2007 X5 E70 Trim Around Ashtray/Cup Holder

[beomaster]

I removed this trim to hardwire my V1 radar to the cig lighter and cant see to reinstall. Is there some sort of trick? I checked TIS and couldn't anything helpful. See picture for reference. Thank you in advance to anyone that can help.

[jsahyoun]

Hi beomaster, I hope you were able to install back you cup holder cover? I need to replace my cup holder cover, I need help on how to remove and replace, it looked like you had to remove the gear trim first or need I can remove the cup holder cover directly. I appreciate some guidence

[scubalibre]

Any Luck with your reinstall? I'm looking to take my out. What holds this piece up front?

[jimf15e]

Old thread but did anyone figure this out? TIS manual says the whole console has to be pulled forward . Hopefully not.

[Zagato]

Unfortunately, TIS is correct, you have to remove the entire center console to properly refit the surrounding trim

Did this myself a while back, no way around it, you have to remove the console, otherwise you will never clip the part towards the front.

[jimf15e]

Thanks, good to know. Not sure if the tiny little peeled off spot is worth all the effort then... Part is on the way from Tischer already, maybe if I have a few spare hours in the future.

[mktomo97]

I know this is an old thread, however it is possible to get the piece back in. I had the dreaded penny rolling around and went too far and removed this piece. To get it back in, I used 2 putty knifes (about 1.5 inches wide) and placed them to the left and right of the little center notch that slides into place. To be more clear, they were placed on top of the piece of plastic that catches on the trim piece when trying to shove it in. The result is when sliding the trim piece back in it pushes down on the piece of plastic that is in front of the cup holders and guides the piece back into place. I wish i took pics. I will do so if i replace the trim as i nicked it up a bit until i figured out this method. Do this at your own risk as this clearly is a hack to make it work

[Juma]

Hi, have exactly the same problem. Need to replace the surround without removing the whole console.

Can the last poster add any more detail on how it was done with the putty knives? Tried that and can't push in the trim piece at all.

Any help??!!

[Mundo74]

It's a pain in the ass to get in. I removed it unecessarily when doing the heated steering wheel retrofit. Almost gave up and dealered it but managed to get it in with a lot of brute force and some plastic trim tools.