E53 Ashtray 51168402280 and Aux Input Port Installation
 

Hello all,


Long story short, I am in the process of installing the Aux port kit. Upon inspection of the ashtray this evening, I noticed that the previous owner had used black electrical tape to cover what looked to be a broken hole in the ashtray. Unbeknownst to me, I have never seen such a hole in an ashtray before and not thinking any further, I completely gutted the center console out of the car to relieve this poor, 'broken' ashtray from the center console.


Only after looking for the part number on realoem, I have unfortunately discovered that this 'broken' hole is in fact molded that way from the factory :dunno: . WTF is its function?


On the plus side, I found about $15 in change and a peanut that had worked its way out of the ashtray and under the center console that the PO never bothered to fish out...and I get to clean everything and reassemble it. There's always a silver lining. :D


Anyhow, before I proceed further with re-assembly and my Aux install, can anyone tell me what this hole is for and how I can plug it? There looks to be a channel just left of it that permits something to slide into it.


Here's a link to the ashtray in question!
https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/51168402280/

Are you taking about the hole for the cigarette lighter or the hole for extinguishing a lit cigarette? Maybe take a picture of what you mean?

https://xoutpost.com/attachments/x5-...522_140948.jpg

Cigarettes in an X5. :sick:

Neither, but based on your photo, my assumptions are that the cigarette extinguisher is missing from mine AND this is a piece that can be slotted into the channel I described earlier AND it's designed to be removed so the user can empty that thing out and reinstall periodically.



Thanks for your post, man. I can put my truck back together.

No. Take a picture. There are multiple part numbers. Mine is not the smoker version. Take ashtray and flip it. See if the hole lines up with the light that is in the ashtray cubby.

Mine is the exact same in the link I provided; part number and physical characteristics. In the first photo, there is this obtuse manufactured hole in it. Thanks!

In which case.... you are missing a part. The part shown in the link doesn't include the insert.

Look at this diagram... the part you reference is #10 and you are missing a #11 or a #12.

https://www.realoem.com/bmw/images/diag_3702.png

My car has a #11 (storage partition) while Overboosts has a #12 (ashtray).

The #11 storage tray is slightly cheaper. ;)

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...y/51168402968/

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...t/51168402967/

That part is the center console insert. The ashtray is 51168402967 or a storage cup 51168402968 fits into it