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| Pros: | Very convenient location, holds 12oz cans and slim 20oz bottles, flexibly material so its easy to install and uninstall |
| Cons: | Condensation can drip into door pocket |
| Cost: | $24.95 (from Z3 Solution) |
June 14, 1999
By: Robert Leidy
"Here I am driving one of the most fun automobiles in the world, yet I can't find a good place to put this can of coke while I shift into 5th gear." This has been a common statement ever since the introduction of the Z3. The BMW roadster is an amazing automobile, a near perfect balance of modern day technology and classic "retro" styling, but it doesn't have a cup holder. This is where Z3 Solution enters into the story. Pictured below is a cupholder that Z3 Solution makes that snaps into the side door pocket.
This design is simple and functional, its a single piece of molded plastic/rubber material that was custom made for the Z3. The flexible material lets the unit snap into place in the door pocket. Once installed the cupholder holds standard 12oz cans and the newer styled slim 20oz plastic soda bottles. It sticks out from the door slightly more than the door pocket, so there is a slight loss of leg room. However the positioning doesn't affect the driver, on long drives I even find myself resting the side of my knee on the soft rubber since its more comfortable than the door pocket.
I find myself using the cupholder to also hold my sunglasses and other items when I don't have a drink in there. I needed to come up with some "cons" for this article, so I got really picky and found one. Condensation from the can ends up dripping down into the door pocket since there is no bottom to the cupholder. If you keep items other than the cup holder in the plastic door pocket they could get water dripped on them (so its not a good place to keep paper). I've learned to keep something like a napkin under the cupholder so this isn't much of a problem.