Just got a 97 740i couple months ago. I need help on one lil thing for now. The rear cupholder is stuck closed. Ive been searching and browsing around but no answers...didnt find anything either at e38.org
Anybody have a pic with this thing open?

just keep puchin on the button and eventually it will open up mine gets stuk from time to time and my son can get it out no proble it takes e forever good luck

Man, I've been punching that stupid thing for a year and half, and I still can't get it to come out.

:rolleyes why, why, why...if you keep messin' wit' it...your gonna get it open...then within the next few weeks its gonna git broken. :shifty


:D Seriously though...its probably stuck from some sweet sticky sugary spill from a while back. You're really better off leaving it sealed shut...especially if you have small children that will be back there...the cup holders in the BMW models during these years are not worth the trouble to use them. They will definitely break and arent that cheap to repair.

You've been warned. :nono :D:stickoutt:D

Mine got stuck a few months ago. You need to take out the seat and remove the 2 phillips screws holding it in place. Once out - take a look at the bottom and you'll see a white plastic arm, very small. That's what sticks and not releasing the assembly.

It is very hard to get to to replace the little arm, specially with my GIANT fingers, so I ended up buying another one from ebay and got it painted black (I was onlya able to find beige, and that came from UK).

Q is right with the "leave it alone" advice. After I tried to fix it, I got it to come out, but it wouldn't stay in afterwards, so I had to replace it - it was sticking out all the time.

Good luck!

I also had a stuck cup holder in back from a spill of Coke. I just sprayed Spray 9 cleaner in around the cup holder to loosen up the sticky evaporated Coke and was able to open the cup holder again. Once is was open you can give it a good cleaning and get it to function properly.

The rear seat is really easy to remove... it just lifts up... that might help.

ditto...rear seat bottom cushion is VERY easy to remove...the illustrations/pics below are from the e32 & e34...but the non-electric rear seats from the e38 are removed the same way.

http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_78_full.jpg http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/7/web/739000-739999/739005_77_full.jpg

Mine's been stuck closed forever also. Glad I read this thread though I think I'll leave it alone. I'd rather have it stuck closed than open.

Honestly...the e38, E39,and e46 (and perhaps the late e36) are the first BMWs with cup/can holders...and they truly came to the camp dragging their feet. And these first attempts at appeasing us Yankees was done half hearted and are some of the worst pieces of uh...engineering I've ever seen on a BMW! :shifty

I don't trust any of these cup/can holders in these early models. Now the ones they have in the new 3/5/6/7/X3/X5/Z4 are a MUCH better design...and can actually hold your drink in place while turning the corner...and can stand up to the rigors of a 2 year old! :rolleyes