Got bored..

[blueapplesoda]

Well, I can't really do much, since I'm waiting for my new lift to come in. So i had a spare forward console or whatever you call it and decided to try and make a cupholder for it...tell me what you think...

Its all ABS plastic. I think the screws are too much...i may revert the 3 larger ones back to black to be simpler.










Ok heres the write up part.




TOOLS:

Hobby knife
files, assorted
sandpaper, 300-500 grit
heatgun
drill
bits, small and large
bench vice (not necessary, but alot easier)
--Need something to clamp to bend 90 degree angles while the plastic is hot
hack saw/pipe cutter


Materials

3.5" ABS water pipe
ABS sheet, preferably 1/8" or thicker
screws of your choice, or epoxy if thats what you fancy


Make Cardboard prototype, tracing the ashtray on a peice of card board and cutting/bending.
--Ok heres the part where you can do one or the other.
----Make the rear end, the part you don't normally see on the ashtray, make it smaller, so when you cut the abs pipe, you don't have to cut in an angle.
----Or you can just copy the shape of the ashtray, but beware that you have to cut the pipes at an angle .


Here is a diagram, that should take you through most of it. the rest is common sense.



I changed the larger screws back to black...Its not so...out of place now.

[Jordan325iC]

Looks good. Might look better with the screws painted black. But the most important thing, how does it work?

[Jand3rson]

Very interesting! I like it a lot, a very good idea!

[bimmer8604]

yea, how much clearence is there to fit a good cup in there? Looks like it would hit the hvac panel.

looks good nonetheless!

Kyle

[Bimmerfanatik]

what these guys said.

if it works good - sign me up. I need a fucking decent cup holder dammit.

[blueapplesoda]

it fits gatorade bottles no prob, and I will NEVARREVARR drink from an open cup in my e30. It won't fit a coffee cup, but most cup sizes do fit. its about 4ish inches deep and 3.5 inches wide...i might be adding some flaps in there to make it nice and snug....i have to test it though, since im a little skeptical of shifting in 3rd (maybe too close?).

I had to cut the console to fit the thing in. notice the part of the console that protrudes into the cupholder in my cardboard prototype? well its gone and i had no correct tools, so i ended up using a hecksaw with horrible results...

[hamann318is]

yea, how much clearence is there to fit a good cup in there? Looks like it would hit the hvac panel.

looks good nonetheless!

Kyle

The E38 has awful front holders. It's located in relatively the same location, and you can't put anything in there. It'll hit the panel, or it'll fall out.

BMWs can't do cup holders. Glad you got something sorted.

[mikeedler]

If it cant hold a big gulp, its not worthy!
j/k, looks pretty cool, always hated that bout the e30.

[CGDoig]

And with sport seats you can't do the ebrake cup jam. Between the seats and ebrake, Its too tight.

[Simon S]

constructive use of boredom there..

[Mot]

And with sport seats you can't do the ebrake cup jam. Between the seats and ebrake, Its too tight.

whatcha talkin bout willis,

I got sport seats and I jam every drink I buy inbetween them and the ebrake console. Unless its something huge, it will fit just fine.

[YAN-3]

bro thats awsome. you can make some serious money off this.

[MrK]

I really commend you on your efforts, but I don't believe in the whole CONCEPT of cupholders in general. The reason Germans can't do cupholders is because they HATE the fact that Americans want them, so they don't put much effort designing something they don't like. Ask most Europeans, and they'll agree that drinks belong OUTSIDE the car. Why not put toaster ovens in cars while you're at it? Besides, cupholders mess up the interior lines of the 95% of cars that don't have round shapes in their dashboards.

But I must admit that as much as I disagree with the idea, you did well. Very good execution.

Just my 0.02

[X2theZ3]

I really commend you on your efforts, but I don't believe in the whole CONCEPT of cupholders in general. The reason Germans can't do cupholders is because they HATE the fact that Americans want them, so they don't put much effort designing something they don't like. Ask most Europeans, and they'll agree that drinks belong OUTSIDE the car. Why not put toaster ovens in cars while you're at it? Besides, cupholders mess up the interior lines of the 95% of cars that don't have round shapes in their dashboards.

But I must admit that as much as I disagree with the idea, you did well. Very good execution.

Just my 0.02

You're not here in america: you wouldn't understand how valuable cup holders are to us yanks. And the reason germans can't do cup holders b/c they dont have the huge fast food/eat on the run industry there like they do here.

[Julien]

e30= driver's car. Fuck cup holders, seriously.





Nice job on yours though.

Julien