Cup Holder Alternative to Replacing Rubber Grommet

MyVolvoS60 · Jul 19, 2022

Sorry, my cup holder could use a bit of a wipe down.

Question: I bought the Rubber Insert Replacement for the cupholder, but I'm hesitant to really undertake the complete disassembly necessary to replace the rubber grommet. One thought I had in mind, does anyone have a recommendation on Cup Holder Inserts that fits into the existing cupholder and would let the sliding door above the cupholder still close?

In my current state, cups don't stay upright that well as there's nothing to hold them in place. I would rip out those last 3 fingers if I can find an alternate insert to resolve this issue.

I.E. AMAZON LINK

p.rico · Jul 19, 2022

You should be able to wedge a blade or flat screwdriver and pry the top cover of the assembly up and off the cupholder base without taking apart the center console to unscrew the base (for your post-facelift model). The top snaps onto the base. You can then just install a new rubber gasket assembly.

I know the new cars have their cupholder assembly screwed in place, but check first to see if you can still get the top off.

p.rico · Jul 19, 2022

In fact, here is the cupholder grommet for the post facelift models.

Volvo Cup Holder Mat - Genuine Volvo 31351785 | FCP Euro

You can get a free replacement once you've run through this one as well (minus the $1 to ship the old one back).

MyVolvoS60 · Jul 19, 2022

p.rico said:
In fact, here is the cupholder grommet for the post facelift models.

Volvo Cup Holder Mat - Genuine Volvo 31351785 | FCP Euro

You can get a free replacement once you've run through this one as well (minus the $1 to ship the old one back).

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Can you simply pop out the cup holder without complete disassembly on a 15.5 P3? As this tear down is a pretty involved process for a simple rubber grommet.

If there's a simple shortcut, please elaborate further. I'd love to not have my drinks slosh around without fingers or an Aftermarket holder to secure drinks.

unfurl="true"]How To - Center dash Radio HVAC trim removal, Center...

p.rico · Jul 19, 2022

Note I explicitly did not say to disassemble the console. This is why I posted the photo for reference. Stick a flat tool in the crease around the rubber grommet line and pry up.

MyVolvoS60 · Jul 27, 2022

p.rico said:
Note I explicitly did not say to disassemble the console. This is why I posted the photo for reference. Stick a flat tool in the crease around the rubber grommet line and pry up.

Sorry been away. I apologize but I guess I'm unclear at what you're suggesting. Here is a closeup of my P3 cupholder. I presume the faceplate that sits around the gearshift and Sensus needs removed? If there is a means of doing this with zero disassembly, please clarify.

KeepingIPDinBiz · Jul 28, 2022

I’m wondering the same thing as it does appear that quite a bit of trim would be in the way before this pops off. I also got a replacement rubber insert and am waiting to replace. I forgot to put it in when I swapped in my wood trim!

FredH · Jul 28, 2022

I take the the P3's entire cup holder doesn't lift out of the center console for disassembly, sans tools, like the P2?

Wayne T5 · Jul 28, 2022

No, you pretty much have to disassemble and remove the center console and then hope you don't break that lighted ring in the cupholder that is so fragile!

p.rico · Jul 28, 2022

FredH said:
I take the the P3's entire cup holder doesn't lift out of the center console for disassembly, sans tools, like the P2?

Certain P3 models, yes.

Looking at the photo above, however, it appears Volvo not only screwed the assembly into the console, but additionally molded the sides of the cup holder ONTO the assembly top lid as one piece.

So yes, while the cup holder still does separate at the center seam, in order to be able to replace the rubber, you still need to remove the assembly out of the center console for the post facelift. Not hard at all, but it does take 15-20 min of your time.

p.rico · Jul 28, 2022

I initially presumed that it could be possible to just remove the top portion to replace the rubber without removing the whole cupholder assembly. However, from @MyVolvoS60's photo I now see that the side walls that form the vertical sections of the cupholder basin and the top lid portion to covers the rubber gasketing is one fully molded piece, so that isn't possible.

See this image below. This is my pre-facelift cupholder. Not only can you remove it from the top, but you can also just remove the physical top of the holder to access the rubber gasketing. That's because the vertical cupholder walls and the cupholder itself are not molded as one.

MyVolvoS60 · Jul 28, 2022

Wayne T5 said:
No, you pretty much have to disassemble and remove the center console and then hope you don't break that lighted ring in the cupholder that is so fragile!

True for those with that lighted ring. I don't have that feature on my vehicle.

I'm still at awe and disbelief that the Volvo Engineers thought it a good idea to integrate the cupholder into the console instead of making it easily replaceable as seen in the earlier P3s. I've watched the videos online and there's quite a bit of disassembly require to reach that stupid grommet. Which I'm not sure is worth the hassle or risk something breaks.

Thus, I'm wondering if there are inserts that fit into the existing cupholder as a plan B that would still permit the sliding door to shut.

Wayne T5 · Jul 28, 2022

MyVolvoS60 said:
True for those with that lighted ring. I don't have that feature on my vehicle.

Yeah, that's right, I was thinking of my P3 XC70 where I did this. The S/V60's just have a separate light there.

The P2's were very easy to replace and now with SPA they've done away with the grommet altogether and use spring-loaded clips like other manufacturers.

abcdefghii · Jul 28, 2022

MyVolvoS60 said:
I've watched the videos online and there's quite a bit of disassembly require to reach that stupid grommet. Which I'm not sure is worth the hassle or risk something breaks.

I've taken the console apart enough to know that it is not that difficult, but there is a reason I have not replaced the rubber on my cupholders, and it is exactly that, I don't want to risk breaking something. I rarely have a cup in there, so it is not a big deal, but it would have been nice to be able to easily replace them.

If I ever end up with another reason to remove the console, I'll probably just replace them at the same time.

Sysyphus61 · Jul 28, 2022

Yep - Volvo engineering’s primary mission for 2010 onward was to make the cup holder more difficult to access.

My ‘09 C70 the whole thing literally pops out - you can run it thru the dishwasher and pop it back in… when the rubber needs replacing the top and bottom simply snap apart, you put the new one i and snap it back together again.

The 11 S60 requires a bit of jiggling, but does still come out enough for you to detach the 12v socket connector and then it’s similar.

Did manage to change it on my late lamented ‘17 S60 when I had it apart to install the CarPlay gizmo.

By the ‘15 XC60 they had perfected it to the point that you need to disassemble half the interior and rebuild it around the new rubber. Forgot to do it when I had mine apart for CarPlay install, but will be replacing the center vent flaps once we get some cooler days, so will relocate the CarPlay box, switch out the gear shifter with the prettier one I had in my ‘11, replace the cup holder rubber while I’m about it and maybe add a USB port or two while everything is apart.

Just debating whether I’ll have the time money and inclination to go in a bit deeper and swap out the squeaky blower fan while I’m in there.

MyVolvoS60 · Jul 28, 2022

Wayne T5 said:
Yeah, that's right, I was thinking of my P3 XC70 where I did this. The S/V60's just have a separate light there.

The P2's were very easy to replace and now with SPA they've done away with the grommet altogether and use spring-loaded clips like other manufacturers.

Which again begs the question....What engineer thought this was a good idea! Rubber wears, cracks, and rots. Clearly, the P2s and early P3s used an easily removable cupholder. And the SPA's use springs. The one pet peeve is now the rubber is all cracked and gun, my bottled waters slosh around and won't stay upright.

Rock and a hard place. If there's an insert I can use or someone recommends, great - One where the sliding lid closes. Otherwise, I'm not sure what I'll do. I imagine I could wiggle my way through the process but I also and leery of breaking something. Though, my car isn't a platinum so no lighted cupholder at all.

p.rico · Jul 28, 2022

It's really simple. I just did it, again, two weekends ago, to install a new waterfall design and fix some of the wiring of my CarPlay box. It took very little time and skill.

Nickshu · Jul 29, 2022

Here is my thread on swapping out the rubber cupholder insert: How To - Center dash Radio HVAC trim removal, Center...

gobluetwo · Jul 29, 2022

I wonder if you can retrofit the old cupholder assembly into the facelift models with the single-piece PITA cupholder. Not that I have any inclination to do that at this point, but more of an idle thought.

KeepingIPDinBiz · Aug 5, 2022

I just did this today. I would say it would take about an hour to do, but if you've done it before, its honestly a 15 minute job. The front console doesn't need to be unplugged also, it can just be unscrewed and then moved out of the way to get to appropriate screws.

One thing worth noting, is don't touch the silver screws under the cupholder, until the assembly is removed. Take out the 4 black screws surrounding the cupholder and separate the cupholders from the console first.

While I was at this I put in the LED for the cupholder lighting.

Unfortunately, by the time I got everything apart I realized I had gotten the wrong cupholder grommet! So I will have to take this apart again in a few days.

Cup Holder Alternative to Replacing Rubber Grommet

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