Today I just about had it with the squeaky, useless, and broken cup holder. I removed it from the center console lid entirely. I will test drive the cat in a couple hours to see if there is any improvement. Is there an OE or classy looking alternative for cup holders that does not require woodworking, sewing, or leatherwork skills that I lack or that does not cost an arm and a leg?

When I removed the Rube Goldberg contraption it just about fell apart into a few broken plastic pieces. Repairing the cup holder seems futile if it will still squeak when I place my arm in the center console lid or drive over less than perfect roads. That constant squeaking is my main annoyance.

 

The early XJ40 console lids are pretty much the same (except for color) and will fit properly.

 

Those don’t have cup holders... So I would have to find an aftermarket cup holder. The XJ40 lid certainly an option I am seriously considering.

My car has a black interior. Does the black of the XJ40 differ noticeably from that of my X100?

 

the no cupholder lids use a magnet to latch and they’re like 25 bucks on ebay uk. late XJ40 X300 X308 X100 all fit so you can find one in your color.

 

Great. I will rummage through ebay. Just returned from my drive. Removing the cupholders has been a massive improvement. However, a new noise has revealed itself. A sort of crunching sound coming from the right side rear headliner/c-pillar area. After searching, I managed to replicate it by pressing down on the headliner. I’m guessing some clip came undone. I can’t seem to get it to clip back in position.

 

I bought this on Amazon for my car. Not the prettiest thing but it works and just slides between the seat and console. None of my cups will fit into the standard cup holders.

 

Here is my cupholder solution, from a BMW. I used this on a couple of my classics, and really like them. I now have two mounted in tandem on the passenger side. They do not interfere with the passenger's legs at all, and are strong enough to hold a 32 oz Starbucks drink cup! They also just pull up out of the holders .



https://www.jaguarforums.com/forum/x...rs-xk8-220845/

 

I bought a new cupholder re[placement kit for my 2008 XK8 coupe. I got it installed okay but I can't get the latch to hold it shut. I am probably going to have to take it apart and jerry rig an adjustment. I don't see any obvious adjustment for the latching mechanism, There has to be something better for such a nice car.

 

Yeah, it’s a shame. It is also no secret that the cup holders were an afterthought at Jaguar until the first gen XF was released.

 

My console is presently on the workbench. I took it out and disassembled it to get the top recovered, which came out OK but I need to do some trimming to make things work again.
Putting it back together is like solving a Rubik's cube blindfolded.
I need to be very careful not to damage anything while getting everything perfectly in place.
Right now I'm at the point where the cup holder works but doesn't deploy by itself, it needs to be pulled open.
So I'll be taking it apart again to see what is interfering with what but I have to be in the right frame of mind, with all sharp objects out of reach.
I'd like to meet the people who assembled these back in the day to see what medication they take.

 

I have another problem on My 2001 XKR. The ashtray lid won't stay shut. I really don't want to tear apart the console to fix it. Anyone deal with this problem ?

 

When I worked at the dealer I replaced DOZENS and DOZENS in new car warranty as well as 'customer-pay'.

I got pretty good at NOT breaking the little plastic mount tabs and screw holes!!

Sometimes you need to cut a few coils off the 'deployment-springs' if they are too strong.

 

Lots of money, time, and effort wasted there as the cup holders, even when new and fully functional, are completely useless.

 

Thanks. I love this site !!

 

It looks like that would be rubbing against your leg and be annoying.

 

It has been explained to me that cup holders were an American thing before the were a European/British thing. Why? The Euro/Brit auto makers surmised their customers were serious drivers and would not be slurping bottled water, coffee or Slushies as they traveled the roads. Hands at 11 and 3 or 9 and 3 with speeds as the roads would allow. Then the demand for cup holders became a global mandate. I keep my Gatorade bottle in the driver's door pocket and take a quick sip if I'm parched; keep surgical masks in the cup holders. Be safe.

 

the cupholders do in fact, hold most soda cans securely

 

I am always fascinated by these threads I don't think I have ever used a cupholder in any car that I have ever owned....I understand that I'm an 'oddball' as well

 

If you think the Jag cup holder is useless, this is the cup holder in my Audi.

 

Ah, the perennial cup holder problem. On my x350 I managed to break the holder but found an outfit in England that had NOS console lids with cupholders. It was a pretty easy replacement after removing the console and could probably be done in situ. I think I paid about $80 with shipping from the UK and I suspect they have XK replacements. The color and surface texture were a perfect match. Given enough time I might even remember or be able to look up their name. I know the name is referenced in whatever I posted about how I did the replacement work in the forum that covers the x350.