Idea for W124 drink holders - PeachParts Mercedes-Benz Forum

rmasteller · #1 01-06-2003, 03:40 PM

Hello,
Before buying my '94 E420, I was test driving new cars. In the new Mazda 6, the front door map pockets have a bit of a bulge in them near the door hinge. These are extra drink holders for the front seats, in addition to the pair in the center console. Has anyone has seen aftermarket W124 door pockets like this? If not, can anyone here manufacture them? Of course, I would want a % of the profits for the idea!

Robert W. Roe · #2 01-06-2003, 11:02 PM

Sounds like I need to check out the new Mazda 6.

I wish MB put cupholders in the 124's. My stainless travel mug doesn't sit quite level on my console, and the G-forces I create while driving my TE tend to make things slide around quite a bit. I will probably transplant the $3 cupholder (rubber queen brand or something like that) that I bought at Pep Boys for the SD when (and if) I sell said SD.

The only other option I've seen is the screw-into-the-door-skin type that the dealer wants $30 or so for, or the screw (or double-stick tape) -into-the-console type that is about twice that.

rmasteller · #3 01-07-2003, 10:31 AM

Robert,

I can't keep my drinks in the center console because my W124 is a 1994 and has the locking center console box with the folding armrest above it. No room for drink holders there. I don't want to screw them to the door panels either. There's no reason we couldn't mould a door pocket to fit a 12oz can, or even a regular size fast food drink.

Anyway, do you know of anyone who sells aftermarket improvements like different door pockets? Perhaps we could encourage a new product!

I see your W124 is a wagon. The Mazda 6 will come in a wagon form by year's end, I believe. Not to suggest you dump the Mercedes, but I really liked the Mazda. I ended up getting the E420 because I got (paid for) a 3-year Starmark and it was still $3,000 less than the V-6 Mazda, and I even have a Ford supplier's discount plan through my company which had dropped the Mazda price to about $3,500 below sticker.

Robert W. Roe · #4 01-07-2003, 09:11 PM

I guess the designers of the W124 really didn't want us to drink beverages in our cars. Perhaps a compromise is a plastic liter bottle of water on the front seat, when nobody's sitting there

I bought my car in Florida; the 2 liters of water I bought at the Chevron station for $2 got me well over 200 miles that first night with the car

#5 01-09-2003, 09:03 AM

We have the 92 300CE with two drink holders between the seat.. and it works with the arm rest up.. But a real pain to use most of the time.. They fold down nice but you have to close them just so... We live in the high country and most of the roads we drive are one curve after the next for endless miles.. We just go with water bottles.. But unlike our 123 TDT they will not fit beside you next to the door, so where to put them so they do not end up on the floor under your feet is an on going thing.. My wife often says she loves her 124 CE but does wish she had her 123 C back as it was just bigger and had more room for comfort..

Ken

rmasteller · #6 01-09-2003, 04:34 PM

Ken,
Hi. I have a 1994, so I have no glove box. Therefor, MB put a locking console box with "roll top" lid under the arm rest. Have you seen those? Anyway, there is no tray like you have to put holders in. In the other thread on this - see here - there is a lot of discussion about the ones that screw to the door panels. I don't want to do this because I don't want to put screws in the doors and the drinks will block the door handle.

I would like either a replacement door pocket that has a self-adjusting drink holder built in, or a single removable holder placed on the console between the window switches and the locking storage box.

Thanks for everyone's suggestions! Keep thinking......

Bob C. · #7 01-13-2003, 06:42 PM

I saw a 400E with a cup holder attached to the center air vent. Does anyone know who makes this and where to buy it?

MS Fowler · #8 01-14-2003, 06:05 AM

I think I read that Ford had a door mounted cup holder designed for the (new) '96 Taurus. The problem was that everything spilled out when the driver closed the door. They figured that their drivers couldn't remember to use the cupholder only AFTER they had closed the door and so discontinued the idea.

#9 01-14-2003, 08:43 AM

We do not use cups but do use bottle water all the time.. As a quick trip to the store for us is at least 100 miles and often 200 or more Even if we want a an IN & OUT burger its 200 miles.. (California thing) ...

I have found that the water will ride out of the way for the passenger at the corner of the seat near the radio.. Setting on the floor.. and it will stay there thru all the corners and only falls over on hard stops.. Its out of the way and is an area that we do not use.. There is no way it could be put there for the driver as it would end up under foot...
My wife feels that we could make some thing or buy a holder and attach it on the side of the consul where there is carpet beside that part of the seat on both sides.. It would not leave holes that we would notice if we take it off... It would not spill on the switches..as it could be a little lower.... If it were made right it would be out of the way.. and could perhaps be made to hold a cup..

Truth is there is little room in the 124 and the good hanging places are plastic and break easy..

I do like my 123 TDT as it does have more room in the front for passenger comfort.. When my wife and I both travel to different places its always a race to see who gets stuck the the 92 300 CE.. My wife does miss her 123 coupe and lets me know often..

Ken

rmasteller · #10 01-14-2003, 01:06 PM

Ken,

I was thinking the same thing, but I haven't figured it out yet. I thought that something could be hung from the sides of the console near the gear shifter. This would be about where knees are, so I'm not sure how well it would work, specially for the driver. I still say installing a door pocket with a cup holder would work. The door slam test would be less severe near the door hinges and it would not intrude on the natural position of the lower leg. It would be quite a reach for your drink, though. I like how the ML320 drink holders are on the dash near the windows, but I can't think how we could do that in a W124. Argh.

DavidB29 · #11 01-18-2003, 12:51 PM

My son had a 1996 VW Passat. It had a neat double cup holder attached to the center console, almost at the floor, in the footwell on the passenger side. It occurs to me that that might work in a W124. If the part is available separately and if it can be mounted at the correct angle so the cups are vertical, it would certainly do for the passenger. In the Passat, the cupholder was within reach of the driver, with a littlle stretch, but the dimensions in the Benz are probably greater so that might not work. My son no longer has the VW so I cannot easily check it out.
As for myself, I just recived the $20 cupholder from Griot's garage that I read about here, and am debating what to do. It looks pretty neat. I also have a new, uninstalled MB dealer style cupholder (the $40 version that has matching upholstery, looks fairly nice but needs 2 hands to operate). I might use one for me and put the other on the passenger door.

onrails · #12 02-04-2003, 03:25 PM

Group,

Both my 93 300E and my 89 M3 came cupholderless (It's my word) so here is what I did.

I went to Volvo and got the cupholder that they sell for the rear facing 3rd row of seats in the V70.

This is a fold up type cupholder. I used high grade velcro to attach the holder to the center stack/console on the passenger side. It takes a little away from the passenger's knee room but they work and there were no holes to drill. BTW, the part from Volvo is under $20.

need2speed · #13 02-05-2003, 10:36 AM

Just finished installing a pair of fold-out cupholders from Griot's Garage on the front doors of my E500.

The unit is a Fischer C-Box, very nicely made and a good color match for the black plastic trim already in the car. At $16 each, highly recommended, two thumbs up!

rmasteller · #14 02-05-2003, 01:20 PM

Dean,
Hi. Can you photograph them in your car? Do they take up any knee room or bother you when reaching for the headlight switch? Do they hold a drink when you close the door?

Thanks,

#15 02-22-2003, 11:04 AM

I have struggled with this for a while and I know this has been discussed but here is one solution that works:

E-Class has metal air louvers that are strong. I found this cup holder at Target made by Bell.

Some features - metal and ABS with a cushion and tensioner to hold the cup in place - quality attachment system that you can tighten up - self leveling - cost effective - does not block the air on the E-Class - drips will hit the floor and not the dash or console - easy to install.

Some problems - won't hold all size mugs - not factory but close in looks - only one color.

I liked the fit and finish of the holders and the quality of the hangers. My MBZ's air flow was not affected and the pictures show the rest of the story.

If this particular solution has been discussed - I'm sorry for repeating it but I wanted to get the word out to other E-Class owners and my limited search did not show this particular solution.