Hi ,

Ive just got the polo twin cup holder, from VAG parts. I have done a search and can find a lot about the cup holders but nothing on how to fit them into the fabia. How do I get the existing compartment out? and do I need to alter the cup holder in any way to make it fit ? sorry if the has been answered before

Alanj.

IIRC from fitting my CD changer to the back of my HU, the tray underneath the stereo unclips and slides out once you've removed the HU. You shouldn't need to do any cutting, as the space under the HU is a standard size and shape - the cup holder should just slide in in its place. It may be worth keeping the little rubber mat from the old tray, in case the cup holder's tray doesn't come with one.

At least that's how I'm planning to fit mine when it comes!

Do you need a special tool to remove the head unit or will a screwdriver do it?

You can buy specific HU keys from your dealer, but a blunt junior hacksaw blade snapped in half will do just as well. You put the 'keys' into the two vertical slots on the HU to release it, and it just pulls out. You might need to use something to lever it out the first half-inch or so, so that you can actually get a grip on it to remove it completely, but you need to make sure you don't use something hard like a screwdriver otherwise you'll mark the plastic...

Cheers mate I'll give that a go.

The cup holder will not fit without cutting, I know as I'd done this mod myself several months ago. The only part you should need to trim is the + section that plugs into the dash frame at the back of the cup holder.

Even then the cup holder will not totally sit flush with the dash as the cup holder is square and the Fabia dash has a slight curve to it. I have since removed the cup holder and replaced it with an Elegance tray.

Des

The cup holder will not fit without cutting' date=' I know as I'd done this mod myself several months ago. The only part you should need to trim is the + section that plugs into the dash frame at the back of the cup holder.

Even then the cup holder will not totally sit flush with the dash as the cup holder is square and the Fabia dash has a slight curve to it. I have since removed the cup holder and replaced it with an Elegance tray.

Des[/quote']

[edit]Just seen the pics in your gallery, Des - I can live with it looking like that! I was worried from what you said that it would stick out![/edit]

The cup holder will not fit without cutting' date=' I know as I'd done this mod myself several months ago. The only part you should need to trim is the + section that plugs into the dash frame at the back of the cup holder.

Even then the cup holder will not totally sit flush with the dash as the cup holder is square and the Fabia dash has a slight curve to it. I have since removed the cup holder and replaced it with an Elegance tray.

Des[/quote']

How obvious is it? It looked really good in your photo's.

How obvious is it? It looked really good in your photo's.

I looked OK but because the profile was not exact it started to bug me after a while, if you use an aftermarket stereo the difference might not be so noticable.

However, my opinion could be completely different to someone else.

Des

I looked OK but because the profile was not exact it started to bug me after a while' date=' if you use an aftermarket stereo the difference might not be so noticable.

However, my opinion could be completely different to someone else.

Des[/quote']

Seeing how SWMBO managed to flood my glove box, passenger door speaker compartment and passenger seat sqaub with Pepsi Max after trying to use the cupholders in the glovebox lid, I'll happily put up with a slightly put-of-sync bit of trim if it prevents me needing to clean up again!!! Plus she made out like it was MY fault, but that's another story...

Just fitted mine now. I found that, unlike what Des said earlier, the + section at the back didn't need any cutting, but quite a lot of the moulding on the top at the front needed cutting back so the unit fitted the underside of the HU. Maybe the design's changed slightly, I don't know? I started off using a hacksaw to do the cutting, but found that using a pair of pliers to twist off the necessary mouldings a bit at a time was much more precise and didn't have the risk of slipping and scarring the plastic anywhere else by mistake...

Anyway, it fits nicely now - the edges of the mini tray (so much for re-using the rubber mat from the old tray!) are flush with the narrow vertical bits of trim that run up the sides of the HU, which means the cup holders themselves stick out a tad. But because of the rounded edges, I think it looks OK - plus it helps to hide the fact the profile isn't quite the same as the rest of the dash console!

Anyway, may everyone who's got theirs or is getting it soon have as much fun as I did doing the necessary tinkering to get it to fit, and may their future journeys be spillage-free!