I need instruction on reinstalling the rear cup holder

[Darkmann]

'02ML320: I could see this coming a mile away and finally my kids managed to dislodge the rear cupholder. I haven't looked at it closely but seems like nothing is broken. The only loose parts are two circular drums/rollers, each having a wound metal spring around it. There is no indication as to the orientation of these springs or the drum assembly. Anyone have instructions on how to put these back in there, any pics? Thanks. Oh, BTW, can anyone give me a heads up on what they'll be breaking next??? Love them, but sometimes, boy....

[G-Benz]

The rear ones have the same "smart" design as the front...just a wider unit.

A friend of mine buggered up the one on the front passenger side (my ML wasn't even a month old then), and I couldn't figure it out either. So I carefully removed the driver's side holder to examine the "correct" orientation of said parts. That allowed me to reinstall the other cupholder successfully.

My wife likes to rest her bare foot on the front of the dash when we travel, and often dislodges the cupholder...so I have to know how to reassemble it!

My daughter hasn't managed to tear up anything yet, but she is also a "foot rester" (must be a female thing). Usually, soccer cleats, so the paint on the rear cupholder is pretty banged up! Also the plastic front seat backs get scuffed up (permanently), especially if your kids' feet don't touch the ground when seated.

Watch rear seat belts (also a problem on my W124). Kids don't make sure they fully retract when exiting the vehicle, and they close the door onto the belt clip! No damage to the belt, but there will be an indent left in the door threshold that radiuses the rear fender. Both my ML and 300E show these scars...

[Darkmann]

Thanks G-Benz ... and I'm not smiling at this point when I think of what awaits me ahead with them kids and "their" ML. I'll look at the other cup holders and see if I can figure this thing out.