Centre console

Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:42 am

I have noticed on my centre console (the area just behind the hand brake and in front of the rear ashtray) there is a set of casette holders that operate by being pushed in and out. I'm just wondering if this is the norm on e30s as I have never really looked at this area on any I've been in.

I have a 1990 318is and I'm just wondering if anyone else has anything different as standard on theirs or what the standard was on certain models(if any)?

I know its a strange little query but I just found it kind of interesting as they're pretty useless nowadays.

Sun Feb 01, 2009 12:59 am

same on mine, mines a 1986 sport. not sure if they are on all e30's or not, im sure someone on here can enlighten you

Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:25 am

some e30's had this option, U can get them with out the holder aswel

Sun Feb 01, 2009 8:48 am

It was something that you could buy for any car. The company (Fischer IIRC) made them to fit virtually any car made and some manufactoror's actually went on board with them and fitted them as standard, Vauxhall being the main one I would think. At the opposite end of the market, you could walk into Halfords and buy one as well.

As for whether BMW actually stocked these I'm not 100% sure. I can't find it on the parts database but I've seen 100's of e30's with them. I think Barry has one of these, still in it's box, in his garage.

Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:47 pm

many have ripped it out, or just cut it away making it look a bit shocking , my '90 318i 4dr came with out it (not cut out) and its great to put ipod or phone while driving.

Sun Feb 01, 2009 1:50 pm

Its kind of annoying because although its pretty useless, its part of the car and its original so I want to keep it.

Somewhere to put my phone while driving would be nice though....

Mon Feb 02, 2009 12:48 am

Most Aussie pre update models seem to have them, mine did. I bought an update rear console and replaced mine as it was a right P.I.T.A.
I haven't used tapes since about 1989 and every time I even looked a the tape holder it sprung up in the air and fell down next the the seat.
Ditch it

Mon Feb 02, 2009 1:01 am

DublinBMW wrote:Its kind of annoying because although its pretty useless, its part of the car and its original so I want to keep it.

Somewhere to put my phone while driving would be nice though....

I guess it depends on how you want to define "original".

My current touring came with a tape holder.. but my previous one didn't, so I took the console section with the tape holder out and replaced it with the other. It's still "original" as it's an OE part, IMO anyway. The tape holder one I took out is currently stored in the lockup now just incase I ever do want it again.

Think I have another spare one without a tape holder in the lockup if you're after one

Regards,

Ian

Mon Feb 02, 2009 2:38 pm

Think I have another spare one without a tape holder in the lockup if you're after one

Cheers Ian but I'm really not that pushed about it.

I'll give you a shout if I do change my mind though

Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:24 pm

If you don't want it it's a peice of p1ss to swap it for a standard console with the trinket tray.

Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:29 pm

My E28 had one of these fitted below the heater controls.

Didn't Smithy318 do an article where the hole for the cassette holder was converted into a tray for holding odds and ends?

Mon Feb 02, 2009 8:47 pm

Used to annoy me in my 90 320, kept knocking them and they'd pop up - the oddments tray is much better - for storing your cubans

Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:23 am

baur320 wrote:My E28 had one of these fitted below the heater controls.

Didn't Smithy318 do an article where the hole for the cassette holder was converted into a tray for holding odds and ends?

He did.

I believe he put it in the zone Wiki too...

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... dification

Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:24 am

My Alpina cab has a casette holder thing too.

Tue Feb 03, 2009 12:35 am

smithy318i wrote:
baur320 wrote:My E28 had one of these fitted below the heater controls.

Didn't Smithy318 do an article where the hole for the cassette holder was converted into a tray for holding odds and ends?
He did.

I believe he put it in the zone Wiki too...

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... dification

i want to make mine that deep!! thats storing loadsa stuff!!

Tue Feb 03, 2009 1:10 am

m4xos wrote:
smithy318i wrote:
baur320 wrote:My E28 had one of these fitted below the heater controls.

Didn't Smithy318 do an article where the hole for the cassette holder was converted into a tray for holding odds and ends?
He did.

I believe he put it in the zone Wiki too...

http://www.e30zone.net/e30zonewiki/inde ... dification

i want to make mine that deep!! thats storing loadsa stuff!!

Just uploaded a fresh copy of the web page at...

http://website.orange.co.uk/oukmpf00/50 ... 13042.html

Tue Feb 03, 2009 3:24 pm

Sweet, must get round to doing that