Manual Transmission Console

Kayman · 03-08-2011, 07:16 PM

Hi,

I am looking to know if the European model without the smoker package has twin cup holders hidden in front of the shift or something different. My auto came with a standard smokers package set-up. Today I picked up a single cup holder to replace the ashtray (Excellent & cool design - will post installed pics). If you have a manual without smokers package can I see what you have where the twin cupholders would appear? If it's a storage bin I wonder if it pulls out and slides in to fit what I have. That's my best case scenario

ibimmer954 · 03-08-2011, 07:46 PM

I have pictures of the U.S. manual tranny console. No smokers package. There are no cup holders between the dash and the shifter, only a small storage tray. The tray opens, but there isn't much room. The "cup holder" (loosely speaking) is behind the iDrive knob. Pics:

Kayman · 03-08-2011, 09:53 PM

Thats an awesome bit of help. Do you have a pic with the tray open? I need to figure out if the part is a straight switch with the dual cup holder I have. Shame its not as nicely finished on the cover as the auto transmission but i guess the tray cover is the trade off.

cave · 03-09-2011, 08:39 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Kayman

... Do you have a pic with the tray open? ...

I'm also interested in such a picture ...

ibimmer954 · 03-10-2011, 06:25 PM

OK, here's a quick pic with the tray opened. I have a U.S. quarter in there for size comparison. There's not much room. Not sure if you can remove the entire tray. Probably. I'm not going to try it though.

Kayman · 03-10-2011, 11:42 PM

Interesting that thats where the ashtray is on the manual and the cup holder is centre console. Exactly the opposite of the auto. Wonder what the logic was by BMW to reversing spots? You would think the ashtray in the auto would be the logical choice for both and yet it's the first thing I replaced with the manual's single cupholder in my auto.

ibimmer954 · 03-11-2011, 01:10 AM

I'm assuming it's because the manual tranny linkage takes up a lot of room in the center console and there isn't enough room for a cup holder there like on the 8AT.

cave · 03-11-2011, 04:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ibimmer346

OK, here's a quick pic with the tray opened.

Thanks for sharing ... i wonder what it will look like when there is no smokers pack ...

newstuart · 03-11-2011, 03:08 PM

I have a uk manual(looks exaxtly the same as the one above), the gearstick is about 2" foward than the auto hence the different design, there is no chance of fitting the twin cup holder to a manual that i can see

Smokers pack gives a lighter in the 12v socket instead of a plastic plug, thats the only difference

uhn2000 · 03-11-2011, 03:17 PM

Manual is the way to go!

cave · 03-12-2011, 06:29 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by newstuart

Smokers pack gives a lighter in the 12v socket instead of a plastic plug, thats the only difference

Thx !

raleedy · 03-12-2011, 01:47 PM

So it's just a damn ash tray either way.

ibimmer954 · 03-12-2011, 11:26 PM

I did not order the smokers package and that's what I got... a small ashtray. You can stick some coins in there, but that's about it.

Kayman · 03-23-2011, 03:02 PM

Just had a call from the Dealer at installation of my single cup holder into where the automatics single ashtray is presently. Despite assurances from BMW head office the two consoles are of a different size and therefore one cannot simply switch out the pieces. So anyone else can forget that idea I guess.

delvek · 03-23-2011, 03:32 PM

The manual setup sucks, 1 cup holder for 2 passengers ... the cup holder is basically in the way of the passengers arm if its being used and the ashtray in the front is a joke. Must be a reason why they did this, hope its due to hardware placement of the manual.

cidair · 03-23-2011, 03:40 PM

Have you noticed that in the auto tranny setup ( two cup holders in front of shifter ) the two holders actually are different? The right one is deeper! It dirffers around 10 - 15 mm.
Just noticed this today! Wonder why?

shiner · 03-23-2011, 04:02 PM

I can't wait to get my F10 - middle of May is my date.... doh...

However, I must say I was a little shocked at the very limited internal storage in the F10 compared to the Passat and most other cars, especially considering what a huge car the F10 is.. Glove-box is tiny and the door pockets are so shallow in width and depth - you cannot get a sports drinks bottle in there. To cap it all where is the passengers drink holder?

A rethink required BMW.....

delvek · 03-24-2011, 02:27 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cidair

Have you noticed that in the auto tranny setup ( two cup holders in front of shifter ) the two holders actually are different? The right one is deeper! It dirffers around 10 - 15 mm.
Just noticed this today! Wonder why?

I didnt realize that, I will have to check the loaner I am in!

raleedy · 03-24-2011, 04:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by cidair

Have you noticed that in the auto tranny setup ( two cup holders in front of shifter ) the two holders actually are different? The right one is deeper! It dirffers around 10 - 15 mm.
Just noticed this today! Wonder why?

Space limitation.

03-08-2011, 07:16 PM	#1
Kayman Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 2011 535i X M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Manual Transmission Console Hi, I am looking to know if the European model without the smoker package has twin cup holders hidden in front of the shift or something different. My auto came with a standard smokers package set-up. Today I picked up a single cup holder to replace the ashtray (Excellent & cool design - will post installed pics). If you have a manual without smokers package can I see what you have where the twin cupholders would appear? If it's a storage bin I wonder if it pulls out and slides in to fit what I have. That's my best case scenario Last edited by Kayman; 03-08-2011 at 09:55 PM..
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03-08-2011, 07:46 PM	#2
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	I have pictures of the U.S. manual tranny console. No smokers package. There are no cup holders between the dash and the shifter, only a small storage tray. The tray opens, but there isn't much room. The "cup holder" (loosely speaking) is behind the iDrive knob. Pics:
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03-08-2011, 09:53 PM	#3
Kayman Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 2011 535i X M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Thats an awesome bit of help. Do you have a pic with the tray open? I need to figure out if the part is a straight switch with the dual cup holder I have. Shame its not as nicely finished on the cover as the auto transmission but i guess the tray cover is the trade off.
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03-10-2011, 06:25 PM	#5
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	OK, here's a quick pic with the tray opened. I have a U.S. quarter in there for size comparison. There's not much room. Not sure if you can remove the entire tray. Probably. I'm not going to try it though.
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03-10-2011, 11:42 PM	#6
Kayman Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 2011 535i X M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Interesting that thats where the ashtray is on the manual and the cup holder is centre console. Exactly the opposite of the auto. Wonder what the logic was by BMW to reversing spots? You would think the ashtray in the auto would be the logical choice for both and yet it's the first thing I replaced with the manual's single cupholder in my auto.
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03-11-2011, 01:10 AM	#7
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	I'm assuming it's because the manual tranny linkage takes up a lot of room in the center console and there isn't enough room for a cup holder there like on the 8AT.
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03-11-2011, 03:08 PM	#9
newstuart Private 6 Rep 67 Posts Drives: 520 msport Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: north east uk iTrader: (0)	I have a uk manual(looks exaxtly the same as the one above), the gearstick is about 2" foward than the auto hence the different design, there is no chance of fitting the twin cup holder to a manual that i can see Smokers pack gives a lighter in the 12v socket instead of a plastic plug, thats the only difference
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03-11-2011, 03:17 PM	#10
uhn2000 Big K... 171 Rep 1,717 Posts Drives: M3CS BX7 Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Manual is the way to go! __________________ Many fun toys... M3CS XB7 FTW!
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03-12-2011, 01:47 PM	#12
raleedy Colonel 160 Rep 2,248 Posts Drives: 2016 228i 6-speed Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Portland, Oregon iTrader: (0)	So it's just a damn ash tray either way.
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03-12-2011, 11:26 PM	#13
ibimmer954 Major 138 Rep 1,424 Posts Drives: '23 i4 M50, '15 M3, '18 911 Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: San Diego, California, USA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW M3 [9.75] 2023 BMW i4 M50 [0.00] 2018 Porsche 911 C4S [0.00] 2019 BMW X4 M40i [0.00]	I did not order the smokers package and that's what I got... a small ashtray. You can stick some coins in there, but that's about it.
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03-23-2011, 03:02 PM	#14
Kayman Private 11 Rep 76 Posts Drives: 2011 535i X M-Sport Join Date: Feb 2011 Location: Oakville, Ontario iTrader: (0)	Just had a call from the Dealer at installation of my single cup holder into where the automatics single ashtray is presently. Despite assurances from BMW head office the two consoles are of a different size and therefore one cannot simply switch out the pieces. So anyone else can forget that idea I guess.
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03-23-2011, 03:32 PM	#15
delvek Major 33 Rep 1,134 Posts Drives: 2014 550i Msport Join Date: Apr 2010 Location: Tampa, FL iTrader: (0)	The manual setup sucks, 1 cup holder for 2 passengers ... the cup holder is basically in the way of the passengers arm if its being used and the ashtray in the front is a joke. Must be a reason why they did this, hope its due to hardware placement of the manual. __________________ 2014 550i M-sport
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03-23-2011, 03:40 PM	#16
cidair cidair 83 Rep 516 Posts Drives: BMW 435d xDrive Join Date: Aug 2006 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	Have you noticed that in the auto tranny setup ( two cup holders in front of shifter ) the two holders actually are different? The right one is deeper! It dirffers around 10 - 15 mm. Just noticed this today! Wonder why? __________________ 2016 435d xDrive Previous:2019 M340i, 2014 335dx,2012 M5,2011 550ix,2008 M3,2007 330xd,2005 M5,2004 545iA,2000M5.
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03-23-2011, 04:02 PM	#17
shiner First Lieutenant 44 Rep 327 Posts Drives: 535D MSport Touring Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Nottingham iTrader: (0)	I can't wait to get my F10 - middle of May is my date.... doh... However, I must say I was a little shocked at the very limited internal storage in the F10 compared to the Passat and most other cars, especially considering what a huge car the F10 is.. Glove-box is tiny and the door pockets are so shallow in width and depth - you cannot get a sports drinks bottle in there. To cap it all where is the passengers drink holder? A rethink required BMW.....
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