The cupholder on the passenger side is no longer closing because my two year old managed to kick the thing to the point where the little plastic dimple on the bottom of the drawer broke off.

I found the broken off dimple inside the dash where the drawer fits but I cannot glue it or do something about it before I take the drawer out.

The closing/opening mechanism is pretty much similar to those found inside some ball point pens - it's basically a cam/latch type mechanism.

Anyhow, I looked at the drawer and I couldn't figure out how to take it out. I would expect that the common sense of german engineering designed this thing such that I can remove it without having to take out the entire mask/molding of the dash. That would be a pain.

If anyone has any advice on how best to remove that drawer I'd take any advice I can get.

Thanks a lot.

Don't know if yours is the same as my 99 ML320, but here is what works for my truck:

There is a pivot pin on each side of the cupholder that fits in a hole in the side of the cupholder opening in the dash. To remove the cupholder, grab it and apply force to the right or left (your choice). Gently pull out on the side opposite of the direction you are applying force. (If you're pushing it to the right, simultaneously pull gently forward on the left side.)

To re-install:

1. The spring has a loop on one end and a sort of squred off "S" On the other. Insert the squared off "S" end of the spring through the back of the cupholder, out through the hole in the side to the outside and then hook the tiny last bend back into the other hole in the side of the holder. It should end up in this orientation with the next to last bend laying in the tiny channel on the side of the cupholder. (Note in this blurry (sorry) photo, you are looking at the back of the cupholder.)


2. The looped end of the spring goes into this plastic pocket in the bottom of the opening in the dash. When you insert the cupholder, the spring folds in the middle:


3. While keeping the spring in the proper orientation with the index finger of your left hand, insert one pivot pin on the side of the cupholder into the hole in the side of the opening in the dash (I find it easier to start the right side first). The looped end of the spring has to continue to go into the plastic pocket in the bottom of the opening in the dash. Apply pressure towards the pin you inserted first (right side for me) and you can slip the left pin into it's hole. Voila.

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Thank you Sunedog,

I was wrong in pointing out where the cupholder is. The cupholder I was referring to is the dual one positioned in front of the middle backseat. It's right in front of where you would mount a childseat and it slides in and out like a drawer. Right now it's basically spring loaded out and not able to close because of the broken plastic piece at the bottom is missing. I have to fix asap it because the kid uses it as a step ladder now to get up on her seat.

I have the one in the pictures you attached but those are in the front and they're still working, that until the kid will will get a hold of them. So thank you anyway I will save your pictures for future reference.

Mistake on my part, 'sorry about that. I will take another look, there's probably a similar system to the ones in the front.

No problem. I mainly cut and pasted from an old thread I wrote on the subject.

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Behind every great man is a great woman. Behind every great woman is a great behind.