M Roadster Cup holder/center console

[jaysars]

Hi all. I am a new owner of a '99 M Roadster. Overall it is in pretty good condition, but I am just trying to fix a lot of the small interior issues to keep myself sane while driving it. One of these small issues is my cup holder/console behind the shifter. The one in this car appears to have a rectangular compartment with a lid (that is mostly broken) towards the front and then two open cup holders in the back. The cup holders appear to have had a lid at one point, which is MIA.

From my search of the internets, it seems like the back section of the center consoles in these cars look entirely different than mine is set up. It doesn't look like any of the options on realoem.com. Do you guys have photos of what your center consoles look like? Also - were there multiple types of these consoles depending on options packages?

Thanks

[doclip]

Welcome to the forum!
I don't have one myself, and planning to buy one from https://www.leatherz.com/collections...e-storage-base
There are lots of photos there to compare.

[s8ilver]

I find the cup holder portion of the insert mostly useless (blocks your arm while shifting with anything in there), and I've never figured out what the little cubby is used for in front of the cup holder. I use it to store small trim clips and screws as I always seem to have a project or two ongoing.

But, the armrest sure is nice!

IMG_0577.jpg

[jaysars]

Thanks for the info! So it seems like there are a few different options for these storage consoles.

[BimmerBreaker]

OP sounds like you are describing the standard armrest but yours is missing the rear lid. I think they are called the mk1 armrest. Im selling an intact one now, but there are lots of options

[mreloc]

I've tried the leatherz armrest and returned it. I hated the differences in height between the door armrest and the LeatherZ cupholder armrest because when you use both at the same time your shoulders are out of alignment. I much prefer to rest my arm by the ebrake handle.

[deni2s]

I'm very happy with LeathzerZ armrest with cupholder and large base (as pictured in earlier post). Bought even original bmw cup for it, as usual cups don't fit right and shifting gears with cup inside is not an issue for me.

[E36ic4Me]

I have the hinged LeatherZ armrest in my 96' and LOVE it! I was so used to not having an armrest that for the first couple of months I had it installed, I never used it. Once I got used to it being there, I absolutely love it. Now I just have to get one for my 98' and I'll be a totally happy little camper!

[Muzz258]

I have looked at the arms rests a couple of times. Can you still get easy access to the electric top buttons at the rear of the consol or does the arm rest get int the way?

[dklay]

I've tried the leatherz armrest and returned it. I hated the differences in height between the door armrest and the LeatherZ cupholder armrest because when you use both at the same time your shoulders are out of alignment. I much prefer to rest my arm by the ebrake handle.

Ditto ... My car came with a cupholder w/ LeatherZ armrest installed. I found that the the armrest is too high, and put my should off kilter if I rested my elbow on it (maybe because I'm relatively short at 5'6"??). Hated it (in addition to the fact that the hinge was broken and rattled).

I took it out. Installed a coin holder (from Roadster Solutions - they call it "Storage Partition"). I then took a piece of wood and did some routing so it fit nicely into the remaining space and upholstered it with some black leather a friend gave me from a Honda Pilot center console. It's much lower than the LeatherZ bit and much more comfortable. Looks pretty good too - no cupholder, but the BMW cupholder is close to useless anyway.

[jaysars]

OP sounds like you are describing the standard armrest but yours is missing the rear lid. I think they are called the mk1 armrest. Im selling an intact one now, but there are lots of options

Thanks. I think I am going to look around and see which one will work best. I like the idea of the cup holders in the rear, which seems to limit my options. I may end up hacking mine apart for the time being and see what I can make out of it.

I live in the land of traffic so I don't have much time to worry about resting my arm anyhow.

- - - Updated - - -

Ditto ... My car came with a cupholder w/ LeatherZ armrest installed. I found that the the armrest is too high, and put my should off kilter if I rested my elbow on it (maybe because I'm relatively short at 5'6"??). Hated it (in addition to the fact that the hinge was broken and rattled).

I took it out. Installed a coin holder (from Roadster Solutions - they call it "Storage Partition"). I then took a piece of wood and did some routing so it fit nicely into the remaining space and upholstered it with some black leather a friend gave me from a Honda Pilot center console. It's much lower than the LeatherZ bit and much more comfortable. Looks pretty good too - no cupholder, but the BMW cupholder is close to useless anyway.

I like this set up a lot. I may hijack some of your ingenuity and modify a cup holder into the back of it. I primarily got this car as a commuter so I need somewhere to stash my caffeine in the AM.

Also that EB interior looks really clean! Mine is the same color but looks like it has seen a less privileged life.

[BimmerBreaker]

I have looked at the arms rests a couple of times. Can you still get easy access to the electric top buttons at the rear of the consol or does the arm rest get int the way?

It really doesn't affect the access to the rear buttons in any major way.

Personally, I don't like looks of the armrest, so I deleted it in the M coupe. I have this cassette holder thing I can throw in the empty space to use as an armrest on road trips though, so I don't feel I lost any functionality. I've never found the cupholders to be of much use and I don't drink soda anyways, so I just carry a water bottle or two in the door pocket. Squishes in there nicely.

[dklay]

I like this set up a lot. I may hijack some of your ingenuity and modify a cup holder into the back of it. I primarily got this car as a commuter so I need somewhere to stash my caffeine in the AM.

Also that EB interior looks really clean! Mine is the same color but looks like it has seen a less privileged life.

Thank you. I like this setup also... when I drive the Z to work, I try to jack up on caffeine before leaving the house! The interior IS pretty clean, but you're not seeing the driver's side bolster wear here. And in spite of several Leatherique applications, the leather is definitely lacking in softness.

[jaysars]

Thank you. I like this setup also... when I drive the Z to work, I try to jack up on caffeine before leaving the house! The interior IS pretty clean, but you're not seeing the driver's side bolster wear here. And in spite of several Leatherique applications, the leather is definitely lacking in softness.

My seats are pretty hard too - must just be the way it wears in. I have a handful of little scuffs and marks on the seats and other interior parts that I got some blue shoe polish to try to fill in and "fix". I will be happy if I can just get it all freshened up and get some of the blue back.

[khammack]

This is the one I have and it works well with the cup holders at the rear, but it is no longer made. You may be able to find one on ebay if you like it.

[jaysars]

This is the one I have and it works well with the cup holders at the rear, but it is no longer made. You may be able to find one on ebay if you like it.

I think this is the one I have sans padding on top. My back lid is missing and the front doesn't stay on.

I like the set up of it out of all the ones I've seen. It's just had better days.

[khammack]

The lids are held on with small "O" rings. Roadster Solutions has the add-on leather pads - http://www.roadstersolutions.com/product452.html

You could check with Roadster Solutions and/or Letherz. They both use to sell this type armrest and may have an extra rear lid laying around some place.

Edit:
Just found this link - http://users.belgacom.net/bmw_z3/bmw_z3_accessories.htm

It has a phone number and says call for availability of these armrests (it may just be an old link, but who knows).

And here's one on ebay - http://www.ebay.com/itm/BMW-Z3-OEM-A...wAAOSw5VFWL-27

[JonM]

I've tried the leatherz armrest and returned it. I hated the differences in height between the door armrest and the LeatherZ cupholder armrest because when you use both at the same time your shoulders are out of alignment. I much prefer to rest my arm by the ebrake handle.

The Mk2 armrest is exactly the same height as the door armrest. It puts your shoulders and elbows perfectly level.

[DBWard]

The Mk2 armrest is exactly the same height as the door armrest. It puts your shoulders and elbows perfectly level.

True that. Love my MK2 armrest!

[MartyBtoo]

True that. Love my MK2 armrest!

+1. and if you get his pads for the door then your left arm won't go to sleep from being on the hard plastic.

Marty

[MrDangles]

My car came with a leather z armrest. It's a pos. I hate it. The front cup holder doesn't hold any beverage I've tried to put in it.

[DBWard]

+1. and if you get his pads for the door then your left arm won't go to sleep from being on the hard plastic. Marty

Did that too. Shadooobeeee!

[s8ilver]

My car came with a leather z armrest. It's a pos. I hate it. The front cup holder doesn't hold any beverage I've tried to put in it.

The armrest is a POS or the cup holder? The cup holder is by BMW, not LeatherZ. I too hate the cup holder, but it does fit a Redbull can nicely (I quit drinking that stuff years ago but broke down out of necessity on my 1100 mile journey home when I bought my car). I'm going to retrofit my cup holder with my TPMS display or another gauge.

[MrDangles]

The armrest is a POS or the cup holder? The cup holder is by BMW, not LeatherZ. I too hate the cup holder, but it does fit a Redbull can nicely (I quit drinking that stuff years ago but broke down out of necessity on my 1100 mile journey home when I bought my car). I'm going to retrofit my cup holder with my TPMS display or another gauge.

I hate the cup holder. It doesn't hold poop. I don't drink red bull but I can see that fitting in there. But any normal drink doesn't fit. Not sure what it was meant to hold. Did cups grow in the last 15 years?

[BimmerBreaker]

European style cups/soda cans are differently shaped, they are give or take red bull can shaped