02Anders Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 (edited) Hi everyone, My 330Ci doesn't have any cupholders, and frankly it's driving me up the wall! Grasping a hot Costa's in my right hand as I'm hooning it through some twisty back roads, blipping the throttle and whacking it up and down through 2nd and 3rd just isn't working it for me. It usually results in scalded nuts... So I walked into my local BMW Parts Pusher and asked for the OEM rear centre console cupholder. However, he advised me that this part was incompatible with the armrest...?!?! Surely not!! Now I can easily see that if I have two large Costa's stood proud in the in-line cupholders, I'll have to accept having the armrest flipped up, thus making the armrest unusable at that time. I'm good with that. But could someone please confirm to me that the OEM cupholder will actually physically fit into the centre console of an E46 with an armrest? Much appreciated... Edited June 15, 2017 by 02Anders Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveNE Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 http://www.realoem.com/bmw/enUS/showparts?id=BN33-USA-02-2002-E46-BMW-325Ci&diagId=51_4470 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02Anders Posted June 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 Yeah, so from your realoem link, I'm looking at purchasing no. 8,9,10 and 11. I get that... But the BMW dealer claims that these parts will only fit in the centre console of a non-armrest E46. I personally find that hard to believe, but was hoping someone on the forum could confirm that they had indeed fitted this cupholder to an E46 with an armrest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lozevans Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 It will fit, the armrest fouls the cupholder when it's in the down position thats all. Search Ebay they're on there for about £25 all in from china. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 02Anders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveNE Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 (edited) yeah thats correct you need 8,9,10.11 and when the armrest is down the rear cup holder is a much use as tits on a bull you will get a can of coke in there. I personally removed mine and went for the sliding tray. as it was a poor fit and cup fell out with spirited driving. BMW also do a cup holder that clips the the for pocket not sure if its any better though. Edited June 15, 2017 by DaveNE 02Anders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02Anders Posted June 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 Thx guys! That was the exact response I was hoping for. Despite the back cupholder being somewhat of a compromise, I'll go order those bits for my 330Ci... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOB_330 Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 I think I will purchase these as well, I really miss having a cup holder especially at times when you could really do with having one. A full can of coke usually ends up being half a can without even drinking it! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avalaugh Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 You only need 8. The sliding tray literally pulls out, then the cup holder pops in. 9,10,11 are for centre console without armrest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk 02Anders 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
BOB_330 Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 25 minutes ago, avalaugh said: You only need 8. The sliding tray literally pulls out, then the cup holder pops in. 9,10,11 are for centre console without armrest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Thanks for the heads up. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
02Anders Posted June 15, 2017 Author Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 27 minutes ago, avalaugh said: You only need 8. The sliding tray literally pulls out, then the cup holder pops in. 9,10,11 are for centre console without armrest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Good to know - thx! So you're definite that the length of the sliding tray is exactly the same as the length of the cupholders? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DaveNE Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 (edited) 30 minutes ago, avalaugh said: You only need 8. The sliding tray literally pulls out, then the cup holder pops in. 9,10,11 are for centre console without armrest. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Sorry dude but you are wrong the sliding tray is the full length of the unit cupholder is not hence why you need other parts. Cup holder ends where my fingers is Edited June 15, 2017 by DaveNE Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
avalaugh Posted June 15, 2017 Report Share Posted June 15, 2017 Ah yes I see, you don't have the coin holder though, so those with the coin holder only need the cup holders. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bennno2005 Posted June 17, 2017 Report Share Posted June 17, 2017 I don't think many know but the cup holder is the perfect fit for a mug. The little groove in the sides is where the handle goes! Sent from my SM-A510F using Tapatalk Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The_Judge_ Posted June 28, 2017 Report Share Posted June 28, 2017 You've probably sorted this but if going from sliding tray you will need cup holders and coin tray: Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ruesta Posted June 29, 2017 Report Share Posted June 29, 2017 On 15/06/2017 at 20:48, avalaugh said: Ah yes I see, you don't have the coin holder though, so those with the coin holder only need the cup holders. Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk This is right. I have a sliding tray but its separate from my coin holder (it ends where DaveNE's finger is above) so can just be swapped with a cup holder if required. BMW stating it wont fit if you have the arm rest is just for 'safety' reasons, as obviously the arm rest could knock over a drink sat in the rear holder. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Claudia cc Posted November 5, 2017 Report Share Posted November 5, 2017 Hello, I'm a little late on this but i also want to get the cup holder... but i have the bluetooth connect button there.. So what would i do with the button? Thanks if anyone has any ideas.. Claudia.. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mex1600 Posted November 8, 2017 Report Share Posted November 8, 2017 I have Bluetooth button in the console which also fitted iPhone 4. Just remove it and you can unplug the Bluetooth under console and replace with cup olders. Bluetooth works fine with pairing button disconnected, if you get new phone just change back to pair new phone and remove again. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
