How to remove smartphone cradle base from armrest storage console - XBimmers

X3Bimmer · 08-19-2012, 10:10 AM

Looking for advice on "how to" steps to remove the smartphone cradle base from inside the armrest storage area on our '13 35i X3. By removing this it will free up much more storage space within the armrest console. We will never use the cradle base and the required iphone cradle to integrate our iphones. Thanks for your help.

charlie67 · 08-20-2012, 11:22 AM

Yes I would be interested too. It takes alot of valuable space and I would never have a need for it.

X3Bimmer · 08-21-2012, 08:06 PM

Has anyone removed the cradle base?

vanheiser · 08-23-2012, 04:54 PM

Apparently my 2013 X3 35i didn't have it at all inside the armrest storage space. I'm not sure if its because I asked my sales person to see if he can do something about it and he might have left a note when he ordered the X3. But it is a lot more spacious without the smartphone cradle in there.

X3Bimmer · 08-24-2012, 07:48 AM

Does anyone have access to a BMW Technical Manual that would described how to undertake this?

DonC · 08-25-2012, 05:33 PM

I'll look, just bout it yeaterday and the sales guy installed the cradle.

DonC · 08-25-2012, 10:54 PM

I removed mine by pushing on the arrow point forward - it popped out.

02420X3 · 08-25-2012, 11:01 PM

I think that the OP is talking about what's under the iPhone cradle, not the iPhone cradle.

MattUK · 08-27-2012, 04:50 PM

Bend back hard until you hear a hard crack, then keep pulling until it rips off, then snip the dangling cables so it looks smart

joke.

X3Bimmer · 08-27-2012, 05:28 PM

I'm shocked! Has no one else thought of doing this or actually remove it since it is virtually useless.

Opinion: all it does is take up half the space in the armrest console...

X35D For Me · 08-28-2012, 12:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X3Bimmer

I'm shocked! Has no one else thought of doing this or actually remove it since it is virtually useless.

Opinion: all it does is take up half the space in the armrest console...

Couldn't agree more. Would love to rip mine out too!!

chx437 · 08-28-2012, 12:44 PM

There's a good desciption on the removal of X3 "snap-in-adapter" in the X3 German forum:

http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/ausba...-t3775402.html

.... text is in german but some excellent pictures are included which pretty much describe the whole thing

colson79 · 08-28-2012, 01:00 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by vanheiser

Apparently my 2013 X3 35i didn't have it at all inside the armrest storage space. I'm not sure if its because I asked my sales person to see if he can do something about it and he might have left a note when he ordered the X3. But it is a lot more spacious without the smartphone cradle in there.

You only get the if you order BMW apps.

charlie67 · 08-29-2012, 08:14 AM

I have taken the post from http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/ausba...-t3775402.html as suggested and put it through google translate. Then created a file together with the pictures. This is a basic translation from Google and the advice by the individual on the other forum. I accept no liability for this nor do I endorse it. Hope it helps.

plob · 08-29-2012, 02:00 PM

Well done that man

I think I'll give this a try in the next few days - if it stops raining long enough that I don't have to swim to my car

X3Bimmer · 08-29-2012, 05:45 PM

Thanks chx437 and charlie67. What you provided is what I was looking for...cheers

X3Bimmer · 09-15-2012, 04:16 PM

Took care of this today. Easy project...thanks for the input.

DingDingDao · 09-23-2012, 04:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by X3Bimmer

Took care of this today. Easy project...thanks for the input.

I'm going to give this a shot as well. Any pointers?

X3Bimmer · 09-23-2012, 07:21 AM

I just printed off the pdf pic's and it was straight forward without any surprises. Definatly worth it as we now have extra storage and the cradle base was useless for us...

charlie67 · 09-23-2012, 08:21 AM

I found step 9 fiddly. The back of the cover hooks on, but actually I dont think you need to take it right off, as all you are doing is releasing the board and slidding that out.

Also I used the cogs that help rotate the cradle and put then in from the inside at the end to cover their holes.

Other than that it was quite straight forward as long as you have a size 10 and 20 Torx bit. Just take your time. Its a huge improvement.

DingDingDao · 09-23-2012, 06:38 PM

Thanks for the tips. Definitely don't need the cradle either, since BMW doesn't seem to love my Galaxy Nexus.

X3Bimmer · 09-27-2012, 10:46 AM

Didn't care for the hole that was taped over so I ordered a new standard storage tray which has the same outputs but no holes or cradle base front support. BMW part #51169184500.

Cheers

08-19-2012, 10:10 AM	#1
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	Looking for advice on "how to" steps to remove the smartphone cradle base from inside the armrest storage area on our '13 35i X3. By removing this it will free up much more storage space within the armrest console. We will never use the cradle base and the required iphone cradle to integrate our iphones. Thanks for your help.
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08-20-2012, 11:22 AM	#2
charlie67 New Member Drives: Porsche, F25 Join Date: May 2012 Location: UK Posts: 23 iTrader: (0)	Yes I would be interested too. It takes alot of valuable space and I would never have a need for it. __________________ F25 X3 xDrive 20d Bluewater, Oyster Nevada Leather, Auto, Prof. Nav, Reversing Camera, DAB, Heated sports seats, etc

08-29-2012, 02:00 PM	#15
plob Private Drives: X3 30d SE Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Deepest, darkest Cheshire Posts: 55 iTrader: (0)	Well done that man I think I'll give this a try in the next few days - if it stops raining long enough that I don't have to swim to my car __________________ BMW X3 (F25) xDrive30d M Sport . . Carbon black . . Oyster leather . . Professional multimedia package . . Access package . . Visibility package . . DAB radio . . Professional speakers . . Sun protection glass . . Variable damper control (VDC) . . Reverse camera with top view . . Front seat heaters . . Black instrument panel embellishers . . Matt aluminium roof rails and window trim . . Panoramic sunroof . .and a partridge in a pear treeeee...

09-23-2012, 08:21 AM	#20
charlie67 New Member Drives: Porsche, F25 Join Date: May 2012 Location: UK Posts: 23 iTrader: (0)	I found step 9 fiddly. The back of the cover hooks on, but actually I dont think you need to take it right off, as all you are doing is releasing the board and slidding that out. Also I used the cogs that help rotate the cradle and put then in from the inside at the end to cover their holes. Other than that it was quite straight forward as long as you have a size 10 and 20 Torx bit. Just take your time. Its a huge improvement. __________________ F25 X3 xDrive 20d Bluewater, Oyster Nevada Leather, Auto, Prof. Nav, Reversing Camera, DAB, Heated sports seats, etc

09-27-2012, 10:46 AM	#22
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	Didn't care for the hole that was taped over so I ordered a new standard storage tray which has the same outputs but no holes or cradle base front support. BMW part #51169184500. Cheers Attached Images Last edited by X3Bimmer; 09-27-2012 at 04:06 PM.

08-21-2012, 08:06 PM	#3
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	Has anyone removed the cradle base?

08-23-2012, 04:54 PM	#4
vanheiser New Member Drives: X3 35i Join Date: May 2012 Location: Vancouver BC Posts: 11 iTrader: (0)	Apparently my 2013 X3 35i didn't have it at all inside the armrest storage space. I'm not sure if its because I asked my sales person to see if he can do something about it and he might have left a note when he ordered the X3. But it is a lot more spacious without the smartphone cradle in there.

08-24-2012, 07:48 AM	#5
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	Does anyone have access to a BMW Technical Manual that would described how to undertake this?

08-25-2012, 05:33 PM	#6
DonC Second Lieutenant Drives: 2013 X3 3.5i M sport, etc Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: near Seattle Posts: 235 iTrader: (0)	I'll look, just bout it yeaterday and the sales guy installed the cradle.

08-25-2012, 10:54 PM	#7
DonC Second Lieutenant Drives: 2013 X3 3.5i M sport, etc Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: near Seattle Posts: 235 iTrader: (0)	I removed mine by pushing on the arrow point forward - it popped out.

08-25-2012, 11:01 PM	#8
02420X3 Lieutenant Drives: 2011 X3 35i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Boston Posts: 546 iTrader: (0)	I think that the OP is talking about what's under the iPhone cradle, not the iPhone cradle.

08-27-2012, 04:50 PM	#9
MattUK Captain Unsensible Drives: 2011 X3 3.0D MSport Join Date: Sep 2011 Location: United Kingdom Posts: 340 iTrader: (0)	Bend back hard until you hear a hard crack, then keep pulling until it rips off, then snip the dangling cables so it looks smart joke.

08-27-2012, 05:28 PM	#10
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	I'm shocked! Has no one else thought of doing this or actually remove it since it is virtually useless. Opinion: all it does is take up half the space in the armrest console...

08-28-2012, 12:44 PM	#12
chx437 New Member Drives: BMW X3(F25) Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Finland Posts: 17 iTrader: (0)	There's a good desciption on the removal of X3 "snap-in-adapter" in the X3 German forum: http://www.motor-talk.de/forum/ausba...-t3775402.html .... text is in german but some excellent pictures are included which pretty much describe the whole thing

08-29-2012, 05:45 PM	#16
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	Thanks chx437 and charlie67. What you provided is what I was looking for...cheers

09-15-2012, 04:16 PM	#17
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	Took care of this today. Easy project...thanks for the input.

09-23-2012, 07:21 AM	#19
X3Bimmer Enlisted Member Drives: '13 X3 35i Join Date: Feb 2012 Location: USA Posts: 49 iTrader: (0)	I just printed off the pdf pic's and it was straight forward without any surprises. Definatly worth it as we now have extra storage and the cradle base was useless for us...

09-23-2012, 06:38 PM	#21
DingDingDao Registered Drives: 2013 X3 28i Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: United States Posts: 3 iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the tips. Definitely don't need the cradle either, since BMW doesn't seem to love my Galaxy Nexus.

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