Cup holder mod for facelift A3 / S3

R7SAN

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As you know in the 2009 facelift A3 / S3 Audi has opted to fit the cardholder instead of a cupholder.

Searching for “cupholder” on the forum, I found boggym’s excellent “retrofitted cupholder” write up.
This got me thinking, could this mod be done on the new 2009 facelift switch assembly?


CM1Small.jpg


I took the switch surround off and discovered that the height and width of the 2009 cardholder enclosure is the same as the cupholder, so it does fit. The problem is with the new curved shape of the card holder front and the switch surround. Because the cupholder was designed with a square front there is an obvious clearance issue, but with a bit of modifying to the front and the right-hand side of the cupholder, it can be made to fit properly.

It took awhile figuring out what to do but here is my modified cupholder in a 2009 S3.
Ok so it’s not the best mod you can do but it’s my first ever mod and I am rather pleased with the result.

CM2Small.jpg



Here is a list of parts and what had to be modified.

Parts:-

Illuminated Cupholder Part number: - 8P0 862 534C 5PR
Approx £27 inc VAT from Audi Parts Dept. or find a cheap one on ebay

Tools used: –
Mobile phone fascia removal tool. ( Or be careful with flat bladed screw driver)
Sharp bladed Knife
Metal ruler
Dremel
Wet and dry sandpaper to tidy up edges.


1. REMOVE CARDHOLDER

The switch surround is just clipped on so gently prise it off using removal tool. Be ready to catch the hazard warning switch as it will ping off as you remove the surround.
CM3Small.jpg



Eject the cardholder then remove it by pressing down on the two tabs and pull out. Unclip the wire for the LED on the back


CM4Small.jpg



2. CREATE CLEARANCE FOR CUPHOLDER

Although the cupholder will fit when the switch surround is put back, it will not eject. So you need to trim part of the right hand side of the cupholder to allow it to eject properly past the curved switch surround. Score a line with the knife to mark what needs removing. You can use a dremel or a knife to remove the excess plastic. I found the dremel started to melt the plastic so I used the knife to get a clean cut. It is tough plactic but scoring back and forth you will eventually cut through. Tidy up the edge with wet and dry sandpaper


CM6Small.jpg

CM5Small.jpg

The arrow in the picture shows the locating pin for the bottom flap is no longer held by the side arm. Don’t worry the side arm is not the support for the pin.

Fit it back in the car and check that it ejects past the switch surround without catching.



3. FITTING THE CARDHOLDER FRONT.

Getting the cardholder front to fit on the cupholder requires a fair bit of modifying and patience.
CM7Small.jpg


Trim the following parts.

A – Cut away until they are flush
B – Cut away so they follow the angle of the clear plastic
C – File down the clear plastic and black sides to the red line
D – On the right hand side, cut away the 2 sections illustrated. On the left just cut away the top section.
E - This sometimes caused mine to stick when ejecting so you might need to cut 1mm off the little tab.



Next trim down the top and make two slots so the cardholder front will sit at the right height when located in the switch surround.


CM9Small.jpg


I found that a metal ruler placed on the top will allow you to cut away the required 1 mm.
CM10Small.jpg

Work out where the slots need to be made. The dremel was ideal for cutting the slots


CM11Small.jpg


Once all the modifications shown above are done, the cardholder front should fit.

A – Tabs trimmed down flush.
B – Tabs trimmed following angle of clear plastic
C – Clear plastic / Black tabs filed back
D – On the Left top section removed, on the right top and bottom sections removed
F – 1 mm trimmed off the top
G – Slots cut to locate tabs in cardholder front
H – Put the cardholder front on and see how much needs to be trimmed so it clicks in place properly.



4. MAKING THE CUPHOLDER “LOCK” IN PLACE

At this point, the cupholder with the cardholder front should fit properly in the switch surround and it should eject without catching. Now, just like in boggym’s "Retrofitted cupholder” guide you need to trim the back of the cupholder where it hits the switch surround.


CM13Small.jpg

I
tapered both sides and tidied up with wet and dry sandpaper.


So that’s it. Admittedly there is a lot more work required than the preface lift mod, but if you really want a cup holder then these are the lengths you have to go to ... :arco:

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Cheers R4SAN. Just done this mod on the misses 58 plate A3, great instructions. Must admit for a German car there are some daft design flaws, you can use either the arm rest or the existing cup holders, and the shelf in the glove box is too small for the service book pack. Other than that, its a great car.
 
Cheers R4SAN. Just done this mod on the misses 58 plate A3, great instructions. Must admit for a German car there are some daft design flaws, you can use either the arm rest or the existing cup holders, and the shelf in the glove box is too small for the service book pack. Other than that, its a great car.

the service book belongs in a little section of the passenger door card. if you look at the storage area, at the back there's a little recessed area. it fits perfectly in there
 
I was going to do this but it looks too much of a ball ache :)
 
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I didnt notice that, I will have a look. She wanted me to hack the divider out on the shelf in the glove box !
 
Also using this with cans is not advisable as my tests found out, as hard braking will potentially end up with liquid leakage on the radio, cant understand why they put cup holder on the single din units above the radios, even water bottles used to fall out often.
 
Guy I know went through 3 radios on his pre FL A3as the holder is above the radio. Radios and Coke dont mix well !
 
Isnt the cupholder in the MY11's the same as my MY09? under the arm rest?
 
Isnt the cupholder in the MY11's the same as my MY09? under the arm rest?

there used to be a dash mounted cup holder. that's what's generally referred to as "the cup holder" - not that silly little indent in the console that's the wrong shape for every type of drinks holder known to man
 
TBH I never use the damn thing under armrest, what a totally ridiculous place to put it, they could of put something just behind the gear knob as such, redesign that area to suit, but I reckon could of squeezed something in there so its more directly accessible & not enclosed by armrest etc.
 
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TBH I never use the damn thing under armrest, what a totally ridiculous place to put it, they could of put something just behind the gear knob as such, redesign that area to suit, but I reckon could of squeezed something in there so its more directly accessible & not enclosed by armrest etc.

the american centre console makes me laugh too lol
 
TBH I never use the damn thing under armrest, what a totally ridiculous place to put it, they could of put something just behind the gear knob as such, redesign that area to suit, but I reckon could of squeezed something in there so its more directly accessible & not enclosed by armrest etc.

Totally agree, **** place to put it, almost as bad as the 8L glovebox indentations..... great if not moving and with a 3 inch cup :)
 
lmfao so true 3 inch cup lol remember that very well.
 
Its a dogs **** design, why couldnt they have used a similar design to the Golf/Octavia ?
 
Its a dogs **** design, why couldnt they have used a similar design to the Golf/Octavia ?

because the A3 is meant to be better. by which they mean worse. oh well it's not as if we pay more for the privilege :faint:
 
I think I'm going to so this mod too.

Missed this thread the first time around - good thread resurection :)


Oh and excellent write up bud - thanks
 
it is a bit gash though, my 8L cupholder on the dash was really good in that it had a few flaps which allowed diff cup sizes...isnt this particular one really flimsy material?
 
Dont knock the Octy. I loved my VRS TDI. Fantastic car !
 
Has anyone got a spare or unused one of these modded efforts? Its beyond my skillset so ill
happily pay for someones time and postage if I could
obtain one?

Thanks.
 
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Still after one of these, cash waiting if anyone wants to bang one together - I'll obviously cover your time, parts and postage? :icon_thumright:

Cheers
 
That's all well and good. I thought about this mod but decided I wanted full access to my heating control.

So I installed the USDM centre console which has built in cup holder:
 

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That's all well and good. I thought about this mod but decided I wanted full access to my heating control.

So I installed the USDM centre console which has built in cup holder:

I remember this thread! Was incredible :)

That picture makes me want to do it again...
 
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What would solve the problem is a full size second cup holder in the area with the drawer.

Does a console tray exist with two full size cup holders (same size as the bigger one in the image below)?
Cheers.





20130313_150740_zps344373d9.jpg
 
What would solve the problem is a full size second cup holder in the area with the drawer.

Does a console tray exist with two full size cup holders (same size as the bigger one in the image below)?
Cheers.





20130313_150740_zps344373d9.jpg
^^^:iagree:^^^

edit: I'm considering something (spring loaded or drop down) that'll screw to the bottom of the shelf in the glovebox.
 
Last edited:
What would solve the problem is a full size second cup holder in the area with the drawer.

Does a console tray exist with two full size cup holders (same size as the bigger one in the image below)?
Cheers

Nooooo.... I love that small one!

Someone at Audi had their head screwed on and made it the exact size as a can of RedBull... Another piece of genius similar to the rear view mirror flap...

7D4AF7A2-0E90-41A1-897C-538D7033BB94-22194-00000346BFB0C75C_zpsa488c55c.jpg


Now only if they had thought about the Handbrake / Armrest situation :ninja:
 
I like the US style! Whats wrong with that?
 
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