Hi all,


After thinking way too much on how I was going to fab and secure a cupholder in my center console or on my vents or on my...whatever, I decided that I'm going to follow Suginami's lead and buy the Fischer brand cupholders. I bought mine like he did from Griot's garage, a really good web retailer for car care products. Great customer service and return policy too.

Griot's somewhat makes a half hearted attempt to rebrand Fischer's cupholder by packaging it up in a plastic bag with their instruction sheet, but it says Fischer on the inside of the cupholder. One other thread mentioned that an ebay seller named netropy sells them as well. On the pricing, Griots was a few bucks more expensive, so the risk of buying from an ebay seller who might not have the same customer service was not enough to *not* buy from griots.

So I attached a few pics for public consumption. Of note, it is very well built and perhaps overengineered. It's really thick plastic and of good quality. There's a spring hinged device that provides inward tension on whatever sized can or cup you put in there and that tension allows the cupholder to have a better fit than most generic cupholders. In one of the pics you will see that I used my thumb to press outwards.

As it is nearly midnight, I could not install it in the door. So for now, I used some double sided tape and installed it sideways (clamshell facing me---its the only way it will fit in my car). I am a morning coffee addict, so I must test this out tomorrow morning I'll post pics of that tomorrow as well as the door install. I am going to remove this from the center console this weekend, but I want to see for myself if its the real deal.

a typical canned soda fits no problem. one thing I use alot is my nalgene 32oz'er. unfortunately, this girthly beast does not fit.

on the pics: i purposely lightened the 2nd and 3rd pics from left because it was so black that you could not see the features/lines of the cupholder.

Attached Thumbnails

         

I took the ashtray and 12V outlet out of the center console (below radio), replaced it with a thin piece of wood, and cut a big ol' hole in it. It's not pretty, but it works well. I just have to be careful of hitting the shifter when grabbing my coffee in the morning. Eventually I'll probably make one out of fiberglass, or re-make the wood so that its a perfect circle (bore saw?), stain it, and include a black cloth pocket to hide the cotton-swab stuffing behind it. I do like that cupholder though, definitely something I wish these cars had.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

The biggest problem I see with that cup holder, bob_98sr5, is that it is not big enough to hold my cup. I leave the house with a very BIG cup of coffee. I hate drinking out of plastic, paper, etc., and the travel mugs don't work for me. I like a cup that I can stick my nose into while drinking coffee. Granted, it is challenging since I'm currently driving my truck (I feel every bump) and while a few spills are common; they haven't occurred on my shirt nor pants on the way to work.

Chad300TDT needs to get his center console cup holder project back on track.

Chad? Are you reading this thread???

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daw_two
Germantown, TN

Links:
Sold last car --- 05/2012 1984 300D Light Ivory, Red interior
Cluster Needles Paint
New Old Stock (NOS) parts

Past:
3/2008 1986 300SDL "Coda"
04/2010 1965 190D(c) "Ben"
& many more

Yes. I'm starting back on them this week actually. I'll update my thread when I'm ready to start shipping them to everyone.

Thanks for your tolerance and patience.

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Chad
2006 Nissan Pathfinder LE
1998 Acura 3.0 CL
OBK#44
"Pleasure in the job puts perfection in the work." - Aristotle (384-322 B.C.)

SOLD
1985 300TD - Red Dragon
1986 300SDL - Coda
1991 - 300TE
1995 - E320
1985 300CD - Gladys

I ended up with something similar...

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg

This thread sparked my imagination! I think I'm going to try a small cupholder up by the radio, as I have it now. I'm decent with forming plastics, so I was thinking perhaps I could sandwich some wood laminate (If I can find a similar color) between two sheets of plexiglass/lexan and form it to fit in that little dish/ashtray curved area between the shifter and radio. The designs I see with that other guy making an entire CC insert and yours Chad (from what I gather, my workplace blocks externally hosted images) I would have a problem putting my cups in the tray since I like to use the armrest and keep other stuff in the tray. I feel as though it would be more logical, just harder, to put in a cupholder where the console bends. I think it may limit the width of the cup that will fit with the curve. I'll see what I can do, it will definitely take a few weeks to figure it all out and trial-and-error it.

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TC
Current stable:
- 2004 Mazda RALLYWANKEL
- 2007 Saturn sky redline
- 2004 Explorer...under surgery.

Past: 135i, GTI, 300E, 300SD, 300SD, Stealth

What happened to our previous cup holder mfg? David?

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1977 300d 70k--sold 08
1985 300TD 185k+
1984 307d 126k--sold 8/03
1985 409d 65k--sold 06
1984 300SD 315k--daughter's car
1979 300SD 122k--sold 2/11
1999 Fuso FG Expedition Camper
1993 GMC Sierra 6.5 TD 4x4
1982 Bluebird Wanderlodge CAT 3208--Sold 2/13

Where did you get those? I need one for my passenger side. The dealer had one for sale a few years ago and I bought it. Now I want a second one.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

http://www.drinkholders.com/

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg

$40.00! For a cupholder? Seems a little steep.

If you're at the pick & pull, those VW Eurovans have the same type in the back

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1981 300TD "The Green Lantern"
1980 300TD
1983 300D Euro "China Cat"

I agree. I think I gave the dealer $20 for mine.

No salvage yards in my area that let you roam the yards. There is one big one here, but they don't let anyone except employees in the yard. Strange operation they have there.

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1987 300TD 309, xxx 2.8.2014 10,000 mile OCI


Be careful of the toes you step on today, as they may be connected to the ass you have to kiss tomorrow. anonymous

“Be who you are and say what you feel, because those who mind don’t matter, and those who matter won’t mind.” Dr. Seuss

www.ultimatecupholder.com has those Fischer units for $15 a pop.

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http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7271/7...144c3fc1dc.jpg

I was looking for one to match the palomino interior...

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1985 300D cali 190K

http://mercedes.thatchermathias.com/mw300d.jpg

my temporary cupholder location in the center console today worked well to hold my medium sized coffee. its not a bad location, but i do like to use my armrest, so this place is a no-go as a permanent spot.

matthew: great looking cupholder. I can see why they charge $40 for the custom upholstery look. I know i'm going to be painting mine soon with some SEM paint that i bought this week (pending delivery). it sticks out like a sore thumb if its not color matched, imho

daw: ok man, thats a huge drink you carry around! i dont think they make a cupholder that big but i was a little dissapointed that this fischer cant accomodate my 32oz nalgene. oh well. as long as it can handle a 32oz drink from any fast food restaurant, i'm fine.

i'm going to wait to install these on the doors after i paint them, so i'll post up the pics after that's all done.

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1984 300D Light Blue/Blue
2006 C280 Silver/Black