PAGE SUMMARY:
PAGE 1: As-is shots "in the beginning"
PAGE 2: Aftermarket cupholder installation.
PAGE 3: H/L lens replacement, and chromelining before/after shots.
PAGE 4: Upgrade to front grilles with chrome slats.
PAGE 5: FOGLAMP replacement; instructions and photos
PAGE 6: Chrome Trunk Strip Installation; instructions and photos
Page Two -- Aftermarket Cupholder installation
CUPHOLDERS:
One of the first things I did to enhance Baby was to install some REAL cupholders in the cickpit. The rear holders are okay, but the ones in the front were not only too small, but right in front of the radio and HVAC console, making it difficult to use many of the controls if either holdr is in use. Adding to the issue for me was the fact that Baby's front holders are a bit "sticky" -- they extend okay, but it takes several hard pushes closed to get them to stay locked in the stowed position. So, I looked around and decided the best aftermarket holders were ones sold by Cupholders Limited in Boca Raton, FL. Their website is www.cup-holders.com
Cockpit area before aftermarket cupholder installed.
Cockpit area with aftermarket cupholder installed. Note how well the wood grain matched the wood in the BMW interior.
Here's another shot of the holder installed in another car (downloaded this image from the seller's site).
Here you can see the emergency flasher and lock/unlock buttons, still accessible in front of the holder. The only issues to consider if you decide to install one of these holders are:
1. The center-console arm rest will no longer slide all the way forward with the holder in place, and won't slide forward much at all when drinks are in the holder. Not a biggie, just an FYI.
2. You will lose use of the storage compartment on the front side of the center console under the armrest, as the cupholder uses this compartment as one attachment point (an adhesive-backed velcro strip is glued to the top of the interior of the storage box, and a mating loop strip on the holder grabs it when the "tongue" of the holder is slipped into the box). This mechanism allows the holder to be quickly removed if/when you need to have the stock configuration again.
3. I don't know why anyone would want to smoke in one of these beautiful cars (I'll probably hear from someone about that comment) but for those who ever would want to, you also lose easy usage of the cigarette lighter compartment in the center console, because it ends up underneath the cup holder and soft "condensation catching" pad provided. You can still get to it (I keep a key to our mailbox there) but the lighter itself is essentially unavailable. NOTE: The good news is that BMW sells a cute power adapter for about $8 that converts the flashlight recharging socket in the glove compartment into another female cig lighter socket on a coiled cord, providing an easy way to add an accessory in the dash area without stringing a cable in front of the instruments and across the shift lever.
4. The emergency flasher and lock/unlock pushbutton switches in the center console are still readily accessible, although not as visible to the driver with this cupholder installed. But if you know where they are you can esily reach and feel them to activate.
