2002 Cup Holders - lower price - $20 each/$25 for two

[redtop]

redtop,

Keep your sense of humor. I think it is great you are offering something to the crowd. If people think it is too much then it won't sell and you will know. The market will dictate. Keep your sense of humor and personality, it really shows through your writing. Tis is one of the reasons I love the 02 crowd, down to earth.

Thank's for the kind words. I appreciate the encouragement. This is one tough crowd. They drive thirsty, and they're cheap.

I guess I missed what may be Bob's sense of humor. To tell you the truth, I was a little creeped out that he would drill holes in the interior of what appears to be a very nice car to install a cheap cup holder that looks horribly out of place and would be bothersome to use. I guess he was really desperate for a place to rest put his coffee and didn't want to pay the big bucks for the BMW cup holder that was designed for his car.

Below I have attached a link for, what I believe to be, one of those VW Passat cup holders to which Bob referred:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/VW-98-01-B5-Passat-Front-Dash-Cup-Holder-Black-OEM-/270787816826?hash=item3f0c362d7a&item=270787816826&pt=Motors_Car_Truck_Parts_Accessories&vxp=mtr

The cost of the VW cupholder is $35.19 plus $11.00 for shipping. I'm sure it's a bargain for someone who would like to have one. I'll pass. It doesn't appeal to me for several reasons:

1. The cup holder is an in dash design. It is my understanding that you may mount one (or more) of them (above, below, or in) in the location where the ashtray is located on the center console of a stock BMW 2002. I don't want a cup dangling from above the gearshift. I don't want to reach that far to pick up or to put down my drink. It might spill along the way. That would upset the Brits, for sure.

2. I wouldn't trust it to hold a Slurpee or a Big Gulp. It looks kinda flimsy to me.

3. It can't hold a Red Bull. Really, that's no big deal to me because ... I don't drink Red Bull.

4. I won't have room for it. (Remember, I plan to install a radio and front center speaker in the center console.)

5. My clown would look kind of silly hanging from that cup holder. Wait, that may be a good thing.

6. It's a VW part ... Ugh! Really, it just wouldn't be right to put something farfug-foreign in my "ultimate (oops!-we-forgot-to-install-the-cup holders) driving machine."

[BDB]

Im talking about the screw that holds your store bought cupholer to the silver bracket.

Dude relax, its just a critque dont get all butt hurt.

And yes im delirious. It takes most people a few weeks to figure that out. You got it only after reading one post i sent to you. Congrats!

That VW one is not mine. The fischer i installed is extremely sturdy and many folks in the porsche and mbz crowd use it too. Which is where i learned where to source it from.

Anyways best of luck to you. Like others have said youll know if your idea has merit by the number of orders at $25 you get. I applaud your initiative.

[redtop]

Bob,

I'm relaxed. I don't know what "butt hurt" means. Frankly, I'd rather not know.

Thank you for complimenting me on my initiative. All I wanted was a decent cup holder in my BMW. I would have gladly paid $25 bucks for a cup holder I liked ... and that worked well in my car ... instead of going to the trouble of modifying one to suit my needs.

By the way: the "screw" to which you refer, the one that secures the plastic cup holder to the bracket, actually is a pop rivet.

I believe that potential buyers of my cup holders may appreciate knowing how I made them. I'm sure that certain members would prefer to make their own using my design, possibly to "save money."

I'll share with you and the other members how I made them because I believe that there are several members on this forum who would prefer to buy assembled cup holders from me ... for a fair price ... rather than to go to the trouble of making their own using my design.

Here's how I did it:

First, I came up with the idea for the design of the cup holders. It appears that no one else had the same idea.

After that, I purchased or "found" the necessary parts and tools to make the cup holders. I "found" an electric drill in my father's garage. I liberated it. Thanks, Dad.

I purchased drill bits of appropriate size from Home Depot.

I purchased a hand riveter from Home Depot. I had never used one before I designed the cup holders.

I purchased several boxes of rivets (from three different stores - the store clerks were of little help - very frustrating) until I found a rivet of appropriate size. Who knew that there were so many different kinds of rivets?

I purchased brackets of appropriate size at Home Depot. They may be found at Walmart, as well.

I purchased washers from Home Depot.

I purchased plastic cup holders from Fischer Auto Parts. Walmart sells them, too.

I purchased rubber grommets from a local hardware store. Home Depot doesn't carry them. Good luck finding them.

I purchased tin snips from Home Depot.

To make the cup holders:

I cut off excess plastic from the cup holders I had purchased with the tin snips.

l drilled a hole in the bottom of each plastic cup holder with the electric drill.

I riveted a bracket and washers to the bottom of each cup holder with the hand riveter.

I attached a rubber grommet (not seen in the photos) to "stabilize" the cup holder. The rubber grommet prevents horizontal movement of the cup holder to prevent spillage.

There you go! That's how I did it.

They're for sale, folks ... for $24.50 each.

The link to purchase the cup holders on ebay appears below:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300800937696?ssPageName=STRK:MESELX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1558.l2649

[Mikepelly]

Agreed this post is humorous. The photo was taken prior to the radio install. As for clearance issues, there are none. The shift knob is fine and the radio is recessed enough. The cup holders are not that deep and they do not accommodate cups with larger diameter bases. Some asked- why cup holders? That's an easy answer, this is my wife's car and she likes coffee. However I wanted them to look integrated so I covered them with back vinyl similar as the console.

When I return from Vancouver, I'll post an updated photo with the Blaupunkt installed. I charged $75 to those who ordered at Woodley. We measured the space betwwen the side panels for each car....it varied about 1/2"!

[redtop]

Update: I'm still out of town. I plan to return to town either Thursday or Friday to post more pictures of the cup holders. I apologize for the delay.

[redtop]

I'm baaaaaaaack!

I have posted six (6) images of the cup holders ... sans clown.

I took the pictures this evening. They are not the best.

The first two (2) images show a cup holder with a BMW travel mug. This setup is ideal for you coffee drinkers out there.

Please note the bracket which holds the cup holder to the console ... by friction ... and by gravity.

BMW would be proud ...

Pepsi, please ...

It's the real thing ...

Slurpees ...

The pictures have been posted. Whaddaya think? Please don't comment on my photography skills. Remember, I took the photos at night ... while wearing my sunglasses,

I have lowered the price of the cup holders. The cup holders are listed for sale on ebay in an auction format. The ebay auction opens at $20.00 for one cup holder. Using the buy it now option, the price for two (2) cup holders (buy one get one free) is just $25.00 plus shipping. The link to the eBay auction appears below:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300805311322?item=300805311322&viewitem=&vxp=mtr

Members of this site may purchase cup holders from me by contacting me directly. My email address is pauljd37@hotmail.com. Please hit "reply" to let me know how many cup holders you would like to buy.