Cupholder removal/replacement

[recliner]

Does anyone have experience removing and reinstalling the cupholder in the front console? It looks like it just snaps in and out but it's tough to see exactly what the mechanism is. Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks,
r

[crysis]

Hi recliner,
i replaced mine a few months back, both the change tray and the cup holder.
It is not as simple as it seems and needs a lot of encouragement.
what i did was take the front plate off, it just snaps off, now you can see a little better, get a torch so you can see the holding clips inside, you need a really small tool to push these clips up or it aint comin out and you need to hold the front with a vice grips, so when you get one clip up you can pull it forward a little, repeat on the other side and give it a good tug and the whole unit should come out!!! the new one just slides in in 2 seconds.
thats the way i did mine, hope it helps, and do not damage your dash, it can be a bit slippy.

[recliner]

Thanks, I replaced it a few weeks ago doing as you did. The faceplate had already broken off which is why I was replacing it. I removed the panel above the console and used a tiny flatblade screwdriver to depress the clips from above being careful not to damage the surrounding buttons, while simultaneously pulling on the cupholder. The clips are not visible, so it took a considerable amount of "feel" to release them, but both eventually came loose. You are quite right, the task was, like most Audi repairs, more complex than expected and required patience and determination. But the new cupholder looks nice and works well.

[SoupRWC]

Is there a good source to get the in-dash cup holder other than the Audi dealer? They want $75-$100 for the cup holder and the card holder each ... plus installation. I've got to believe I can get it cheaper and install them myself.

[recliner]

Got mine at Shokan Coachworks, Audi parts 1-800-All-Audi. Great resource for Audi parts.

[SoupRWC]

thanks for the reply. I'll check them out.

[kean]

I have the same problem with my cup holder. It is currently broken and I would like to replace it. I have removed the front panel of my Audi A4 2002 3.0 Quattro but I do not see the two clips holding it. I was trying for nearly an hour but I still could not get it to come out. Please help! Pictures or detail description would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!

[recliner]

The clips are not really visible when the cupholder is installed. It is all done by feel. Look at the new one you are putting in to see where they are located. You must slide a very, very thin screwdriver blade between the side of the cupholder and the console to release the clips. As mentioned, the job takes patience and determination. It helps to pull a bit on the old cupholder as you are pressing on the clips. Try one side then the other. Good luck.