Glovebox Mystery!

zfirstz4me · 10-19-2023, 12:59 PM

I’m not certain I’ll be able to host an image but will try. I discovered a slot/port of some kind in my glovebox. Right hand side for those of us that are in the US. I thought initially that it was a charging port for a key fob, but clearly doesn’t fit. The manual made no mention of this and an image search didn’t turn up an exact result. My best guess at this point is maybe something related to CD changer, which I don’t have. Small metal tab in the center with some guiderails all around, just about the size for an fob. Anyone know for certain what this is for??? It’s not the USB port. Once I find a place to host my image I will add it.

tranquility · 10-19-2023, 03:51 PM

You're missing a detachable cup holder so better ask whoever sold the car to you.
It looks like this and that's how it stores in the glovebox and it also slots into the side of the centre console.

zfirstz4me · 10-19-2023, 07:33 PM

tranquility, you nailed it. That's exactly what it is. I've got the cupholder and have even removed it. I never made the connection that BMW may have designed a built in storage slot. Thank you!

tranquility · 10-19-2023, 07:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zfirstz4me

tranquility, you nailed it. That's exactly what it is. I've got the cupholder and have even removed it. I never made the connection that BMW may have designed a built in storage slot. Thank you!

Np, I was worried the seller ripped you off but you had the cupholder all along.

Good stuff.

WierZ · 11-01-2023, 06:42 PM

Do you have a picture of how it is stored in your glovebox?
I am installing a cupholder right now but like to know how to store it in the glovebox when not in use.
Thanks

RobbiZ4 · 11-07-2023, 04:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zfirstz4me

I discovered a slot/port of some kind in my glovebox. .

It's for a flash light with an accu offered by BMW.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/354840147361

TrueR6 · 01-16-2025, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WierZ

Do you have a picture of how it is stored in your glovebox?
I am installing a cupholder right now but like to know how to store it in the glovebox when not in use.
Thanks

Did you find it out? I’m also interested. My car doesn’t have a cupholder and I’m thinking about retrofit it

Tangent · 01-16-2025, 08:37 PM

Here you go:

RobbiZ4 · 01-19-2025, 11:26 AM

As said 2 posts above:

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbiZ4

It's for a flash light with an accu offered by BMW.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/354840147361

Belair62 · 01-20-2025, 11:12 AM

Hmmm...so which is it ? Cupholder socket or flashlight socket ? Mine has the cupholder stored in it.

tranquility · 01-20-2025, 01:39 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Belair62

Hmmm...so which is it ? Cupholder socket or flashlight socket ? Mine has the cupholder stored in it.

In my car it's the former, maybe he's talking about a mod, there's no wiring in mine.

DavesZed · 01-21-2025, 03:05 AM

Absolutely no such thing as a flashlight for the E89, never was, LHD or RHD 100% fact!! Sorry.
That is, as shown in the photos posted above, a cup holder bracket.

I've looked into retrofitting the flashlight, I've got a brand new one (you can upgrade them to LED bulbs for better light output) and the proper charge socket, but it simply doesn't fit anywhere without modification. A couple of options for a decent location would be either the drivers knee cubby (if you have the extended storage package, or retrofit the dash panel on it's own) or within the passthrough hatch (again with the extended storage or retrofit). No real decent flat surface within the glovebox to mount it, without it getting in the way too much. So I've still got it, and I probably will fit it at some point in the future.

Belair62 · 01-22-2025, 01:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavesZed

Absolutely no such thing as a flashlight for the E89, never was, LHD or RHD 100% fact!! Sorry.
That is, as shown in the photos posted above, a cup holder bracket.

I've looked into retrofitting the flashlight, I've got a brand new one (you can upgrade them to LED bulbs for better light output) and the proper charge socket, but it simply doesn't fit anywhere without modification. A couple of options for a decent location would be either the drivers knee cubby (if you have the extended storage package, or retrofit the dash panel on it's own) or within the passthrough hatch (again with the extended storage or retrofit). No real decent flat surface within the glovebox to mount it, without it getting in the way too much. So I've still got it, and I probably will fit it at some point in the future.

Add a CD changer in there and there is no room to even fit the owner books

TrueR6 · 02-10-2025, 05:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tangent

Here you go:

Thank you so much! I just received today my brand new cupholder. I will try to retrofit it to my European car.

The thing is that I was trying to figure out how it works, and I put the cupholder inside the slot all the way in, and I almost have to call Hulk Hogan to help me out in order to remove it 🤣

Does it work by brute force? I don’t know if with the time the plastic will wear out and it will be easier to remove it? You guys can plug it and remove it easy from the main/glovebox slots?

TrueR6 · 02-10-2025, 05:05 PM

This is what I have. In the picture I didn’t put it all the way in. I will not do that again until I know how it works lol

Tangent · 02-11-2025, 01:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TrueR6

Thank you so much! I just received today my brand new cupholder. I will try to retrofit it to my European car.

The thing is that I was trying to figure out how it works, and I put the cupholder inside the slot all the way in, and I almost have to call Hulk Hogan to help me out in order to remove it 🤣

Does it work by brute force? I don’t know if with the time the plastic will wear out and it will be easier to remove it? You guys can plug it and remove it easy from the main/glovebox slots?

It's not exactly a soft and elegant mechanism; it takes a pretty decent tug and it makes a pronounced plastic ratcheting sound when you pull it out.

TrueR6 · 02-11-2025, 03:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Tangent

It's not exactly a soft and elegant mechanism; it takes a pretty decent tug and it makes a pronounced plastic ratcheting sound when you pull it out.

So is nothing wrong with the parts I bought. Indeed I expected to be a more elegant mechanism because it was pretty expensive for what it is. Maybe when it will be attached to the main console it would be easier, I hope..

Next part of the retrofit will be to try to find the slot for the glovebox. It has the holes to attach it but I can’t find the part number of the slot on RealOem. But knowing how hard it is to pull it out, maybe it will be better to store it in a bag 🤣

Curranc13 · 01-10-2026, 09:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DavesZed

Absolutely no such thing as a flashlight for the E89, never was, LHD or RHD 100% fact!! Sorry.
That is, as shown in the photos posted above, a cup holder bracket.

I've looked into retrofitting the flashlight, I've got a brand new one (you can upgrade them to LED bulbs for better light output) and the proper charge socket, but it simply doesn't fit anywhere without modification. A couple of options for a decent location would be either the drivers knee cubby (if you have the extended storage package, or retrofit the dash panel on it's own) or within the passthrough hatch (again with the extended storage or retrofit). No real decent flat surface within the glovebox to mount it, without it getting in the way too much. So I've still got it, and I probably will fit it at some point in the future.

There actually is a flashlight for the e89 z4. I have one in my glove box. Not retro fitted. Its a battery powered flashlight though.

DavesZed · 01-11-2026, 03:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Curranc13

There actually is a flashlight for the e89 z4. I have one in my glove box. Not retro fitted. Its a battery powered flashlight though.

Are you saying you have a BMW OEM E89 specific flashlight, bought from BMW?
Or do you have a "BMW Accessories" product with a BMW badge on it?

Photo/s?

RobbiZ4 · 01-15-2026, 02:08 PM

Similiar to this one:

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbiZ4

It's for a flash light with an accu offered by BMW.

https://www.ebay.de/itm/354840147361

DavesZed · 01-16-2026, 10:32 AM

No photos = Never happened!!

MRCW · 01-16-2026, 12:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RobbiZ4

Similiar to this one:

I remember having one of these in my older x5 and E61...as I recall, these have tiny incandescent bulbs. BMW ITEM # 63316962052.

I wouldn't bother with this

10-19-2023, 12:59 PM	#1
zfirstz4me New Member 2 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: California iTrader: (0)	Glovebox Mystery! I’m not certain I’ll be able to host an image but will try. I discovered a slot/port of some kind in my glovebox. Right hand side for those of us that are in the US. I thought initially that it was a charging port for a key fob, but clearly doesn’t fit. The manual made no mention of this and an image search didn’t turn up an exact result. My best guess at this point is maybe something related to CD changer, which I don’t have. Small metal tab in the center with some guiderails all around, just about the size for an fob. Anyone know for certain what this is for??? It’s not the USB port. Once I find a place to host my image I will add it.
	Appreciate 0 Tweet Quote

10-19-2023, 03:51 PM	#2
tranquility sportscars only 3781 Rep 3,359 Posts Drives: 2011 Z4 sDrive 35i Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Montréal iTrader: (0)	You're missing a detachable cup holder so better ask whoever sold the car to you. It looks like this and that's how it stores in the glovebox and it also slots into the side of the centre console. __________________ The richest one percent of this country owns half our country's wealth, five trillion dollars. One third of that comes from hard work, two thirds comes from inheritance, interest on interest accumulating to widows and idiot sons and what I do, stock and real estate speculation...It's bullsh*t. I create nothing. I own. We make the rules, pal...Now you're not naive enough to think we're living in a democracy, are you buddy?
	Appreciate 1 Weaselbeak22.00 Quote

10-19-2023, 07:33 PM	#3
zfirstz4me New Member 2 Rep 9 Posts Drives: 2009 BMW Z4 sDrive35i Join Date: Jan 2023 Location: California iTrader: (0)	tranquility, you nailed it. That's exactly what it is. I've got the cupholder and have even removed it. I never made the connection that BMW may have designed a built in storage slot. Thank you!
	Appreciate 0 Quote

11-01-2023, 06:42 PM	#5
WierZ Registered 2 Rep 2 Posts Drives: BMW Z4 E89 35i Join Date: Aug 2023 Location: Netherlands iTrader: (0)	Do you have a picture of how it is stored in your glovebox? I am installing a cupholder right now but like to know how to store it in the glovebox when not in use. Thanks
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-16-2025, 08:37 PM	#8
Tangent Captain 365 Rep 640 Posts Drives: G01, F82, E89, F25 Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: California iTrader: (2)	Here you go:
	Appreciate 1 TrueR648.00 Quote

01-20-2025, 11:12 AM	#10
Belair62 Private 42 Rep 53 Posts Drives: Z4 35is Join Date: Dec 2023 Location: Illinois iTrader: (0)	Hmmm...so which is it ? Cupholder socket or flashlight socket ? Mine has the cupholder stored in it.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-21-2025, 03:05 AM	#12
DavesZed Captain 321 Rep 733 Posts Drives: BMW E89 23i, 2011 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Grantham, UK iTrader: (0)	Absolutely no such thing as a flashlight for the E89, never was, LHD or RHD 100% fact!! Sorry. That is, as shown in the photos posted above, a cup holder bracket. I've looked into retrofitting the flashlight, I've got a brand new one (you can upgrade them to LED bulbs for better light output) and the proper charge socket, but it simply doesn't fit anywhere without modification. A couple of options for a decent location would be either the drivers knee cubby (if you have the extended storage package, or retrofit the dash panel on it's own) or within the passthrough hatch (again with the extended storage or retrofit). No real decent flat surface within the glovebox to mount it, without it getting in the way too much. So I've still got it, and I probably will fit it at some point in the future. __________________ Dave 2011, E89 23i, Grey with Red leather.... was very basic, now almost fully spec'd following all of the retrofits I've done! My Z4 E89 YouTube channel... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtt...0vHFUQnoEvKB2Q
	Appreciate 4 tranquility3780.50 lakesguy0.00 Belair6242.00 TrueR648.00 Quote

02-10-2025, 05:05 PM	#15
TrueR6 Registered 48 Rep 44 Posts Drives: e89 Join Date: Jan 2025 iTrader: (0) Garage List 2010 E89 Z4 [10.00]	This is what I have. In the picture I didn’t put it all the way in. I will not do that again until I know how it works lol Attached Images Last edited by TrueR6; 02-10-2025 at 05:07 PM..
	Appreciate 1 Weaselbeak22.00 Quote

01-16-2026, 10:32 AM	#21
DavesZed Captain 321 Rep 733 Posts Drives: BMW E89 23i, 2011 Join Date: Nov 2015 Location: Grantham, UK iTrader: (0)	No photos = Never happened!! __________________ Dave 2011, E89 23i, Grey with Red leather.... was very basic, now almost fully spec'd following all of the retrofits I've done! My Z4 E89 YouTube channel... https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCtt...0vHFUQnoEvKB2Q
	Appreciate 0 Quote