

Oulixes · 09-03-2010, 09:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by persian54

If Americans didn't either, it'd be a great improvement

+1

chromisdesigns · 09-04-2010, 12:28 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SpeedBuggy

Anyone try one of the BMW Travel Mugs with the Rubber Grip? Just wondering how well they fit in the drink cup?

:

Too tall to be stable -- but this one is perfect:

http://www.amazon.com/BMW-Genuine-St.../dp/B0016L04NA

My wife is a yerba mate fiend, but the gourds they use don't fit in the holders at all. So we got one of these, I used a die grinder to open-up the sipping top to take the mate straw, and it works great.

CaliE90 · 09-04-2010, 12:36 AM

My biggest complaint is that regular sized water bottles rattle in the cup holders. It's the most annoying thing ever.

Professor///M · 09-05-2010, 01:09 PM

The cup launchers are OK.

What are they TRULY great for: Snapple bottles - fit perfectly, don't rattle, and have a cap on top.

What are they AWFUL for: Starbucks, or almost any Medium or greater coffee cup - starbucks lids don't have the little flange on top so any bump will spit coffee out, and anything larger than a medium will tip with only a little bit of gas.

I miss my "can cooler" that was in the center console that you could put a soda can inside and keep it cool using the AC.

09-03-2010, 02:15 PM	#45
faz Second Lieutenant 21 Rep 287 Posts Drives: 2023 X5 x40i, 2018 330i F30 Join Date: Sep 2007 Location: Bay area, CA iTrader: (0)	Cup holders in E90 are flimsy, noisy (squeak/rattle with a bottle of water in them, so much so that my wife just takes the bottle water out and just lays it flat next to herself in the passenger seat, and just closes the cup holder), and definitely an after thought. Yeah yeah yeah, germans are great, they don't drink, they are all race car drivers who only pay attention to the road, fat americans, blah blah blah.... excuse us for wanting a decent place to put our water bottle. BMW (and MB too, for the most part) sucks at cup holders.
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09-03-2010, 02:56 PM	#47
kaishang Colonel 54 Rep 2,197 Posts Drives: 2010 E90 330d Join Date: Jul 2010 Location: London iTrader: (0)	I buy 500 millilitre bottes of diet coke and put 'em in the drivers side cupholder. If I give it a boot accelerating from the lights or accelerating in a turn, the coke falls over. OTOH I once went to the supermarket and bought a watermelon and put it in the trunk. On the way home I forgot I had bought the watermelon and gave the car a bit of stick around some corners. When I got home, the trunk was covered in smashed up watermelon....
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09-03-2010, 03:53 PM	#49
1QuikWS6 No 55mph 1621 Rep 8,476 Posts Drives: F32 435ix MSport Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Blitzburgh, PA iTrader: (113) Garage List 2022 BMW M440ix Vert [0.00] 2015 BMW 435ix MSport [0.00] 2000 Pontiac Trans Am [0.00]	I agree the cup holders suck. They appear to be nothing other than an afterthought in an otherwise excellent vehicle - basically no good for anything taller or bigger diameter than a can of pop or cup holder will spit out the offending object at the slightest spirited turn or take off... But I bought the car for the important aspects that BMW concentrates on. I don't drink in the car anyway, but frequently bring home the fast food drinks, found out early on to ask for the cardboard cupholder when bringing home takeout... __________________ F32 435ix//MGM//M Sport-Prem-Tech-Driver Assist-Lighting-Cold Weather-Dyn Handling Pkgs//M4 Black Lthr Int w/M4 Alum Blade Trim//HK w/Bavsound Stg3//763M//M4 Euro LCI Tails//M4 Mirrors w/CF Covers//AWCarbon CF F/R Spoilers-Side Splitters-Diffuser 6WB/ID6 HU+HUD/IND M4 Alcantara Armrest//PURE S2 Turbo//AA FMIC+DP//ER CP+TIC//3.5bar TMAP/TS DV//AWE Tuning Exh w/Blk Tips//Turner MS CF Intake//BM3 Cary Jordan Tune//MPerf Diff//PrecRW Ignition Kit
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09-03-2010, 04:00 PM	#51
Stock-ish Accelerating one wheel at a time. 5 Rep 107 Posts Drives: Black 335i Sedan Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (0)	Mine will hold a giant cup of Dew from Taco Bell with no problem. I worried at first, but it works out well. I've repeated the test just to be sure....and because I was hungry...
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09-03-2010, 05:53 PM	#53
pruettfan Brigadier General 1622 Rep 3,402 Posts Drives: 2017 M2, LBB, DCT, Exec Join Date: Jul 2009 Location: Chandler, AZ iTrader: (0)	I actually think they are quite good. I prefer them over those that are in the positioned near gear shifts etc. Of course they are not large enough for a super tanker full of diet coke but they are great for a bottle of water or regular sized soda.
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09-03-2010, 06:16 PM	#54
Britter Enlisted Member 7 Rep 36 Posts Drives: E90 330i Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Fresno iTrader: (0)	Never had a problem with a bottle or can of beer spilling once...
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09-03-2010, 06:31 PM	#55
Ricer X noted crusty old man 99 Rep 7,859 Posts Drives: like a man late for work Join Date: Aug 2009 Location: of what? iTrader: (1) Garage List 2007 335i [6.76]	which brings to mind a motto to live by....don't drink and drive...you might spill it. __________________ Photoshoot: http://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=448667 Ihsanshaik - X/Vasillalov - X/Nood1es - X/Countless more I can't recall - X Nobama 2012
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09-03-2010, 07:04 PM	#57
Syndicategt Brigadier General 153 Rep 3,730 Posts Drives: 335i Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Nor Cal iTrader: (11)	If you want cupholders then buy a 7-series. Don't generalize "BMW's" as they are very different from your base 1 and 3 series to other models. I drive my car however, I don't see a need to have a 64oz big gulp while doing so. __________________ 2008 BMW 335i e90 - Sold - Rob Beck Turbos / PROcede V5 / Aquamist HFS-4 / AR Downpipes / AE Exhaust / ER Comp FMIC / ER CP / TiAL BOV / Custom Intake / RPI Scoops / Quaife LSD / Swift-Koni Coilovers / DSS HS / Morr VS8.2 Sig Black / Michelin PSS / P3 Boost Guage / M3 body / M3 steering wheel / Adam's Rotors / Hawk HPS / SS lines /
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09-03-2010, 08:29 PM	#58
SpeedBuggy Comfortably Numb 578 Rep 654 Posts Drives: '18 x1/'13 X3/'06 330i Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Cortland, Ohio iTrader: (0) Garage List 2006 BMW 330i [0.00]	Anyone try one of the BMW Travel Mugs with the Rubber Grip? Just wondering how well they fit in the drink cup? : Attached Images __________________ 06 e90 330i/Alpine White/Terra Dakota 13 F25 X3 xDrive 35i/Black Sapphire Metallic/Oyster Nevada 18 F48 X1 xDrive 28i/Black Sapphire Metallic/Black SensaTec
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09-03-2010, 08:34 PM	#59
BTM Banned 483 Rep 10,309 Posts Drives: A///MERICAN!!! Join Date: Mar 2010 Location: A///MERICA!!! iTrader: (11) Garage List 2007 BMW Z4 M Coupe [7.20]	My complaint is just that they are too shallow - a regular size bottle of water "tips" if you hit the gas with any more vigor than a geriatric...it stays in the cupholder and everything but it gets annoying. Very minor complaint, and wouldn't buy another car over it, but since you asked...
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09-03-2010, 08:44 PM	#60
ENINTY Banned 173 Rep 3,415 Posts Drives: 2006 325i Sport Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	As long as they hold a can of beer, then I'm okay with them. The BMW coffee mugs work great in them, BTW.
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09-04-2010, 12:36 AM	#65
CaliE90 Colonel 354 Rep 2,190 Posts Drives: BMW Join Date: Dec 2008 Location: Worldwide iTrader: (19) Garage List 2021 M550xi [0.00]	My biggest complaint is that regular sized water bottles rattle in the cup holders. It's the most annoying thing ever. __________________ Retired- '14 F10 535i -- 3 2 1 \| '08 E90 335i -- 4 3 2 1 \|
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09-05-2010, 01:09 PM	#66
Professor///M Brigadier General 819 Rep 3,341 Posts Drives: 2022 M3, 2022 X5 40i; Join Date: May 2007 Location: Northeast iTrader: (5) Garage List 2022 BMW M3 Comp. [0.00] 2016 BMW X5 35i [10.00]	The cup launchers are OK. What are they TRULY great for: Snapple bottles - fit perfectly, don't rattle, and have a cap on top. What are they AWFUL for: Starbucks, or almost any Medium or greater coffee cup - starbucks lids don't have the little flange on top so any bump will spit coffee out, and anything larger than a medium will tip with only a little bit of gas. I miss my "can cooler" that was in the center console that you could put a soda can inside and keep it cool using the AC.
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