I just replaced the cupholder assembly in my XJ12 and I'm now delighted for the first time (across the 4 X300/X308s I've owned) that I now have a properly functioning cupholder!

However, now the center console latch isn't latching. I've taken it apart again about 4 times to adjust the spring wire, the screw on the lever, etc. But no matter what I seem to do, it will never actually latch. The latch on the old cupholder latched just fine, but even when I swapped that over to the new cupholder, no dice.

Is there an adjustment procedure that I'm missing here?

 

I had a few headaches with mine when I repaired the cup holder.
I realised I had the lid hook in the center console installed backwards. It might be worth checking the catch is facing towards the latch.

 

I despise the cupholders for this exact reason. I ended up gluing my latch in place in addition to the screw. Fiddling with it outside the car, I found that front of the latch must be held down firmly for it to latch, and that single screw doesn't cut it. To be abundantly clear, I did NOT glue the cupholder shut. Just that little latch piece to the plastic frame part.

 

 

Also had this issue, if it's for the cup holder button not catching on the cover.. I suspected because of wear in the cup holder hinge plastics, the assembly may be sitting slightly further forward than it should.
I decided to shave some of the plastic from of the front of the button to allow it to travel that little bit further forward. I used a craft knife to carve just enough away so that it caught the cup holder cover and held it down.
It means disassembling the button mechanism and figuring out where to shave back. Maybe not one for the purists, but it worked for me.

 

I guess I should clarify. The latch for the cupholders just fine. The latch I'm speaking of is the one that holds the whole console lid down to the center console.

 

I am actually having this same issue and haven’t yet quite figured it out either!

 

mine doesn't latch, but have not looked into exactly why as i am waiting for someone to get a new console lid to me cus mine also has the whole cupholder piece missing.

i found if i push the front corners in and push it down in the centre it will latch...
but havn''t really looked into the why or how to fix it

 

Yes, closure of the console lid can be tricky if the latch catch part is now orientated correctly.
I have attached a couple of pictures which should assist.

John Herbert
1996 XJR

 

the plastic on that ashtray looks so nice. lol.
mine is all broken....

 

There probably needs to be 2 washers underneath the catch piece, which the 2 screws go through. That would raise the catch a bit and help it grab the lid.

At least that's what I've always had. But the washers are easily lost.

 

thank you!!!
mine does not have..
i will put some and see how it goes.