Interior/Exterior Front Cup Holder Gripes
1st Gear
Joined: May 2008
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
From: Franklin, TN
Drinking and eating and texting and dialing your cell phone while trying to drive is just plain "STUPID" & "dangerous." What the hell happened to paying attention to what you are supposed to be doing (DRIVING) Cars should not even be equipped with _CUP HOLDERS_.
Don't flame me because of this because I have been hit in the rear while sitting at a red light twice in the past five years because idiots were drinking their morning coffee and not paying a dam bit of attention to driving the car at all.
If anyone thinks they can eat a stupid sandwich and drink anything safely while driving down a busy street that are out of touch with reality.
Texting and dialing a cell phone is even worse.
Don't flame me because of this because I have been hit in the rear while sitting at a red light twice in the past five years because idiots were drinking their morning coffee and not paying a dam bit of attention to driving the car at all.
If anyone thinks they can eat a stupid sandwich and drink anything safely while driving down a busy street that are out of touch with reality.
Texting and dialing a cell phone is even worse.
1st Gear
Joined: Jun 2011
Posts: 11
Likes: 0
From: Mississippi
I love, love, love my CM, however, the cup holders are absolutely useless. I usually carry an aluminum water bottle which as a screw on top, so no real problem. I have only had my MINI for a week and I am just smitten with it...don't really give a da** if the cup holders work or not 
. I came out of a store today and someone was taking pictures of it! Never had anyone do that with my Audi
. I came out of a store today and someone was taking pictures of it! Never had anyone do that with my Audi
2nd Gear
Joined: Mar 2011
Posts: 88
Likes: 0
From: Washington
I love when I have a large cup and it actually turns on the heated seats when I put it in the holder LOL However, I do not drink from the cup while driving...it's getting the drink from point A to point B. I have a manual transmission, so that would be pretty difficult!
1st Gear
Joined: Jan 2012
Posts: 14
Likes: 0
My problem is the teeth won't move out of the way to allow me to put something into the cup holder. Like a Coke can. I have to press down with about 20 pounds of force to cram it in. After pulling it out a few times to drink it's dented the da*n can! The top surface of the teeth is almost flat. If they were turned upside down at least they would be angled. It's really my only complaint but it really bugs me. Stupid cupholder!
Is it possible to disassemble the cupholder and remove the springs and/or teeth? Or does the entire console have to be removed to get at it?
Is it possible to disassemble the cupholder and remove the springs and/or teeth? Or does the entire console have to be removed to get at it?
, it is and I have but you do need to remove the center console to get to cup holders and springs. It's been a while since I did the hydrographic's on the console but it's possible.
Had a CMS ALL4 6mt as a loaner the other day...the cup holders aren't as good as what I have in the Clubman...the only beverage I tried was a bottle of Snapple, in the CMS, and it would not fit in the cup holder at all.
Neutral
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
We have the same cup holders in our X5 and I have found them really annoying when toting around my Lifefactory water bottle. The silicone sleeve has holes in it and the cupholder teeth grab onto the holes and I can't get the da*n bottle out of the car. Sort of bummed my new Countryman will have the same issue. Water bottle will have to travel another way.
The armrest definitely flips up, but not sure about any bigger cup holders being offered.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
All I remember being told is that the CM is mostly designed for the US market and a way to grow market share. Seems to me if that were entirely true we would have 20 cup holders that fit non-NYC approved cup sizes.
Hopefully this will work well: http://minifini.com/ShopDetail.aspx?id=73
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, TX
We have the same cup holders in our X5 and I have found them really annoying when toting around my Lifefactory water bottle. The silicone sleeve has holes in it and the cupholder teeth grab onto the holes and I can't get the da*n bottle out of the car. Sort of bummed my new Countryman will have the same issue. Water bottle will have to travel another way.
Neutral
Joined: Jun 2012
Posts: 9
Likes: 0
From: San Francisco
Indeed! However glass ones are hard to come by ;-) Actually I could just remove the sleeve... not sure why that didn't occur to me before LOL.
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
At 40, I am quasi before cup holders. I remember most of the 70's cars having those cheap plastic window sill holders.
My grandmother used to swear the reason all of her grandkids are fat is because of cupholders and drive thru windows. She is probably right.
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, IN
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 723
Likes: 1
From: Connecticut
Where does that Mini-Fini extra cupholder mount? $59 seems like a lot for an accessory like that, but I'm desperate enough for a better cupholder that I'd consider it if I could really see where it went.
2nd Gear
Joined: Oct 2010
Posts: 113
Likes: 0
From: Nashua,NH
Bothersome Cupholders
You guys are all coming up with some pretty solutions to a very annoying problem. If you were to email MINI from the MINIusa.com site they might try to take your words to heart and make some changes. I've seen it happen before. MINI owners and drivers are the best real world for any engineering group. The engineers can "think tank" all they want, but until the product (in this case the car) gets out in the real world, the practical applications don't appear. Let MINI know your thoughts. 
2nd Gear
Joined: Jun 2009
Posts: 132
Likes: 0
From: Frisco, TX
Also - is it reversible, meaning you can remove it and never tell it was there? Or does it require drilling holes or any other modification to the stock interior?
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, IN
I got the MiniFini Countryman Cup-Link today. I'm not sure if I'm going to install it as it requires drilling a hole. It mounts with 3M tape and a screw, I wonder if the 3m tape would be strong enough on it's own?
5th Gear
Joined: Apr 2011
Posts: 659
Likes: 1
From: Kirkland, WA
can you take a picture of it installed, or just sitting there anyways?
2nd Gear
Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 62
Likes: 0
From: Lowell, IN
I finally installed the MiniFini cup holder. I was hesitant to drill into my new CM but I'm glad I did. The only thing I'm not happy with is the appearance of the 3M tape. I might hit it with a Sharpie or something similar.
EDIT: Sorry for the sideways pics!
EDIT: Sorry for the sideways pics!
4th Gear
Joined: Jun 2006
Posts: 526
Likes: 0
From: Keller, TX
I Might just buy one before MITM.