Very simple mod, but interesting for Euro owners.

US cars have a coin-holding pocket located just in front of the perforated leather on the centre console, and the Euro cars have a panel that holds either the headlamp washer switch or hardtop defroster. After I had my headlamp washers removed from my Euro (much cleaner look), I wanted to swap in the US coin pocket as I needed that panel no more.

Guess what, you can't get US parts for a Euro car in Germany

The pocket thingie only costs $8 so when a friend of mine visited, he brought me one and I installed it. Basically you just remove the centre console by pulling it back starting from the back. There are 8 or so clips that pull out. If you want to make it easier to remove, unscrew the shift knob and slide the entire console off over the handbrake.

Removing the clips for the washer switches (and hazard and roof switch) just involves unclipping the connectors. Pinch them in and pull. Removing the pocket or panel from the console is the tough part. It's fixed on there at three points, on the sides and back. You'll probably need to stick a thin flat screwdriver in the side clips to unhook them, and then bend and yank the panel off from its rear attachment point.

Installation is more trivial, stick the back end of the pocket in first and clip it in place while pushing downwards. The whole console snaps in easily too, start from the shifter area and clip clip towards the back.

Now I have an extra slot for parking cards, coins, phones and whatnot, and am probably one of the only German drivers with this pocket

///Robin

 

That's kind of funny. The US owners generally consider that coinholder a waste. Coins slide around loose, and it's too small for a cell phone. It does fit my military base I.D.

Strange how we always seem to want what we don't have. You don't have this and want it. We have it and want something more.

I have a digital clock which I have custom modified to replace the coinholder.
It actually uses the defroster switch mount that you removed - but heavily modified.
As soon as I get it wired up, it will be ready for the world to see.

We will both be unique (if that is technically possible)!!
You will be the only one with the coinholder over there, and I will be the only one with a clock where the coinholder goes.

...side note...

We now have a few US owners who want the rear foglamp, like on the UK cars.
Again, wanting what we don't have.

Regards,
Hockey

 

I use mine for nokia phone. fits perfectly!

 

Guess its time to replace my "Talking Mickey" cell phone with a modern one. My current phone is about twice the size of that little slot / space.

 

I wish I had that coin holder for my cellphone (every bit of storage space helps) but fortunately it fits in the ashtray with the lid closed anyway.

 

ther coin holder fits a pack of cigarettes perfectly!

 

I put my garage door opener in there.

 

Yes it does, and a lighter next to it

 

LOL....We always want what we cant have

no smoking in the S!!!

 

True, Hockey, we always seem to want something that we don't have. Human nature.

I think the car would look cleaner without the rear fog lamp, but they're required here. Miatas and Vettes have them poorly retrofitted on them that they look very stuck-on. The S2000 headlamp washers are the same in my opinion, so when I had to have my front bumper replaced, I shaved them off as well.

Well since I couldn't buy a US bumper WITHOUT the holes for the washers, I had to use parts of another car to fill in the holes on my new bumper!

Classic "old-timer" US cars from the 50s to 70s are prized and well-sought after cars here. You just don't see American cars very often, so people love to be able to own an old ratty Caddy or something that's totally different.

My phone fits great in the coinholder as it was in the way of shifting if just sitting in the ashtray. Parking garage tokens and cards fit perfectly.

Can't wait to see your digital clock mod!

///Robin