• Close

    • How to add cup holders to a Mercedes S-Class (W221 2006-2013)

    • Please click here to support usIt is only your donations that keep this website going. If we've helped you, please pay the favour forward and help others by keeping this content alive. You can do this by clicking here and donating. Thank you, for whatever you decide to give.
    • This guide describes how to quickly and easily add genuine Mercedes original front compartment cup holders to your Mercedes S Class. This is a very easy job and if you search around should cost you somewhere between £20 and £60 depending on your model. This is a very low risk procedure but no procedure is totally without some risk so please ensure you have read this disclaimer (click here)
    •  
    • Introduction
    • How to add original cup holders to a Mercedes S Class @ www.jamesandtracy.co.ukI'm not sure what Mercedes has against cup holders, but they never seem to fit them as standard in their cars. This guide rectifies that and shows you how to buy and fit your own cup holder option. There are loads of ways of adding cup holders to a Mercedes, but this guide focusses on adding the correct OEM part that was offered as an option by Mercedes back when the car was first bought. OEM cup holders are much, much nicer that aftermarket solutions so why anyone would fit anything else to an S Class is beyond me. Anyway while fitting is easy (as nothing needs to be unscrewed), sourcing the correct part is less easy (unless you have the code from EPC). You'll find loads of OEM cup holders on EBay and the like, but unless you know this code you risk purchasing ones that will not fit.
    •  
    • The Two Types of OEM Cup Holders that were Offered
    •  
    • Mercedes fitted two different types of cup holders to the S Class W221 - one fitted the pre-facelift varient and one was for the facelift model. If you buy the wrong one for your car it will not fit properly. The earlier pre-facelift version is much nicer as it was before Mercedes started to cut a few costs on the later model cars (this is usual practice for any manufacturer once a model line is established).
    •  
    • Mercedes S Class W221 cup holder types @ www.jamesandtracy.co.ukThe cup holder fits in the second recess from the front in your centre console as shown in the photo in the Introduction (previous section). Above you can see the two different cup holders models for comparison, old type (retracting) on left and new type (solid) on the right.
    •  
    • Pre-Facelift Early Mercedes S Class Cup Holders (Cars up to 2009)
    • Beautiful retracting mechanism on pre-facelift Mercedes S Class @ www.jamesandtracy.co.uk
    • The pre-facelift varient fits cars up until 2009 as after this the facelift was introduced. The part number for this cup holder is A2216801991 and it can be easily distinguished from the later model by it's chopped off bottom and retracting lever on the top (see photos below and in previous section above for a comparison).
    •  
    • So whay do I like this version so much? Well essentially it's just a far better cup holder all round and very sturdy - it's much better made and plain cool because it smoothly retracts into position, whereas the later version is basically just the same cup holder that was fitted to the C Class! This early version cup holder has to retract as the recess for it is not as deep as that found in the facelift model, so if you try and fit a facelift cup holder into your pre-facelift car it will be far too tall and stick up proud of the recess so preventing the cover from closing.
    •  
    • Unfortunately, because of this very cool retracting mechanism pre-facelift cup holders are more expensive and will be nearer the £60 mark, but to my mind it is worth it for what you get - take a look at the animation! That slick and totally unnecessary over design screams luxury car.
    •  
    • Mercedes pre-facelift S Class Cup Holder @ www.jamesandtracy.co.uk
    •  
    • It's easy to fit (just leave your rubber mat in the recess and slide the cup holder in where it will lock into place. The lever at the back (see above photo)is to engage the retractable mechanism as the lid is closed, so make sure you fit it with the 'front' lable towards the front of the car and the retacting lever at the back. To remove it there is a special tool that slides down the outside and engages the clips, but it will come loose without damage if you just firmly pull up at the front.
    •  
    • Facelift Late Mercedes S Class Cup Holders (Cars from 2009)
    • Mercedes S Class Facelift Cup Holder @ www.jamesandtracy.co.ukThis varient fits cars from 2009 until the W221 model ended in 2013. The part number is A2218130014 and it can be easily distinguished from the earlier model because of its lock button on the top, full depth sides and lack of a retracting lever on the top (see photo to left and compare with those in previous sections).
    •  
    • This is a very simple and light cup holder from Mercedes as by this time they were trying to cut costs to maximise profits on an established model in preparation for their new version of the S Class that was to come in 2014. Mercedes deepened the fitment recesses in the centre console to essentially allow a cheap C Class cup holder to be fitted instead of the more expensive retracting version that was in previous cars. However, don't get me wrong as there is nothing wrong with this cup holder as it is very well made, it's just not what I would want to see in a car like the S Class. Ok it does not retract and just slots in, but that's perfectly functional. The good news is that its simplicity makes it a very cheap upgrade and if you shop around you should be able to pick it up for around £20.
    •  
    • Fitting is similarly very simple, just leave your rubber mat in the original recess, slide the button on top of the cup holder to 'unlock', push it into the recess, slide the button to 'lock' - job done. Removal is a reversal of this procedure.
    •  
    How to add origianl Mercedes cup holders to your S Class @ www.jamesandtracy.co.uk

    Upgrade your Car with Mercedes Cup Holders

    Related Guides

    DIY & "Man Stuff"

    *Replace front brake discs & pads (Mercedes & others)

    *Replace front lower ball joint (Mercedes & others)

    *Replace brake pipes & lines (Mercedes & other cars)

    *How to jack up Mercedes & Other Cars (1 to 4 wheels)

    *Mercedes Electronic Reset & Synch Procedures

    *Mercedes Replace Instrument Bulbs & LEDs

    *Mercedes E-Class Instrument LCD Repair

    *Mercedes E-Class Instrument Cluster Removal

    *Replace a Broken or Lost Locking Wheel Nut Key

    *Remove Locking Wheel Nuts & Bolts Without a Key

    *DIY Mazda 323 Cam Belt & Water Pump Change

    *Check list for getting through the MOT - never fail again.

    Brewing & Beverages

    *Origin Coffee Oatmeal Stout Recipe - easy brew!

    *Old English Plum Brandy Recipe - One for Xmas!

    *How to make Cider - From orchard apples to bottle.

    *How to make Perry (Pear Cider) - From scratch.

    *DIY Scratter (Fruit Pulper) - for cider & perry.

    *DIY Cider Press - Easy and effective plans.

    *Home Brewing Tips & Tricks - Brew better.

    *Lavender Beer Recipe - old school style.

    *How to make Plum Brandy - A seasonal xmas treat.

    Cooking

    *How to make Traditional Plum Chutney - delicious!

    * Old English Plum & Lavender Jam Recipe - so good.

    *How to make Bacon - Smoked or unsmoked.

    *Roast Meat Calculator - timings with one click!

    Flying & Radio Control

    *Voodoo QX micro slope glider plans - DIY fun!

    *How to fit & shape a DLG throwing blade - get it right!

    *Make a simple epoxy/filler injector - so useful!

    *DIY portable Wind Tunnel - set DLG tails accurately!

    *How to accurately mark a boom's centre line.

    *Flying Pterosaur Plans - RC foam dinosaur.

    *Firefly DLG build notes - Construction guide & tips.

    *Toolpac CAMPAC backup software - download here!

    *DIY Universal Futaba Service Menu Enabler.

    *Futaba 9Z Unofficial Service Manual - download here!

    *Futaba 9V Unofficial Service Manual - download here!

    Scroll down for more!

    PLEASE SUPPORT US

    If we helped save you money, please pay the favour forward and help support the upkeep of this site and its guides for others. Just click a button below.
    Give GBP to support us
    Support us and give USD
    Support us and give EUR
    Big thanks from us for your help!

    Please share your knowledge.
    Many people have already helped others through this site by contributing information and techniques. If you have something you want to contribute, please click here to contact us. You'll be credited on this site and you'll have shared what you know to help the community.
    Thanks to all who have contributed