I got the manual A/C controls...much better IMO and simpler functionality.

 

At first I took mine off. My wife couldn't see the radio display from the passenger seat. It's easy to put back on when I have one of those megasized cups of coffee. But usually I leave it off. Then I found it to be a really good place to put one of those MP3 players and an FM radio transmitter. So in the absence of an AUX input, I can put an external music device there. When my wife is with me, I take the cupholder off (without removing the mounting bracket.

It's a nice to have item though not absolutely necessary.

If you're autocrossing, with it removed, you save less than a pound. Should be good for an extra .001 sec.

 

I love my cupholder..... It is great for holding things other than drinks.

Donna
02' CR/W MCS (gone to MINI heaven)
05' Cool Blue MCSC "Ariel"

 

Uh... You know, that does work... Just leave it in the center and everything is accessable... Guess I'll keep mine on for a while. It was holding my digital camera on today's run...

 

I think we need to hijack this thread with some legitimate complaints.

Like that dang glovebox!!!!!! Why is it always so cold in there! And why is there a hollow space in the center! And those two indentations...they better not be cupholders or I'm gonna go mental!

Arrrrgh!

:smile:

 

The glovebox is air conditioned. I'm not sure but that hollow space you're talking about may be where the cool air comes in. If so, I believe it can be closed if you don't want the A/C to cool the glovebox.

 

It's not so bad. I think the cup holder looks good and has more than 1 use. I use mine to hold my cell phone! I can't help but get a little extra thristy sometimes so a big gulp or slurpie fit great in the cup holder too :smile:

 

err, myob....

tired of spilled coffee in my interior.

with as much thought that was put into the car its amazing/ironic that such a minor detail wasn't resolved

 

I can't even talk about those "indentions" being possible cupholders, including the MINI Fini they are talking about on this thread there would be more "cupholders" than passengers most of the time!

 

HAAHAAHAA I laughed when I read your post, mental!

I had forgotten about the two cup-holder spots inside the glove box! That makes a total of SIX CUP HOLDERS in a car with little more than a two-person seating capacity! (Two little ones at the front of the console, one between the front seats, two indentations inside the glove box, and the big one on the downtube--that's six!).

Right above the slot for sunglasses inside the glove box is a little clip for a ball-point pen. That's a nice detail! The only problem, though is the official MINI pens are all too thick to snap into the standard Bic-sized pen slot. There's a pen slot inside the owner's manual portfolio, too.

Also, the sole, official purpose for the dial that lets you heat or cool the glove box is to enable you to cool drinks or candy bars, etc. or keep a sandwich warm. That's the only reason this was incorporated into the design of the glove box. So much for the European notion that a car is a deprivation zone for driving impulses only.

And a side note about the climate control for the glove box--I drove my first week with the car without realizing I was heating my IPOD. When I finally went to take it out, I remember noticing how warm it was...then the lightbulb went off in my head, and I discovered the dealership who installed my IPOD adaptor didn't shut the glove box temperature dial!

 

Basically nothing but gripe here. Anything else involves pain.

Anyway, I don't think my MINI and its "cupholders", I use the term loosely, were designed by the same entity. Think about it.

1. MINI - to be DRIVEN, turned, slammed to a halt, accelerated like a spotted ape, and meant, at least in some cases for middle aged men to drive like they were kids again.

2. Cup holders - meant to CONTAIN both the cup and its entire contents until such time as the middle aged owner, or his assorted offspring and passengers decide to take a drink.

Of course, performing ANY of the actions listed in 1., will guarantee the failure of 2. And of couse if there is any "cupholder" available it MUST be used, which further guarantees the failure of 2. So we all ride around with coffee and diet coke on our leather seats and in our floor mats wondering if we won't really be able to PERFORM at the next stop light or twisty or when some kid in a saturn thinks he is man enough to challenge us!!!!!

"Oh, I can't right now....my cappucino mocha latte might spill! And you kids in the back HUSH! Daddy's having a moment of intense inferiority!!!

f#%^$^ cupholders.

sulk, sulk.

 

^^^ Great post

When I ordered my MCS one of the first things I aquired about was that monstrosity they called a cup holder. Its like having a 3rd person up front with you!!! I'm bringing some tools with me to remove it before I take posession of my MCS

 

My 03 came with a MINIFINI cup holder. I like it a lot. Looks fine to me, holds a big cup..or my cell phone, change or whatever. It doesn't get in the way of anything and I'd miss it if it broke. I suppose if it does break I can just mention it here and have lots of free one's sent to me?

 

Such controversy over 13oz of metal and rubber. Youse guys are so silly.....


Oh, um, I mean us guys....

 

LOL I just came back to this thread--I was just kidding about the glove box comment but I ended up with some useful education. It's funny I am poking fun at us for griping about cup holders but I am forced to sell my old Saab 9-3 because my wife won't accept it. She admiits it is a better car and newer and cleaner than her Camry but...the cupholders in the Saab suck.

Everyone has their priorities...mine of course is a climate controlled glove box...

 

Umm, I glanced through this thread and I don't think I saw it mentioned but...

Didn't MINI catch a ton of flak from owners complaining about the cupholders being too small in the first batch of Coopers? I think it went as far as to compromise the car's ratings. They had to go make a specially designed mug and give it to their customers because of it.

Now, 3 years later, they give people bigger cup holders anddddd... complaints!

They just can't get it right can they!? I guess that's why they made it so easily removable.

I guess it gives me a sense of comfort when it's only small issues like this that draw a lot of criticism. Means there's less problems in the important areas!

 

I can't decide if I like the cupholder or not. It is handy, but really it just doesn't match the rest of the interior. Mine will probably be removed soon.

 

I hate dealing with you drama queens. You all need to just stay in bed all day that way nothing will ever bother you.

I took my cup holder off during delivery and sold it here for $50 the next day. Wow, that was really hard.

 

If the cupholder is a mole, it sure isn't one from Cindy Crawford!!! It's one off the back of your elementary school janitor... a big mottled black mole, about 2 inches across, with a half a dozen long hairs sprouting from it... something that would make a dermatologist run away in horror, screaming like a little girl! :smile:

 

 

I've been having the same thought for the nearly three weeks I've owned the car. I keep thinking I'll remove it. But I keep using it for stuff: phone, wallet, even an occasional bottle of water.

It's everything everyone has said about it! I hate it! I'm gonna take the darn ugly thing out... really, I am. Just not today, maybe tomorrow, before next week for sure.

 

The first step is ADMITTING you have a problem. Say - "My name is kaelaria, and I HATE MINI cupholders."


Now....Doesn't that feel better.

 

If you will pm me I'll send you my address and you can send me your unwanted cup holder. I'll pay the shipping!

 

I agree, I took the cupholder out of my 05 and put a MINIFINI cup holder in. I thought the 05 cupholder was in your face when you got in the car. The MINIFINI cup holder is down low and out of the way.

 

The cupholder is awful design and engineering. If you twist it towards the center, it spins right into the radio buttons. If you twist it away and have a passenger then it's in their knees. It's not level and the opening is too large. Sure it you put a big gulp in there it will hold but if you put a can or a small drink in there it's like putting it on the dashboard. It'll just bounce around. The center of gravity is also too high so a bump causes a big spill.

I don't know if it's the dealers option or if BMW has a contract with the builder of these things, but it's amazing that someone out there actually choose to put this thing in new minis.