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Added rugged cupholder to center cover below dash

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64K views 29 replies 17 participants last post by  fordmanmike73  
#1 · (Edited)
Element newbie here- bought a mint '05 EX w/33K miles from a buddy earlier this year.

Did a few things so far- ipod adapter, new oem driver's side seat bottom cushion cover, the longer/stronger rear window struts, etc., but the floor-mounted cupholders drove me crazy. I mean, here's a utility vehicle with tons of space inside, but I have to put my coffee on the floor?

Anyway, I've used those aftermarket collapsible cupholders before, but they're really flimsy, and I wanted to do something sturdier.

I found a new oem Chevy unit on ebay (part of a modular system apparently), and mounted it to the center (subwoofer) cover. Works great! (Sorry my interior's a mess- getting ready to clean before reinstalling the driver's seat...)

I can provide install details if anyone cares.
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#5 · (Edited)
Detailed my console installation in another thread, so I thought I'd detail this also.

This is a Genuine GM Part Number: 19154712, I bought it on ebay.

Then go to the hardware store and buy 4 wall anchors for 1/8" thick walls, and 2 more longer ones for 1/2" thick walls (you'll use only the longer screws from those). You'll also need two 3/4" long spacers (I sanded mine at an angle, but you probably don't need to.)

Then drill four 5/16" dia holes in the less-slanted side of the cupholder. You'll then need to make two little notches on each hole so the wall anchors will fit in and not rotate.

Then put the wall anchors in, tighten the screws fully to clamp the anchors in place, then remove the screws.

Now the cupholder has threads so you can mount it.
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#6 · (Edited)
Now remove the subwoofer cover (two pop out fasteners on the lower part of the sides, then it just slides back and off).

Drill matching holes in the subwoofer cover as shown. Then mount the cupholder. Use two short screws on the top, and on the bottom use the two long screws, adding the 3/4" spacers between the cupholder and the cover. Use washers under the screw heads to spread the load a bit. (I added a metal strip at the top, but I think that's probably overkill.)

Use locktite on the screws so they don't rattle off in a few weeks.

Enjoy your much more convenient cupholder!
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M
#11 ·
Nice mod.

I just bought my Element. It is an LX and only has a hole where that speaker is. Can a cover be bought to add the cup holder to? I was thinking that I could add right above the hole where the speaker goes. I would not access to behind that panel. It would be a much harder install.

Can any one give me their thoughts. I have only had this for a few days but these cup holders are driving me nuts.

Thanks
Russ
 
#14 ·
This is by far the best looking cup holder solution I've seen.

I'm going to attempt this. On the spacers, it looks like they are wider where it hits the subwoofer or is that just me?

After having done this mod twice is there any other afterthoughts or tips or suggestions for someone who really needs detailed instruction, isn't so handy and slightly nervous to do this?

I'm going to give this a go but if you do have any other specific part numbers, sizes, tips or suggestions I need all the help I can get.

:)
 
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M
#15 ·
One of my most-appreciated mods (along with a backup camera and my non-skid doughnut tray on the dash). Holds a flip phone too:) It's a great mod to get started with as the instructions above by centerpunch are super clear and basically you do any drilling and fitting out of the car. I just followed them exactly with no problems at all.

I think what you are seeing are washers where the spacers meet the subwoofer. I trial fitted it a couple of times to get the spacer length and angle right so it sat level level but I'm pretty compulsive. As for spacers, any hardware store aluminum or even nylon bushings work well and are easy to cut and shape to fit the subwoofer cover. The only 'trick' I can think of is that the trim-plugs that hold the subwoofer cover in are wierd. You push in on the small center plug to release them. Once you have them out looking at them makes how they work clear.

Thanks again from me and my E to centerpunch for this,
 
#16 ·
M
#19 ·
My custom cup holders

The lack of a decent cup holder position in the Element led me to find this thread (and join this group!). After looking at lots of cup holder options, I settled on this one. They are Italian made titanium bicycle water bottle cages. Sure I could have gone with the $8 plastic ones or the the $10 aluminum ones but I wanted the ability to perpetually bend them a little to fit misc sized bottles and cans not just bike water bottles.
I didn't take any how-to pics along the way but it's pretty basic. Decide where you want the cages to go and mark the holes with a sharpie. Remove the plastic bass cover and drill the holes. Use the same hardware that would bolt the cage to a bike but you'll need some nuts (preferably nylon locking nuts) and washers to connect everything securely and prevent the plastic from cracking.
I ended up having to grind down the heads of the bolts a little on the inside of the cover to have it pop back in the correct position but with the right length hardware you might be able to avoid that step.
It's been about a month now and so far the cages have held various cups and cans securely with no problems!
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E
#19 ·
New OEM driver's side seat bottom? !!! ...

centerpunch said:
Element newbie here- bought a mint '05 EX w/33K miles from a buddy earlier this year.

Did a few things so far ... new oem driver's side seat bottom cushion cover ...
Click to expand...
centerpunch, thanks for the detailed info about installing the cup holder. Will definitely give this a try. But one of my first fixes to a newly purchased 2005 E is to fix and cover up the torn driver side seat cover. Can you tell me more about the "new oem driver's side seat bottom cushion cover" you found?

Much appreciated. _henry
 
#25 ·
eaklander said:
centerpunch, thanks for the detailed info about installing the cup holder. Will definitely give this a try. But one of my first fixes to a newly purchased 2005 E is to fix and cover up the torn driver side seat cover. Can you tell me more about the "new oem driver's side seat bottom cushion cover" you found?

Much appreciated. _henry
Click to expand...
I bought a new oem bottom seat cover from Honda ($300-ish I think- ugh!) and had a car upholstery guy remove the old one and install the new one ($100).
 
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