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850, S70, V70, C70, V70 XC --Replacing Cupholders

Help, Advice and DIY Tutorials on Volvo's P80 platform cars -- Volvo's 1990s "bread and butter" cars -- powered by the ubiquitous and durable Volvo inline 5-cylinder engine.

1992 - 1997 850, including 850 R, 850 T-5R, 850 T-5, 850 GLT
1997 - 2000 S70, S70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70, V70 AWD
1997 - 2000 V70-XC
1997 - 2004 C70

This topic is in the MVS Volvo Repair Database » 850, S70, V70, C70, V70 XC - Replace Cupholders DIY
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E Showell
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Volvo Repair Database 850, S70, V70, C70, V70 XC --Replacing Cupholders

Post by E Showell »

Like me, by now many of you have broken front seat armrest cupholders.

There is a replacement part available from the Ebay seller of the Estonian replacement heater cores, Swedish Autolamps for Less. The part is their number 9499406, $30 shipping included (a tad pricey for what it is, if you ask me, but you don't have to buy it). They claim to have beefed up some of the components from the original design. It is tough to tell if that is so, but the semi-circular arm does look a little more substantial than the original.

This will be the easiest repair you ever make to your Volvo.

Tools required: a Torx T25 driver.

Procedure: Lift up the armrest lid. Remove the two T-25 screw on the underside of the armrest -- one on each side. Pry the armrest cover slightly away from the plastic frame with your fingers -- you don't need to open up a gap of more than about 3/8" to be able to slide the old cupholder out and the new one in. Slide out the old cupholder assembly. Slide in the new cupholder assembly. Reinstall the two T-25 screws and torque tight. You're done and now have functioning cupholders. Total repair time -- less than 5 minutes.

Now you can enjoy that cup of coffee on the way to work.

Truth to tell, I probably could have survived without the replacement cupholder, but my car is a stick and I do take a few long highway trips a year in it. Functioning cupholders are a big plus on those trips.

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Last edited by E Showell on 27 Dec 2014, 16:04, edited 2 times in total.
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

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jreed
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Post by jreed »

Thanks! I was wondering if that eBay version was well built. Looking forward to seeing the pictures! :)
1997 855 GLT (Light Pressure Turbo) still going strong. Previous: 1986 240 GL rusted out in '06, 1985 Saab 900T rusted out in '95, 1975 Saab 99 rusted out in '95, 1973 Saab 99 rusted out in '94

Ozark Lee
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Post by Ozark Lee »

The forum guidelines for posting photos is to go ahead and upload them to the MVS server. You can link to an external source but places like photobucket and flicker eventually purge them. If they are here they will be here forever, or until you don't want them to be anymore.

When you edit the post drop to the tabs below the dialog window and select the upload tab. From there you can use the browse button to launch a window to locate the picture(s) on your computer. Pictures are uploaded one at a time by pressing the open button.

Once they are uploaded you position the cursor in the dialog box and add that uploaded file to the post.

It is pretty easy, if you have any trouble you can email them to Matt and he can do it for you.

...Lee
'94 850 N/A 5 speed
'96 Platinum Edition Turbo
Previous:
1999 V70XC - Nautic Blue - Totaled while parked.
1999 V70XC - RIP - Wrecked Parts Car.
1998 S70 T5
1996 850 N/A
1989 740 GLT
1986 740 GLT
1972 142 Grand Luxe

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E Showell
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Post by E Showell »

Already emailed to Matt. I'm sure he'll post them when he gets a chance. The visual is nice, but unnecessary. Like I said, this is perhaps the easiest fix you'll ever do. Putting air in the tires is almost harder than this -- and yet, this fix is oh so satisfying..
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

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matthew1  
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Post by matthew1 »

Photos added to head post. :-)
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1998 V70, no dash lights on

1997 850 T5 [gone] w/ MSD ignition coil, Hallman manual boost controller, injectors, R bumper, OMP strut brace

2004 V70 R [gone]

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Chai
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Joined: 3 June 2014
Year and Model: 1998 V70 awd xc
Location: Santa Cruz California

Post by Chai »

Does anyone know of a replacement cup holder that can accommodate wider cups? This one won't hold a regular bottle of coco-cola or my refillable water bottle. Thanks in advance.
1998 V70 xc, 1994 940 wagon (a little crunched), Previous: 1969 145

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E Showell
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Post by E Showell »

Yes, as noted, the replacement cupholders are a bit on the narrow side capacity-wise. I would prefer a more capacious holder as well.
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

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abscate
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Post by abscate »

This was the highest ratio:

Spousal satisfaction
--------------------------

Money spent


Xmas present I got for SWMBO one Christmas back when she the T5 was her daily driver with the muffins
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

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E Showell
Posts: 3275
Joined: 16 October 2008
Year and Model: ‘07 S80 3.2
Location: Long Valley, N.J.
Has thanked: 37 times
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Post by E Showell »

Steve obviously doesn't take his wife to dinner often enough. . . .
'98 V70 NA FWD 5 spd, silver sand metallic (sold)
'99 V70 NA FWD Auto, dark blue (sold)
'99 S70 NA FWD Auto, black (sold and resurrected -- Don't cry for me Argentina . . . )
'07 S80 3.2 FWD Auto, Barents Blue Metallic
'06 V70 R AWD Auto, Sonic Blue Metallic (sold)
'04 XC70 Ruby Red Metallic (sold)
'95 855 auto (sold)
'86 245 manual (sold)
'05 V70 T5 M (totalled)
'06 V70 FWD Auto (totalled)
'02 Honda Insight CVT
‘04 Honda Insight CVT — “Yesterday’s car of tomorrow” (sold)
‘06 Honda Insight CVT

User avatar
abscate
MVS Moderator
Posts: 35273
Joined: 17 February 2013
Year and Model: 99: V70s S70s,05 V70
Location: Port Jefferson Long Island NY
Has thanked: 1498 times
Been thanked: 3810 times

Post by abscate »

:D :D :D


She brings home the leftovers in her new cup holders now...God Bless her for being cheaper than me...(no mean feat)
Empty Nester
A Captain in a Sea of Estrogen
1999-V70-T5M56 2005-V70-M56 1999-S70 VW T4 XC90-in-Red
Link to Maintenance record thread

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