One of the earlier cupholders
There have been at least three designs of cupholders that are designed to fit into the centre console over the transmission tunnel. This is one of the earlier designs, a flip-top device suitable for both right-hand and left-hand drive cars that can take two cups.

Shown here with the insulated BMW mug and a flask given by BMW during the 2000 Homecoming to the BMW factory at Spartanburg.

The latest Z3 cupholder
The latest one is a simple device that is suitable for both right-hand and left-hand drive cars. This is a pre-production model that I picked up at the 1999 Homecoming to the BMW factory at Spartanburg

Three different sized cups can be used. The front cupholder has a plastic ring that can be taken out for large-diameter containers or left in place for small containers. The rear cupholder handles medium-sized bottles and cups.

Forward of the front cupholder are three coin stacks that handle quarters, nickles and dimes. UK pound coins do fit, but you can't get them out again!

An insulated aluminium BMW mug sits comfortably but can get in the way on twisty roads.

The rear compartment doesn't have a lid, so can't act as an armrest.

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