I hate the cup holder in the countryman. Does anyone know of any after market cup holders that will work on the Countryman. I would like to have one large enough to hold my monster. It would make the morning drive alot easier, if I dont have to hold the can between my legs. Thanks

 

Mini Mania may have one. But not sure if Countryman is different mount than others:

http://new.minimania.com/web/Item/G2.../InvDetail.cfm

 

Sounds like someone in Germany is bragging about something we don't need to know about.

That said, I didn't think they allowed or used cup holders in Germany. Just one of those things that Americans had to have.

 

The cup holders are way too small. With the rail option, it seems that they could offer a larger one for "normal cup sizes". I tried to put a medium drink cup from SteaknShake in my holder, a couple of weeks back. Their cups are styrofoam. What a disaster. As I put the cup in, the little slits that normally push in as the cup slides down, didn't push in and sliced the cup in 3 or 4 spots so that all the liquid gushed out as I lifted the cup back out. I did not force the cup in the holder, either. The little slits just simply didn't push in.

Sigh... MINI ... Please give us a bigger cup holder. It doesn't have to be huge, just a bit more accommodating.

If anyone knows of an option, please share it with me. I want it to hold average medium sized cups or the 24 oz drink bottles that have become so common, in vending machines.

 

Anyone know of a travel mug that will actually fit in the cupholder? My Contigo sport one will not even come close to fitting. Just want to find one that will fit, don't really care what it looks like.

 

I bought one that will fit at Starbucks. That said, they only hold about 6 ounces. Good enough for a swig.

 

OMG..... was just complaining about the cup holders too. I just got my CMS All4 a few days ago and can't figure out why the cup holders don't hold normal size cups? Also, the cup holders are in front of the toggle switches. I have manual transmission and need both hands to drive. Actually had to put the cup between my legs. Not what I prefer doing. :0(((

 

I have one of those travel mugs that is supposed to look like a paper cup:

http://www.amazon.com/Copco-2510-996.../dp/B0032Z7UJE

Fits perfectly in the cup holder and it's a nice travel mug to boot.

 

I can just get my Contigo to fit. It pushes against the toggle switches, but it works. Not sure what size it is, got it at Costco.

 

Okay....will have to look into it. I wonder if WaWa and D & D will allow you to use it to purchase their coffee? Also, I find my water bottles won't fit either. Thanks.

 

Allow? They should give you a discount. Most coffee places do.

I got a MINI cup free from my dealer when we purchased our MCS in 2005. Fits the cup holders in front of shifter on the R53 perfectly. Looks like it will also work with R60 front cupholders.

 

Allow because they sell their own reusable cups.

 

I have also been looking at this issue for months. It appears like the cup holders are double walled, which is why they are so bulky and the inside is so narrow. i have been thinking about several options. either get a extra cup holder for the rail system and trying the cut/grind out the inside to make it larger. Another option is to find a cup with a narrow bottom that fits firm, but flaires out at the top to make it larger, and cut it off somewhere above the rim of the original cup holder. As far as the built in cup holders in front of all the toggles, the only thing i can think of is trying to diegrind around the lip to open up the size. the bottom of the cup may be dangling and the cup would be held in place by the top rim of the cup holder. i just cannot commit yet on cutting anything since its permanent. i would try the rail cup holder first, since it is easily replaced.

 

I hate the fact that they are in front of the the toggles, too. I never put my cups in the driver side cause it blocks access to my window toggle.

This is really a thoughtless effort on Mini to make these things so small and ill placed.

I hope they come out with an accessory for the rails, soon, that holds bigger cups. Maybe I can find an "adapter" of sorts, like suggested, above. Use my rail cup holder and put in a cup that has a small bottom, but enlarged upper area.. then set my cups INSIDE of it.

 

LOL
Reminds me of the old days when I was driving around with a manual 88 325i which had no cup holders. Starbucks and cell phones were starting to become common place at about the same time and one morning I found myself having to downshift for a right hand turn while holding a cup of coffee in one hand and a cell phone in the other. I just dropped the phone so I could complete the turn. I stopped making calls behind the wheel after that, at least until hands free options became available.

 

I walked one of the rail cup holders into starbucks and found one that fits and is good sized. It was a tight fit, repeat shoving finally broke the little springloaded interior holders which makes it much better. Now trying to break the other one. It does seem less in the way if I stick it in the passenger one, as it is tall and button blocking.

 

Probably a decade ago, I recall seeing an ad for a gimbal-mount cupholder milled from aluminum that was pretty slick. It pivoted in both x and y axis to keep just about anything 'upright'. I remember that it wasn't cheap, as I didn't buy one at the time, but have been looking for one in recent times, without success.

I live at the junction of two of the twistiest roads in my area, and I've never met a cupholder that could contain my driving. :devil:

Anyone recall ever seeing anything like what I'm describing? TIA

Cheers,
Tad

 

@Sir Stirling - Check the marine/boat sites, Bass Outdoors, or local boat store. These things are usually sold to people who float like you drive.

 

Do the cupholder's you purchase and click into your rail hold larger cups then the front permanent ones in front of the toggle switches?

 

I was at a mini 101 *** just last week and the service manger brought this up. He said not to use stirofoam cups in cm because they often are gouged by the cup holder grips. He went on to say that the soda will get into the auto trans gate and will cause it to stick. He said that was about a $1200 fix which was not covered by warranty. Just FYI.

 

I have the
OEM cup holder like was in my 2005 cabrio. I bought it from parts when my R56 had substandard cupholders. I transferred it to the R60. Look in my gallery for a picture.

Bill

 

Are you thinking about something like:
http://www.amazon.com/Mount-RAM-B132...sim_sbs_misc_5

or

http://www.sears.com/shc/s/p_10153_1...=SPM2411247301

or (for more money - and imagine it on the center of the speedo)

http://www.amazon.com/SeaSucker-Swin.../dp/B005C6EVN4

or

http://biorelief.com/liquid-caddy-beverage-holder.html

or, in adjustable length,

http://www.1800wheelchair.com/produc...vsfhu=31373835

 

Thank you Sealy & ghamma... that's exactly what I'm talking about, except made of aluminum.

The one I saw looked like it belonged in a speed shop, or came on an Ariel Atom... milled and drilled aluminum, probably sealed bearings, and I wouldn't be surprised if it cost $100.

I couldn't afford it as a student back then, but today, I don't want to settle for the plastic ones. I'd rather buy one once and have it for the next twenty years or so...

Thanks for the (comprehensive!) research and links, and if anyone sees one made of aluminum, please let me know!

Cheers,
Tad

EDIT: Okay, spurred by this thread, I've been doing some research, and I found the company. There's one model still available called the BCS F1... you can search for them on eBay (pretty reasonable at about $25 each), and there's a video on YouTube called 'BCS F1 Containment' that shows how it works (actually has a Monster in it, per the OP). Further research indicates that there may have been a higher-priced version called F2 that was all-aluminum (the F1 is only part aluminum) but it seems the company is out of business, and that there are only F1s in stock in a few places. That's the closest to what I remember... might have to settle for one of the F1... unless I can find an F2!
F2 Image:

 

http://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B001VJ...7977902&sr=8-6

I wonder if this cup holder will work...

 

I also don't like the cup holders. I do hot yoga, and can't put my insulated water bottle in one. About an inch fits in and I'm constantly shoving it back in, especially when I bump it while shifting gears. What's frustrating to me is that if the parking brake didn't take up nearly the entire front rail, a "normal" sized cup holder would have fit there perfectly. I don't know why Mini couldn't have designed a more conventional parking brake handle that is just a rod, and it could have been on the side of the rail. Like I said, the front rail is useless because of the parking brake handle now.