Well, something broke on my E92

"E90M3" (e90m3)
08/20/2019 at 08:03 • Filed to: unnecessary suffering with E90M3

My cup holder wouldn’t come out of the dash this morning, which is infuriating. Lists of things that don’t work in my E92;

USB/AUX input

Driver’s cup holder

Now, the car still works fine, it’s just these inconveniences that make it annoying. Looks like I’m going to have to figure how to get it out of the dash and clean it. Also need to pull apart my center console and try and fix my USB/AUX input.

DISCUSSION (67)

pip bip - choose Corrour > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:07

your car is worthless, i’ll give you $3

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:09

Try taking a screwdriver wrapped in cloth and prying it out? It could just be that some fizzy drink or something stucky got on it and it got stuck? Might just need to be gently pri ed out and cleaned a bit?

BlueMazda2 - Blesses the rains down in Africa, Purveyor of BMW Individual Arctic Metallic, Merci Twingo > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:12

Well maybe it’s just shy.

E90M3 > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/20/2019 at 08:15

Pretty sure it’s residue that’s causing it to stick. I’m worried if I pry it out with too much force it might break it. Going to wait for my car to bake in the sun a bit and then I’m going to try and gently pry it out.

Spanfeller is a twat > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:27

Is it a sticky residue?

RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:29

It looks like one of those ‘push to open’ ones?

I’d say push it in as you usually would do, then try gently prying it out once you’ve already pushed in...? As long as you don’t use too much force on it, it should be ok, I’d imagine.

Apparently that entire trim piece surrounding both cupholders simply snaps off pretty easily (4 clips?) and you can remove the entire cupholder for better cleaning, etc. Looks like an easy job. :)

Nibby > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:35

looks like it’s suffering from ejectile dysfunction

ttyymmnn > RallyDarkstrike - Fan of 2-cyl FIATs, Eastern Bloc & Kei cars
08/20/2019 at 08:37

I never knew that you could convert an AK-47 magazine into a cup holder.

WilliamsSW > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:39

Welp, time to get rid of it then!

This should be a pretty easy fix, I’d think.

SilentButNotReallyDeadly...killed by G/O Media > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:41

Perhaps if you weren’t so pushy...try stroking it instead. Whilst uttering sexy German words....

HoustonRunner > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:49

Seems equally useful in that position as when it is out.

Arch Duke Maxyenko, Shit Talk Extraordinaire > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:51

Quit jacking off in your car

CalzoneGolem > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 08:57

You should s quirt a degreaser in there.

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:14

First world problems at its finest

E90M3 > ttyymmnn
08/20/2019 at 09:22

I was literally just talking about that with my coworker.

E90M3 > WilliamsSW
08/20/2019 at 09:23

Looks like the spring might be the culprit. I was able to pry it open, but it doesn’t seem to have any spring force behind it. It looks like it’s pretty easy to change, so I’m probably going to that.

E90M3 > HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute
08/20/2019 at 09:24

A bigger first would problem would be having to drive the M3 because I wanted to drink coffee in my car and the cup holder in the 328i is broken.

E90M3 > Spanfeller is a twat
08/20/2019 at 09:25

I thought that at first, but I was able to pry it open and it seems the spring has broken.

E90M3 > HoustonRunner
08/20/2019 at 09:25

It’s not the worst thing ever.

TorqueToYield > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:29

Germans don’t want you having any drinks while driving anyway.

https://jalopnik.com/porsche-america-sent-soda-cups-to-germany-and-told-them-5927762

CofDeath > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:34

I had the same problem with my 335i. Turned out the plastic piece holding the spring broke off. Just zip tied it back together. To get it out you just need to remove the plastic trim around it, and remove the screws holding it in. There are plenty of videos on YouTube that show you what you need to do. Good luck.

E90M3 > CofDeath
08/20/2019 at 09:36

Talking to a coworker, he’s got the trim tool they use at the BMW plant. Looking it at it, it looks super easy to pull the whole assembly out. I was able to pry the cup holder open, so at least I can use it as a cup holder again, even if it being open all the time is going to bother me.

Spanfeller is a twat > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:41

That sucks, but at least its a somewhat universal part you can get at a hardware store and not a piece of broken plastic

ttyymmnn > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:43

I do find it interesting that there is so much engineering involved in what seems like a simple cup holder. The housing is significantly larger than I would have expected.

Spanfeller is a twat > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:45

Please tell me you did just that

HondoyotaE38: A Japanese and German Collab...wait a minute > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:45

Shit sux, life is much hard

E90M3 > Spanfeller is a twat
08/20/2019 at 09:46

I wish, but I was already in the 328i this morning and I wasn’t about to run back to my apartment and get the keys to the M3. I just put my coffee in the passenger cup holder.

E90M3 > Spanfeller is a twat
08/20/2019 at 09:46

I think I’m going to have to make a junkyard trip soon and see if I can get a decent replacement there.

Textured Soy Protein > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 09:55

I had to replace mine . There’s one plastic trim piece that surrounds both cup holders. I popped it off with a Harbor Freight trim tool. From there each cup holder is held to the dash with a couple screws. In my case the spring that pops the cup holder out was sproinged so I just bought a replacement non-OEM cup holder on eBay for like 30 bucks, which, whatever. There’s also a trick to take apart the cup holder and fix the sproingy thing you can try before buying a replacement.

DrRocks0 > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 10:00

Same on my 335D. This should match yours with the little trim thing.

https://www.fcpeuro.com/products/bmw-schwarz-cup-holder-left-51459173463

E90M3 > DrRocks0
08/20/2019 at 10:02

Appreciate it. Might try and find one in the junkyard first, although it might be better to just replace it.

Spanfeller is a twat > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 10:09

So it isn’t a universal part...

E90M3 > Spanfeller is a twat
08/20/2019 at 10:14

Don’t think so.

WilliamsSW > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 11:13

Nice!!

Did you see the E39 M5 that Tripper posted from BAT?

It’s Nardo Grey. Originally OXFORD GREEN.

I want to go slap the seller silly.

Gerry197 > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 11:17

That list will grow, but usually simple fixes. Some harder stuff my Indy shop can handle.

E90M3 > WilliamsSW
08/20/2019 at 11:20

I did, what a shame.

bigboneded > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 11:24

Super easy fix. I bought the replacement cup-holder, looked up a video, and had it replaced within a couple of minutes.

My leaky valve cover gasket is going to take a little longer.

E90M3 > bigboneded
08/20/2019 at 11:36

Yeah, it doesn’t look that bad at all.

I had the dealer do mine, it was just easier that way. Since I live in an apartment.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 11:46

I’ve never trusted a cupholder that wasn’t a circular crater with tall walls. So I’ve never trusted a German cupholder.

Also if you don’t have BT audio then losing USB/Aux would drive me nuts. guess you could fall back to burning mp3 CDs. I’ve done that before. Wait, do you have BT?

Gerry197 > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 11:52

Usually that one closer to the middle of the dash is stuck open, first time I’ve seen one that couldn’t come out. I know some E90 owners who would love to have theirs stuck closed (if it had to be broken), but you actually use yours.

Funny how that works out. People who have theirs broken open don’t use them and people who want to use them can’t open them :) I will admit, on my long canyon drive yesterday, my broken open cup holder was really convenient for the cup of strawberry fanta I was enjoying.

My manual E90 has almost 200,000 miles now, long commute miles mixed w/ some hard driving. No major issues, though I replaced my water pump every 100k miles along with the expansion tank as recommended precaution. It’s going to be due again soon.

E90M3 > Gerry197
08/20/2019 at 12:24

I got it to come out with a little persuasion. I think the spring that pushes it out is done for. I’ve got 81k on it right now and the water pump has been on my mind.

E90M3 > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/20/2019 at 12:26

The 2009s didn’t have BT audio, just BT for phone calls. It’s really annoying. I’ve gotten around this by putting music onto the HD in the car. It’s not idea, but it’s not that bad.

Blacktop.e92 > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 12:29

All you have to do it’s pop the trim piece off around the cup holder then unscrew the two screws and the whole assembly will slide out for you to clean.

Stephen T > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 12:36

Common issue and relatively easy fix. Pry off the matte black trim piece that surrounds the two cup holders; that gives you access to the two screws holding the cup holder assembly in place. Remove those screws and remove the whole cupholder assembly from the car and take it to a workbench or table. Using some prying tools, you should be able to open the assembly up and see how the plastic bits that anchor the spring winding mechanism have broken. You just need to find a way to re-anchor those parts — I was able to do it with a small ziptie. To get a lay of the land and see how it’s taken apart and reassembled, YouTube University is helpful. Good luck.

Prediction: your A/C vent directional adjustment sliders will break next.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 12:39

Oh, I forgot it has an inbuilt HD in it, that’s kinda handy. My Honda only has BT for phone calls as well - but get this, if you make a phone call via BT in the car while audio is playing on the phone, the music audio comes through until you hang up.

Gerry197 > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 12:40

Cool! As the videos you have seen posted, it’s really easy to access and then open up for repairs. I’m just too lazy to fix mine and I use it from time to time now. I don’t dare use the one on the passenger side in case that one breaks.

You are getting close, I would wait until about 90K - 100K before you replace it along with the thermostat, housing & possibly the expansion tank. But should be good for another 100K after that. If you don’t plan on DIY, start looking estimating prices at local Indy shops who have a good reputation.

I have a broken window regulator on my passenger rear I locked closed for now which I will fix next. New set of front tires soon (staggered setup) as well.

I also recommend, if you have some oil weepage, to use Mobil 1 5W-30 high mileage oil. It’s not BMW approved, but if you plan on 5,000 mile oil changes, then it doesn’t matter. It fill fix most small oil weeps within the 2nd oil change. It’s the same oil I used to fix a rear main seal on my 27 year old ranger and lower oil seals on our ZJ Jeep. It’s like regular M1 synthetic but has conditioners to help make seals supple again.

MachtSchnell > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 12:52

Plastic card slid under the cup holder will release it. Multiple fixes on YouTube.

MachtSchnell > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/20/2019 at 12:54

BT audio quality is for stone dead ears only. AUX USB HD is so much better.

To upgrade your unit, look at Vehicular DIY and BMW Fanatic on YouTube.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > MachtSchnell
08/20/2019 at 13:16

I prefer USB assuming it supports the file formats I like. But my ears are kind of shit, so as long as I can fill the cabin with SOMETHING enjoyable, assu ming your engine note isn’t cutting it for you.

Svend > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 13:19

It’s not broken, it’s correcting you.

“you do nat drink in ze car you American, you drink out ov ze car. Ze car is for drivink. Weez spent zo much timez making dis car for drivink experience and you want to drink coffee and cola. No, NO MORE, YOU STAP NOW!!!”

87bay > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 14:47

Been there, done that on my 335. The spring is actually a wound up clock spring. I do remember fooling with it some, but whether it was the spring or the plastic attachment point, it wasn’t going to reconnect. The trim piece comes off with a fabric wrapped screwdriver or credit card, cupholder unscrews, and replacement is simple. The OEM assembly is actually pretty cheap, so not worth messing with aftermarket or, even worse, used and scuffed or ready to fail .

Now my m3's throttle actuators... That was a different story! ;-)

E90M3 > 87bay
08/20/2019 at 14:50

Which M3?

Eric @ opposite-lock.com > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 15:11

This is why BMWs remind me of GM products.

Chan - Mid-engine with cabin fever > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 15:15

Retractable cup holders are all eventual failures.

Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/20/2019 at 19:42

Does the C7 actually have cupholders?

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Jordan and the Slowrunner, Boomer Intensifies
08/20/2019 at 19:54

yeah, they’re shallow and there’s a middle component that pops out easily.

Kinja'd!!!

That thing right there. A lot of people glue that in as it typically pops out at an inconvenient time.

Chevol > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/20/2019 at 20:26

You have an E90 with 82k and you haven’t done the water pump yet? You love living dangerously I see. My E90 335 went out around 65k and that was pushing it. Hopefully it doesn’t leave you stranded. While you are at it, replace the plastic cool ing parts like the reservoir. Had many 3 series in my time and they all have this common issue with plastic cooling parts.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > Chevol
08/20/2019 at 20:29

Tell E90M3. I drive a Chevy.

DanTheMan > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/20/2019 at 22:00

More importantly, can it play mp3 cds or does it only do the standard 60 mins of music per cd? I honestly never understood why most CD players only played traditional 60 mins and wouldn't allow for the full data storage of mp3 to be played...

Nolaman1970 > E90M3
08/20/2019 at 23:15

Rremove the glove box. That's how I fixed mine. It was binding.

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > DanTheMan
08/21/2019 at 15:31

Well most cd players originally in the past only had to match the Red Book Audio standard, that format only supported 60-80 minutes of audio playtime on a disc or so, depending on the disc being used.

Mp3 decoding is a whole ‘nother set of bits, and it came later after the CD standard was established, so it took time for the CD player makers to adopt.

It did certainly delay any head unit replacements I wanted to do, since I had a load of cheap burnable CDs at home.

my car smells like crayons > E90M3
08/21/2019 at 19:36

2009? You should be prewired for CD Changer. Google “Mr. 12V”. Install involves d isassembling the CDC connector, splicing the power connector, and rerouting the MOST junction (the first two are in the trunk, the last is under the LHS passenger bolster). About 1 hour work and the payoff is BT audio, AUX audio, USB audio, and SD card audio all routed through your CDC option on your factory HU

my car smells like crayons > E90M3
08/21/2019 at 19:41

Your AUX/USB issue is likely your MULF failed in the trunk. Used ones go for about $150. There is also a hub module under the drivers seat where these both run through between the connector and the MULF.

DanTheMan > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/22/2019 at 17:07

Absolutely, but I never understood why car makers were so far behind in adopting the mp3 on CD capability. It’s just common sense to adopt. Who wants to flip through 50 cds?

VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely > DanTheMan
08/22/2019 at 17:35

Well, we all kind of had to back in the day. It would have been extremely nice had they transitioned faster... I’ll never go back now. Digital file media for the win.

DanTheMan > VajazzleMcDildertits - read carefully, respond politely
08/23/2019 at 01:40

Agreed, or just stream everything. I used to spend time making playlists and caring about my specific music, but that's gotten so cumbersome when I can literally say "okay Google, play this specific song" in my car (while android auto is hooked up) and it will play exactly that, then other similar music. Sometimes we take steps forward or backward, and sometimes they're leaps. Smartphones + cars were a major leap! Here's to hoping car manufacturers actually adopt the tech quickly and properly. So far only Audi seems to be doing it correctly/well!

87bay > E90M3
10/20/2019 at 02:33

E92. 2011. Replaced around 100k miles, so not terrible.