Qsilver7,
Thank you for the quick response. I feel very embarrassed I did not check the manual first... it's sitting in the glove box, and I have used it on several occasions.

Maybe my head is just in one of those moods where you stare at a bolt, and you can't remember for the life of you how it screws back in... but I'm still confused on the functioning of _my_ cup holder... Is it dirty or defective? Is it supposed to slowly emerge from it's hiding place uninvited?

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2000 BMW X5 4.4L, cold weather package