1st Gen R53 Cooper S Installing OEM front cupholder?

Discussion in '1st Generation: 2002–06 R50, R53 & 2004–08 R52' started by Perfusion, Jun 25, 2009.

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  1. Perfusion

    Perfusion New Member

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    #1 Perfusion, Jun 25, 2009
    When I purchased my cabrio last month, it was without the front cupholder that mounts to the downtube. The attachment plate is there - just not the actual holder for cups. I was able to source a NOS part from a fellow member, and so I set out a couple nights ago to install it.

    I opened my glovebox and removed the 2 Torx (T25, I believe?) fasteners holding the mounting plate to the downtube. Much to my surprise, the entire downtube was loosened while the mounting plate was still hanging on tightly!

    I looked at the back of the new part I want to install, and I see where it has 2 very small pieces of double-sided tape at the very top. It feels like there's much more than just those 2 holding my current piece on. Can anyone who has removed and/or re-installed this part chime in with some helpful hints on how I should best proceed?

    Many thanks!
     
  2. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #2 BlimeyCabrio, Jun 25, 2009
    It's just the tape - it can hold VERY tightly. Heat it up with a hair dryer and then use a plastic panel pry tool and it will pop off... or you may be able to just remove the other parts from the one you have and swap them - I don't recall how they attach but it should be obvious when you're holding the new one.

    Personally, I couldn't get that thing off my downtube fast enough... first thing I did when my car got home. I put MiniFini's on instead - much more functional and less ugly... now I'm using custom cupholders I fabbed out of black PVC pipe and caps that plug into the small OEM holders and expand/extend them to a similar size and position as the MiniFini, but are quickly removable.
     
  3. Nathan

    Nathan Founder

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    #3 Nathan, Jun 25, 2009
    Fishing line helps too. Use it to cut the tape.

    Dental Floss works too but frays
     
  4. Deviant

    Deviant Banned

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    #4 Deviant, Jun 25, 2009
    The wire frame cupholder part itself just sits in the holes in the top and bottom, if the mounting plate's still there and you don't feel like dealing with the tape just transfer that part to your existing plate.
     
  5. irieman

    irieman New Member

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    #5 irieman, Jun 25, 2009

    Oooh.... sounds neato! Photos?
     
  6. BlimeyCabrio

    BlimeyCabrio Oscar Goldman of MINIs
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    #6 BlimeyCabrio, Jun 25, 2009
    Yeah, I gotta do a writeup on my blog - stay tuned.
     
  7. Perfusion

    Perfusion New Member

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    #7 Perfusion, Jun 25, 2009
    Good suggestion - thanks!
     
  8. Perfusion

    Perfusion New Member

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    #8 Perfusion, Jun 30, 2009
    FWIW, I went with this route, and it worked out perfectly. No muss, no fuss - just a functional cupholder now that doesn't interfere with the shifter and can double as an iPhone holster. :idea:
     

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