I think it is totally ridiculous that regular 12 OZ soda cans don't fit in the cup holders of the R56. They have to be wiggled in and out which is highly annoying. Someone told me that eventually they will loosen up a little - especially if the ash tray piece is left in there for a while. I've had my R56 for a month now but the cup holders haven't loosened at all.

A cup holder is such a basic thing. And I'm talking a regular 12 OZ soda can - nothing huge like the Rock Star energy drink cans (which BTW should also fit if the cup holder is designed right).

So, today when I went grocery shopping, I bought those small 5.5 OZ V8 cans instead of the regular 20 OZ cans and also soda in plastic bottles which are slimmer than the 20 OZ cans.

So, till some crazy creative person can come up with an aftermarket solution for this, I guess I'll just have to change my drinking habits.

 

Take a full can of soda (unopened) and jam it in there and leave it for a week or so. It will loosen up.

 

Its easy to lose that "death grip" rubber if your brave enough to pry the trim ring off and lucky enough to not break the small lips on them. I got rid of mine the day that I sprayed my windshield with Dr. Pepper while prying a 12 ounce can out of its rubber jaws. I haven't had a spill since.

 

Is this something you tried and it worked for you?

 

Yes

 

I actually like the front cupholders for the fact that they grip things. There's no rattling soda can. However, when it comes time to get something out... it requires a little finesse. Use the one in the "rear." It holds much larger things.

 

That was my first gripe with my R56 - even the talls from Starbucks wouldn't fit in there and I'd have to lift the arm rest and put it in the holder under there.

Then I left a grande that I miraculously fit into the holder (sliding it in veeeery carefuly, of course) and suddenly it's loosened up.

 

The solution is easy. Get some 4 foot straws...

 

First gripe...or grip?

 

You shouldn't drink and drive.

http://new.minimania.com/web/AddedFr.../InvDetail.cfm

 

I just pulled the rubber out

 

I had the same problem, I put a styrofoam cup in there and when I tried to get it back out, it cut into the cup and the drink went everywhere. I solved the problem by snipping the rubber with a pair of scissors then pulling it out. Now, no problem.

 

Sounds like one of the first things I need to replace on the interior. Which is fine, as I already have design idea in my head.

 

I'm not sure what kind of 12oz soda will not fit. I have a Pepsi sitting in mine now. Some 20oz soda's will not fit like Coke products and anything with any height obsures functions like seat heaters. In the end, I would give MINI a C- on the new cupholders. However, this is generally nit picking. MINIs are never going to hold a "Big Gulp."

 

The issue is not obstructing the controls, the issue is the cup holders being not wide enough. S,o if ANY 12oz soda can is fitting nicely in your R56 cupholders, you got a collectors edition.

 

Time to switch to redbull and their 8.3oz cans I guess.

 

500ml water bottles and my sunglasses are the only things that will go in my cup holders. As long as I keep the cap on the bottle, the tight grip won't matter. I've had too many accidents with coffee or coke or whatever in other cars.

 

Nor would I want them to.

Red Bull fits rather nicely into the cup holders.

I'll try to find where I bought a little canvas thingy (technical term) that are sort of like pannier bags that hang over the gear shifter and will hold larger water bottles or serve as trash holders.

I think the Germans are being rather nice to accomadate the Amerikan driving style of drinking and driving. When the SO comes with me on a motoring adventure, she knows enough to only bring bottled soda or bottled water. No snacks that are greasy or crumby are allowed, no exceptions. Nothing chocolate for sure, unless they are bite sized pieces, but even then they are not great.

 

I just buy the plastic bottle drinks, makes life easier

 

I agree the cup holders are aweful.

stick a styrofoam cup in there and when you go to pull it out it will cut the buttom of the cup off like razor blades.

plastic bottles get stuck too, you have to twist and pull and then it pops out unexpectedly.

never though it would be hard to design a decent cup holder, plenty of great examples out there.

at least we have cup holders lol.

 

I believe this type of complaint led to bad reviews by Consumer Reports
when the R53 first came out.
Doesn't bother me.

 

Consumer Reports doesn't reject cars because of size of cup holders.

 

I was recalling posts like this from Sept 2002:
http://www.mini2.com/forum/mini-medi...02-cooper.html

 

Your MINI will make you healthier. It's rather sweet, really.

 

I don't allow food in any of my cars so the size of the cupholders don't really matter to me. Unless I'm on a long road trip. Then I might have a problem.