Cup holder placement - XBimmers

Hawkshaw · 05-05-2011, 09:53 AM

OK, so maybe I'm just getting nitpicky now, but I took a short road trip (1.5 hours each way) on Monday to visit a client. This was my first road trip in the X3. I had a drink in the driver side cupholder, but at least twice when I was prying it out of the holder my wrist or forearm hit the button to disengage the stability control which subsequently turned off cruise control and immediately began to slow the car. Grrrr.

So, I put the drink in the passenger side cupholder. Then I went to reach around the gear shift to pick up the drink and my wrist or forearm bumped the gear shifter into manual shift mode. Grrrr.

I need to either not drink in the car or get smaller wrists / forearms.

Harplayr · 05-05-2011, 09:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hawkshaw

OK, so maybe I'm just getting nitpicky now, but I took a short road trip (1.5 hours each way) on Monday to visit a client. This was my first road trip in the X3. I had a drink in the driver side cupholder, but at least twice when I was prying it out of the holder my wrist or forearm hit the button to disengage the stability control which subsequently turned off cruise control and immediately began to slow the car. Grrrr.

So, I put the drink in the passenger side cupholder. Then I went to reach around the gear shift to pick up the drink and my wrist or forearm bumped the gear shifter into manual shift mode. Grrrr.

I need to either not drink in the car or get smaller wrists / forearms.

Or a long curley straw.

MrsAdams2007 · 05-05-2011, 10:09 AM

I have wondered about the placement of those! ACK! Not good! Curly straw sounds like the plan!

tuco44 · 05-05-2011, 10:22 AM

Quit drinking in the car......easy solution.

BMWs used to be about driving pleasure, not drinking, phoning, texting, music libraries, etc, etc, etc..........maybe I'm just getting old......

Radioactive · 05-05-2011, 10:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by tuco44

BMWs used to be about driving pleasure, not drinking, phoning, texting, music libraries, etc, etc, etc..........maybe I'm just getting old......

+1........I am getting old and birthday on Saturday to remind me of that fact.

TarHeelFan · 05-05-2011, 10:33 AM

A similar issue with changing the gears used to happen at red lights. I'd sort of rest my hand on the gear knob while switching radio stations. The light would turn green and it seemed I had accidentally put the car in PARK because of the bizarre electronic P button. Like anything else, it just takes a bit of training to get right. I am now more aware about the button location.

MrsAdams2007 · 05-05-2011, 10:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TarHeelFan

A similar issue with changing the gears used to happen at red lights. I'd sort of rest my hand on the gear knob while switching radio stations. The light would turn green and it seemed I had accidentally put the car in PARK because of the bizarre electronic P button. Like anything else, it just takes a bit of training to get right. I am now more aware about the button location.

Oh yeah...hadn't even thought of that one! I bet that happens a lot! I'm a stick-shift hand rester too...

I remember when I read that Porsche was putting cup holders in some of their cars and it felt like the end of an era!

pault · 05-05-2011, 11:56 AM

This may not be a popular opinion, but I like the position of the cup holders in my current 3 series, which are in the dash We'll see how I get on with the X3

Hawkshaw · 05-05-2011, 12:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pault

This may not be a popular opinion, but I like the position of the cup holders in my current 3 series, which are in the dash We'll see how I get on with the X3

I went from the E90 as well to the X3. You'll find a lot of familiarity but some subtle, but important, differences.

CdnE90 · 05-05-2011, 02:07 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by pault

This may not be a popular opinion, but I like the position of the cup holders in my current 3 series, which are in the dash We'll see how I get on with the X3

That's funny that you say that. I find the cup holders in my 335 HORRIBLE. They are the right size for a Starbucks, but then since they always leak, they drip coffee all over your passenger.

I'm hoping that the holders in the X3 are better. Actually, anything can be better according to my wife and her coffee-stained pants.

Itchywasabi · 05-05-2011, 02:25 PM

I use this

sfax · 05-05-2011, 02:30 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itchywasabi

I use this

class. Wasn't expecting that!

Max3Factor · 05-05-2011, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itchywasabi

I use this

From your location - your were Bin Ladens plumber?

gareth12468 · 05-05-2011, 02:55 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itchywasabi

I use this

Radioactive · 05-05-2011, 03:08 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Itchywasabi

I use this

Does anybody have a parts number for this? Can I use my Driving Event Gift Certificate?

Does it come in black? Blue might look kinda tacky.

LEDZEP · 05-05-2011, 06:31 PM

Luckily, I don't drink very often in the car except on long trips. I also haven't experienced the cupholders yet, but they seem similarly placed to the X5, which I've never had any problems with.

When the E90 first came out, the "pop out" cupholders were a major source of complaint too... I do prefer the placement in the X3 (I think).

Powerrunner · 05-05-2011, 08:15 PM

I have not found the placement to be a problem at all. Just being cautious about any spillage into the recptical which I think is oddly placed between the two cup holders.

Nahoa · 05-05-2011, 08:40 PM

I like them. Much bettervthan those crazy dashboard pop-outs.

Rajgavoury · 06-19-2011, 04:30 PM

A better position will be if the gearshift was moved to where the cup holders are and the iDrive controls under it and the cup holders next to the passenger seat.

powertech83 · 06-19-2011, 05:09 PM

From aesthetic point of view, i wish they have cover like those in 5 series and X5.
I don't have the car yet, so can't comment on the functionality

Beyu · 06-19-2011, 11:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rajgavoury

A better position will be if the gearshift was moved to where the cup holders are and the iDrive controls under it and the cup holders next to the passenger seat.

My old car was basically positioned like this and I absolutely hated it. By having the cup holders closest to the center compartment and before the gear shifter it made it impossible to shift manually when having a drink in the cupholder, plus the car didn't have paddle shifters.

The only problem I have with the X3's cupholders are that both of the are the same size, I wish one was larger, and the fact that you can't remove the bottom to clean it. Either way it's a major step up from the pop out cupholders in older BMWs.

inamik75 · 06-20-2011, 01:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by powertech83

From aesthetic point of view, i wish they have cover like those in 5 series and X5.

+1

05-05-2011, 09:53 AM	#1
Hawkshaw Major Drives: X3 xDrive28i Join Date: Apr 2006 Location: Fredericton, NB, Canada Posts: 1,013 iTrader: (1) Garage List 2006 330i [0.00]	Cup holder placement OK, so maybe I'm just getting nitpicky now, but I took a short road trip (1.5 hours each way) on Monday to visit a client. This was my first road trip in the X3. I had a drink in the driver side cupholder, but at least twice when I was prying it out of the holder my wrist or forearm hit the button to disengage the stability control which subsequently turned off cruise control and immediately began to slow the car. Grrrr. So, I put the drink in the passenger side cupholder. Then I went to reach around the gear shift to pick up the drink and my wrist or forearm bumped the gear shifter into manual shift mode. Grrrr. I need to either not drink in the car or get smaller wrists / forearms. __________________ Paul
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05-05-2011, 10:22 AM	#4
tuco44 Major Drives: 2012 E82 135i MSport 6MT Join Date: Apr 2007 Location: Western Canada Posts: 1,245 iTrader: (0)	Quit drinking in the car......easy solution. BMWs used to be about driving pleasure, not drinking, phoning, texting, music libraries, etc, etc, etc..........maybe I'm just getting old...... __________________ 2012 135i E82 MSport 6MT Jet Black Previous BMWs - 2012 135i MSport LMB DCT(sold), 2011 X3 35i MSport VR (sold), 2009 M3 Sedan AW (sold), 2008 535xi MSport AW (sold), 2007 328xiT Barbera (sold), plus 11 others in the 70s & 80s. Last edited by tuco44; 05-05-2011 at 11:37 AM.

05-05-2011, 11:56 AM	#8
pault Private First Class Drives: 2011 F25 35i Join Date: Jan 2009 Location: Boston, MA Posts: 192 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW X3 35i [0.00]	This may not be a popular opinion, but I like the position of the cup holders in my current 3 series, which are in the dash We'll see how I get on with the X3 __________________ 2011 F25 35i Space Gray with Black Leather Cold Weather \| Convenience \| Dynamic Handling \| Premium \| Sport Activity \| Technology \| Dynamic Damper Control \| Head-up Display \| Smartphone \| BMW Apps \| Premium hi-fi \| Satellite radio \| Automatic high beams

05-05-2011, 06:31 PM	#16
LEDZEP Lieutenant General Drives: 2009 E70 & 2011 F25 Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Area 51 Posts: 12,277 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 X3 35i M Sport [3.81] 2009 X5 M Sport [0.00] 2007 328xi E90 [0.00] 2006 325xiT E91 [0.00]	Luckily, I don't drink very often in the car except on long trips. I also haven't experienced the cupholders yet, but they seem similarly placed to the X5, which I've never had any problems with. When the E90 first came out, the "pop out" cupholders were a major source of complaint too... I do prefer the placement in the X3 (I think). __________________ I think it is bad luck to be superstitious

05-05-2011, 08:40 PM	#18
Nahoa Lieutenant Colonel Drives: F25 35i Mineral Silver/Black Join Date: May 2008 Location: Virginia Posts: 1,855 iTrader: (0)	I like them. Much bettervthan those crazy dashboard pop-outs. __________________

05-05-2011, 10:09 AM	#3
MrsAdams2007 Private First Class Drives: Ford F450 :D Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Ohio Posts: 179 iTrader: (0)	I have wondered about the placement of those! ACK! Not good! Curly straw sounds like the plan!

05-05-2011, 10:33 AM	#6
TarHeelFan Private Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Mountain View, CA Posts: 53 iTrader: (0)	A similar issue with changing the gears used to happen at red lights. I'd sort of rest my hand on the gear knob while switching radio stations. The light would turn green and it seemed I had accidentally put the car in PARK because of the bizarre electronic P button. Like anything else, it just takes a bit of training to get right. I am now more aware about the button location.

05-05-2011, 02:25 PM	#11
Itchywasabi Private Drives: BMW X3 Join Date: May 2011 Location: Abottabad Posts: 56 iTrader: (0)	I use this

05-05-2011, 08:15 PM	#17
Powerrunner Second Lieutenant Drives: BMW X3 35i 2011 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Naperville Posts: 275 iTrader: (0)	I have not found the placement to be a problem at all. Just being cautious about any spillage into the recptical which I think is oddly placed between the two cup holders.

06-19-2011, 04:30 PM	#19
Rajgavoury Private First Class Drives: X3 28i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Staten Island, NY Posts: 129 iTrader: (0)	A better position will be if the gearshift was moved to where the cup holders are and the iDrive controls under it and the cup holders next to the passenger seat.

06-19-2011, 05:09 PM	#20
powertech83 Private First Class Drives: F25 X3 20d Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Indonesia Posts: 199 iTrader: (0)	From aesthetic point of view, i wish they have cover like those in 5 series and X5. I don't have the car yet, so can't comment on the functionality

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