X5 Coinectomy and where not to place coins
 

Placed some coins on top of the cup holder roll up top. When I picked up the coins, missed a penny. Once the cup holder cover was rolled back, the penny was able to slip behind the cup holder and fall underneath (within console).

It redefines irritation to hear that coin roll up to the front when you brake, and roll back when you accelerate. But not so much that I could pay dealership big $$$ to dig coin out.

Had a look on Realoem parts diagrams and went to work trying to remove coin (at this point, assumed it was coin, if not, would have expected loose part).

First task was to gain access to underneath cup holder, apparently, easier said than done, at least, seemed that way at first.

Removed iDrive knob and plastic trim piece around shifter and iDrive controller. Then removed five bolts and removed gear shift assembly.

Photo's show (if I attached them correctly):

1. Removed shifter
2. Coin sitting in slot
3. Photo of borescope screen once I found the coin (note the way the coin was in a track that help it upright and let it roll forward and back)

In the end, recovered the coin and buttoned everything up.

Lesson learned, don't put loose coins on top of cup holder, easy to miss coin in the dark and roll cup holder cover open/down, then you're on a "mouse hunt" (no offense Funf!).

I'll view the this once I post, if I failed to attach pictures correctly, I'll edit and try again.

Why not just use the ashtray as a coin holder :dunno: It works for me.

That must suck...The seat belt buckle on the passenger side is making me crazy. No matter where I position it, it rattles against the b pillar or the seat. My ears are bleeding. I never had a problem with either of my 2 E53s or my E70.

I feel your pain.

Going to SC next week to pick up my 1st X5(M version) which will also be my first SUV.
Is there not a dedicated coin holder? Is the ashtray lined or will coins rattle around there? What about sunglasses? Is there a special sunglass holder? If not, will a pair fit in the center console storage area? Are there features that you have had in less expensive cars that you were surprised were not in your X5?

I don't keep coins in the car, I got careless while at the takeout window. Paid for order, got change (couple of bills and few coins). Time to pull up to next window, so set change on top of closed cup holder. At next window, picked up change to open the cup holder top, just missed that damn penny!

I feel for you too cmyX6go! That coin rolling around was driving me crazy, soooo much better with it out now. What have you tried to date to eliminate the rattle?

vitaman: No dedicated coin holder, ashtray is not lined, but I have seen some posts on this site where folks modified the ashtray (lined it) for use as coin holder (a quick search on coin holder should reveal a couple of mods). I do keep sunglasses (in their case) in the center console.

I haven't done anything other than moving the buckle to different positions so far. I'm thinking it may have more to do with the tension on the belt than the movement of the buckle itself. I'll play around with it today.

what's up with that 3rd picture you posted? it seems like a coin floating in an aquarium?:dunno:

Now you've got me worried bro'.:wow: IIRC the plastic at the bottom of the console is the rear seat climate control ducts. Might make a great place for a cozy nest. Didn't happen to find any half eaten acorns did you?:stickpoke

How difficult was the dis assembly/reassembly? Were all the fasteners reusable?

BTW your pictures will make me even more careful not to spill liquids in the cup holder area. Not much in there that looks like it would enjoy getting wet.:(

Funf Dreisig

Not sure if this will work but if all else fails maybe get a piece of Velcro (same color as pillar) and tape the fuzzy not the hook side to the pillar where the buckle hits. It should be nearly invisible and give it a cushion to hit so it doesn't bang. You could probably cut a square about the size of a 50 cent piece and that would do it.

Thanks :)

Third picture is of a borescope screen. The coin is actually 6 to 7 inches under (forward) the cup holder. It is barely visible by direct examination (in the second photo, I've already moved the coin back and can now see the coin and took the picture. The borescope (a cheap rendition of a borescope from Home Depot) helped me find the coin originally. Actually, when I downloaded the photo off the camera, it took me a minute to remember what it was (had the same thought as you Roadster, "where did this photo come from?". I wanted to include it to show how the coin was found in that slot.

Once I got my mind around it, fairly easy to disassembly the gear shift area. The exploded views on several websites were helpful to a degree. Of course I didn't want to break something or make things worse, but I weighed that with the thought of what the dealer would charge me if I had them look for and remove the coin.

iDrive knob popped right off without too much effort. However, the plastic trim piece around the gear shift was a different story, it does pop off, but it felt like it was going to break before the clips released. Was just using my hands, but had to fashion a trim removal tool to get the front clips to release. The gear shift module was easy, five bolts and entire assembly (gear shift/iDrive module) lifted straight out. Re-assembly no problem, trim piece snapped right back in with a little pop from hand.

As you noted, the entire module is one big electronics package so one good spill and who knows, perhaps only saving grace (other than parts cost) is the entire gear shift assembly could be replaced in five minutes or less.

The velcro strip actually works well - its on the M3 models and really prevents those irritating knocking sounds. For the coins, get a small tupperware container with a lid for the centre consol. I would hate to have opened the centre consol!

Cheers,

hey iCX5, can you get a little more detailed in how you took off the trim around the shifter? I've tried what I could to get every corner off, except for the corner closest to the useless phone holder pocket. Is there a secret to this?

I used a thin piece of plastic and went around the sides and lifted up. There are 4 clips on the side of the plastic..so be careful about not breaking those and then there are more 3 metal "pressure clips (front and back).

Well, there is a little "cup" in the center that LOOKS like it's meant for change - it even looks like you "stack" them (horizontally) and that would probably hold fine. I don't know that's what it's FOR, though, but that's what it LOOKS like it's for.

My GX470 didn't have a change holder either - I used the ashtray (worked well as it was very convenient). The new GX has a change holder thing in the center console, which is one of those stupid-but-indispensible-nice-things.

The GX also has a sunglass holder. The X5 does not. I seem to be cursed this way - my old sunglasses would not fit in the GX, and I bought new ones for the X5, only to find there isn't a "proper" place to put them.

These sorts of things ARE annoying, but certainly no reason to diss such an otherwise excellent auto.

I completely sympathize with you wondering who in their right (#$($# mind thought you could leave these out in a vehicle whose market is so US-focused, you built the plant there, but hey.

I will say the cup holders are EXCELLENT - they will grip right on to whatever you want to put there. I was surprised (and a bit impressed). The Lexus didn't have cupholders, it had plastic voids shaped as though drinks could fit there.

At least these little design quirks are not BMW (or X5) specific. I'm sure they have good reasons for what they do.. I just think it would help them to no small degree to SHARE these reasons with us ignorant plebes.

Don't even get me started on the GX's tailgate, as an example of an extremely poor design choice. Even when they gave a reason "it would ruin the weight distribution" it doesn't hold any water. The entire rest of the Lexus / Toyota lineup doesn't have this problem, not even the 4Runner on which the GX is based.

BMW makes 50/50 weight distribution a huge priority in this vehicle (if not also much of the rest of their product line) and they got it right (REALLY right, actually). AND.. It's even a bit HEAVIER than the GX. WTF?

My advice would be use the little cup thing or the ashtray for your change and get on with driving the beast.

or for about $30-40 BMW makes a seatbelt holder that mounts to the headrest....PN52 30 0302 425 mrsp $37.89Seat Belt Holder
Regardless of the seat height or position, drivers and passengers will have no trouble accessing the seat belt with this seat belt holder. (PN: 52 30 0 302 425)


$37.89

I believe they intended that for a cellphone... although not many smartphones when protected with proper cases will fit in it.

The E53 has a nice dedicated sunglasses holder in the headliner just behind the reading lights. I really miss that.

On my quest for the perfect E70 sunglasses holder location, I took out my ashtray to make a great receptical for my sunglasses. Easy access. Perfect fit. I did this just after picking my car up from the PC. I didn't want to drive 1800 miles home without a good place for my sunglasses :).

I haven't covered up the two holes to the 'great beyond' yet though. I have imagined both pens and coins going down there.

I just purchased a used 2007 X5 3.0 si and I have the same issue. I have a screw or coin underneath my cup holders and every time I stop, move, turn, drive, etc. the object rolls back and forth and right to left. It sounds like a marble is on a dinner plate and rolls back and forth according to where the car is going....to say the least, that is all I hear and is driving me crazy. The dealer wants me to bring it in and they will try to remove it....I am scared of what they will charge so I was going to try and do it myself. I was thinking of drilling a hole through the bottom of the cup holder plastic and stick a magnet through it to catch the object. I will try to do what you have shown above but I would need a better view of a diagram to see how everything fits together....I am timid on doing this as I know BMW plastic trim clips are very touchy....anyone have any recommendations?

all you have to do is pull out the idrive knob and slowly work your way around the trim with a plastic trim remover or a flathead with some cloth over it. And then eventually you'll see the screws for the shifter and then you'll find the coin

thx all, I did it last night and was remarkably easy after I was able to have the guts to pull up on the trim with a little force. One I got the trim to snap up everything else pulled up easily. I then located the silver (5) bolts and removed them. I pulled the gear shift unit out and was able to view underneath the cupholder. I had to put the car on an incline so the penny would roll back down towards me but once I did, the penny showed up and I was able to pull it out with my fingers. I think it took me 15 min.....the dealer would have charged me for 3 hrs. labor.....Thanks for the help all!! I am not coin rolling free.....what a pain in the a** that was.....

Glad to hear your operation was so painless. Mine on the other hand is nowhere fast. Has anyone ever removed the lci idrive knob? Mine does not seem to pop off the way the pre lci knob would. Which brings me to the next question; if I am under warranty will my dealer fix this no charge? I have to bring my truck in for a faulty brake sensor going off and I may just tell them to deal with it. Somtimes I feel like i bought a rr :D

I had the same issue with my passenger belt, and it kept scratching the plastic on the B pillar when my "guests" would throw the belt when unbuckling.

I was able to get my dealer to replace the plastic on both B pillars and they re-positioned the little round plastic lower limit buttons for the buckles so they lined up with the fabric above the plastic. No more noise or scratches. I have been a happy camper with this ever since.

Good luck with yours
stevs

I beg your pardon for asking, but..

How EXACTLY do you remove the iDrive knob? Does it just pull right off with a little effort? (and go back on the same way?)

You can use a plastic putty spatula to pop it off with a bit of force. My first time around, I thought I was about to break the knob off with the force I put on it.

THANK YOU, ICX5 - you saved me a few hundred bucks!! Brilliant of BMW to put that coin track underneath, so that the coin moves back and forth effortlessly! :-)

Just did this to get a quater out that's been rolling around above the rear air vents under the cup holders. Thanks for the instructions not bad. Really gotta tug on that shifter shroud! I'm surprised I didn't break it! Torx T30 fit the 5 bolts to get the whole idrive/shifter assembly up and out.

https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...91670406_n.jpg
https://sphotos-b.xx.fbcdn.net/hphot...07687922_n.jpg

just don't use cash anymore. cash involves getting coins back and you end up with unnecessary scenarios like this one. Or, if you must, just use the small useless hole by the park button and when it gets full, just take them out and transfer to the coin jar in your home.

Just did this. Accelerating to roll the coins back and braking light enough so they wouldn't roll forward was a trick. My question is... is that groove specifically designed to catch coins or is it just the worst design ever in the history of engineering?

There is a sun glass holder that is color matched and a direct bolt replacement for the grab handle above the window on either side. It's designed for another model but there were several posts about it, along with part numbers. May have been another forum but a search should bring it up. I paid about $28 for mine. Works great, felt lined, self closing...

This one?

https://www.ecstuning.com/b-genuine-...FYU2gQodlfMKxw

That's the one. Works great. That handle was never in a good place for me to use anyway. I use the sun glass holder every day.

There are, however, cheaper sellers.

Where is the YouTube video that shows how to remove this center console on the E70 and what plastic tools do you buy? I’m too scared to forcefully pry it open.