Cup Holder Retro Fit. Pre Facelift

[Pmol66]

Hi people,
This is my first thread so bear with me
Half of this is a guide and the other half is just showing you how i did it because you may find a better way than my bodge... I mean improvisation
Feel free to input anything that will make this an easier or better job

Here are some of the tools i used.
-Dremel type rotary tool
-8mm spanner
-Straight edge
-Screwdrivers
-Stanley knife
-Araldite

This is how mine looked before. And a pic of the cupholder i'll be bodging. I mean fitting.


Part number 1M2862531C 1M1862531C From the Seat Toledo but the Leon cupholder also fits - 1M2862531D 1M1862531D
-The face of this will need replacing as its not the right shape to fit the audi trim. Two of these blanks will be needed


Okey Dokey

Starting by removing the glove box will help, giving more space later on. 3 torx screws inside, one outside, at the bottom right corner and the rest are behind the cover you can prise off with the door open. Unplug and remove...

Remove the ashtray with the one philips screw and unplug.

Remove the stereo. (My be different if you have a cage.)

Carefully prise the trim starting from the bottom and remove.

Pri out all four switches and unplug them.

Undo the two screws at the top of the cage to allow you more access.

Push both the ESP and Rear Screen heater connectors into the cage and out somewhere you can see enough wire to play with.


At this point i was unsure of what to do with rear heated screen switch so i cut the plug off and extended the wires out towards the glove box. Will need relocating if you have heated seats. If not, you should be able to get it back behind the trim.

I think i can live without the ESP lol so its been taped up.


Line the stereo compartment with a rag or something to catch the mess your about to create
To get both heated seats on the right. The left one needs opening up.Thats quite simple as you just need to copy the hole next to it.


Now onto the tricky side.View attachment 15477
The main bit that has to go is the central divider
View attachment 15478
These bits are best removed from the bottom of the holder-

The rest is up to you. Its just a matter of trail and error.
If you think you have it in ok. Make sure the cupholder operates because if one of the clips on the outer casing are pushed in, it wont work. I removed one of them.
I used a cutting disc to remove most of the plastic above and finnished off with one of the small sanding stones.

I ended up with this mess
*see the two peices of plastic glued on the left side of the opening. That will stop the switch from tilting (its very close to one of the clips on the cupholder)

When you have gutted your cage enough it should look something like this
Make sure it operates then remove.

Unplug the two pins that hold the face of the cup holder on and remove the face

Put the c/h back in place and secure it some how, making sure its level.
I used Liquid metal and Araldite as thats all i had at the time. Make sure its nice and level and let it go off before putting the other switches back in.
Reassemble and we have nearly done.

Im just waiting for my blanks to arrive
Hopfully will be tomorrow..........

 

[Dani_B19]

Haha love matey, cant wait for tomorrows instalement. You not fitting 2 cup holders then?

 

[Pmol66]

Cheers I didnt mean to post this just mate if you look it up again. Theres a fresh one with the last pics on....

 

[Dani_B19]

Sorry mate dont follow, so you fitting one or two? Will tomorrows right up include you chosen place of choixe for the rear window button lol.

 

[Pmol66]

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/a3-s3-forum-8l-chassis/188663-cup-holder-retro-fit-pre-facelift.html

the pics seem to be better on this one mate.
haha id love two cupholders. id have a glove boxfull of switches tho hehe.... what are you going to do with yours

 

[Dani_B19]

Haha yeah much better matey. Err not too sure, im really tempted to fit 2 and relocate the heated seats and window switch next to the handbrake area but im also thinkig about using tt heated seat switchs if theyd work.

 

[Pmol66]

Interesting lol. I totally dismissed that area just for the shear size of the switches. Tt ones would look better. Especially if they are seperate. The audi ones look odd separate. Have you seen anyone locate to there before.

 

[Dani_B19]

Aknow they are chunky thas why i hope the tt ones fit the s3 relay without chopping and soldering. No mate but im hopeing to be the dirst so watch this go ****ing tits up big tym haha. Ill end up needin a new interior haha.

 

[Pmol66]

Aknow they are chunky thas why i hope the tt ones fit the s3 relay without chopping and soldering. No mate but im hopeing to be the dirst so watch this go ****ing tits up big tym haha. Ill end up needin a new interior haha.

Hahahaha. I like it. I actually thought u wer playin with me the other day when u asked me where to put the switches. Fair play to ya... I might hold on to this other cup holder. Watch this! Pmsl...
Do you have an armrest in yours mate?

 

[Pmol66]

You've got me thinking now...



If it doesnt plug in. How would you go about it?

 

[Dani_B19]

Haha nar mate, was been serious.

Yeah ive got one, have you?

if the tt switchs dont work id look to shave the buttons down and install them someway or ova but it wont easy due to their size where as the tt ines look smaller.

 

[Pmol66]

No i didnt even give tt a thought to be honest untill u said. I think i might see how u get on lol....

 

[Pmol66]

Oh, i have got an armrest yeah.
I cant see me having the two cup holders tbh mate. Unless you come up with somthing amazing lol. Theres space behind the cover around the steering wheel, the other side to the headlight switch. Thats where i put the hazzard switch on my a3. Those tt ones could easilly be put there. Just dont put them where your knee is like i did lol

 

[Dani_B19]

Haha i mean to have a look at it all today but got wrapped up
gutting the inside and cleaning it all down lol.

Your blank turned up yet?

 

[Pmol66]

Fair nuff lol.
No they havn't come yet :/

 

[Pmol66]

F*** iv just fitted a 20 year old cup holder to my car haha.... Their are better ones been made since which are the same shape unit....

 

[Dani_B19]

Haha never, whats that one from? Any part numbers?

 

[Pmol66]

It's weird because they never diagnosed me with special needs
Yeah its the a2
8z0862534a
Thats the best one i can find. Just searched the bay for audi and vw ones.

 

[Dani_B19]

Its ok mate, most of us on here are undiagnosed too lol.

That looks alot better mate, and both sides are rounded.

 

[Pmol66]

Hahaa.... It does look better and yeah didnt realise its rounded! Bonus!
Took one for the team here havnt i... Lol
Iv got 65 quid worth of parts i dont need now haha
For sale..... Covered in Araldite but in working order....

 

[Dani_B19]

Yes mate you certainly have haha. You selling all the leon and toledo cup holders now haha? Im going to buy that a2 one, was waiting until payday on friday to buythe leon one so glad i waited haha.

 

[Pmol66]

Hehe... Yeah the ones up on ebay now. That WAS lucky lol...
looks like its wider too. Have u ever used one them leon ones. Good for a can, but anything like a maccies cup only sits half way down it, if u catch me drift.

 

[Dani_B19]

Defo. No mate not used any of them, the a2 one doesnt look too deep either though and looks like it may need more trimming than the leon one as well.

 

[Pmol66]

Yeah, the cup wont budge but looks untidy to me... Hopfully that flap on the spring does its job. Heres what yours will be lookin like if u can stash your seat switches lol...

Do you think it'll need more trimming. I thought it'd be the same size

 

[Dani_B19]

Argh cool, not sure wether to have 2 now looking at that, looks abit too much haha. Going to buy one on friday then fit that and see how it goes. Where have you reloctaed the rear window button too?

I think it might, the casing looks to have more edges on it so may need some trimming to get it in.

 

[Pmol66]

Yeah they're quite beefy. I havnt yet. Im going to get a TT one, see if they can be used.. Not sure where yet. I might let u lead the way on the relocating lol.

 

[Dani_B19]

Haha well i going to have a look through rest of this week and weekend, if i fit ine cupholder ill copy uou with the heat switchs then find a location for the the rear window switch but if i fit 2 ill be movigthem all haha.

Did the passenger seat switch need wires cuttting or did it relocate easily?

 

[Pmol66]

Got ya... Good luck hehe...
What about modifying one of those gauge holders for the pillar. Fibre glass ect. U'd get all 3 switches in one them lol... Yeah it went over no problem mate. That bit was straight forward to be fair

 

[Dani_B19]

Thats good to know.

Nar that wouldnt go, id want it to be sutal but still like wow if ya get me haha. Itll either be handbrake area, ashtray or around the light switch, ill see what i can knock up haha.

 

[Pmol66]

Yeah i know what u mean.
Oh yeah! the thing iv found, now both the seat switches are on the right. If i wanted a cup holder there now, id have to re do the cage as theres a gaping hole there.

 

[Pmol66]

Nearly there

 

[Dani_B19]

Very smart dude. So you keeping the leon cup holder then?

 

[Pmol66]

Yeah for now. Iv got some other stuff to do before i start buying more cup holders haha. My turbos on its way out :/ so when i get bored again i'll update it..

No more spilt coffee! get in !! Haha

 

[Dani_B19]

Lmfao, i know that feeling mate. Make sure you post up when its all done. Going to plan it all out tomorrow and friday and order all my bits ready to attack it haha.

 

[Pmol66]

I will do. Should have it done after work tomorrow... Plan? I might try a plan next time pmsl..,
Look forward to see your outcome mate

 

[Pmol66]

Job done my friend

http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showthread.php?p=1874103#post1874103

I think i will get an a2 one eventually.