[E90Brian]

Does anyone have the 3-series umbrella and holder for their car? Picture here: http://bmw.niello.com/accessories.ph...38&category=36. I'm wondering how it attaches to the passenger footwell? (Probably with plastic screws that go into the carpeting a la the floor mat anchors.)

And (yes, I'm going for the stupid thread of the day), does anyone have the 3-series grocery gripper? Picture here:http://kellybmw.oemdealer.com/prod1389_13735.php. It requires a mounting bracket and I'm wondering how it mounts inside the trunk? Is it necessary to drill holes? Is this thing at all useful?

Thanks! Brian

[jpsum]

I don't know about the umbrella holder but I know the grocery grippers requires some drilling. There are no pre-drilled holes for installation.

[skiwagon]

Should have gotten a wagon, both are standard.

[E90Brian]

Originally Posted by skiwagon

Should have gotten a wagon, both are standard.

Not anymore. My biz partner's 2009 328i sport wagon has neither. So, since you have one, how is the umbrella holder attached to the footwell?

[Kev]

Originally Posted by E90Brian

Not anymore. My biz partner's 2009 328i sport wagon has neither. So, since you have one, how is the umbrella holder attached to the footwell?

Two black plastic screws. I had it in my sedan and transferred over to my coupe. By the way, mine looks different from that one in your link.

[E90Brian]

Originally Posted by Kev

Two black plastic screws. I had it in my sedan and transferred over to my coupe. By the way, mine looks different from that one in your link.

That's what I thought. Thanks. I've seen two different pics of the umbrella and holder myself. They must have changed its design at some point.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by E90Brian

Not anymore. My biz partner's 2009 328i sport wagon has neither. So, since you have one, how is the umbrella holder attached to the footwell?

The E91 has an umbrella holder in the back area. It is built into the slide-out luggage cover. There is a clip under the cover that holds a full size umbrella.

Of course, that means you have to get out of the car in the rain to find the umbrella.

There are also grocery bag hooks built into the sides of luggage area.

I don't find either feature to be particularly useful.

[E90Brian]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

The E91 has an umbrella holder in the back area. It is built into the slide-out luggage cover. There is a clip under the cover that holds a full size umbrella.

Of course, that means you have to get out of the car in the rain to find the umbrella.

There are also grocery bag hooks built into the sides of luggage area.

I don't find either feature to be particularly useful.

Huh, live and learn. I didn't see that on his car. Thanks for the input on their usefulness!

[skiwagon]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

The E91 has an umbrella holder in the back area. It is built into the slide-out luggage cover. There is a clip under the cover that holds a full size umbrella.

Of course, that means you have to get out of the car in the rain to find the umbrella.

There are also grocery bag hooks built into the sides of luggage area.

I don't find either feature to be particularly useful.

In the winter the umbrella holder makes a great snowbrush holder, I would rather have the blowing snow going into the hatch than onto my seats. I also like that it holds a full size umbrella instead of the small one that mounts up front.

As for the bag hooks I think they work great for when you have less stuff than you would want to put under the bungee net.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by skiwagon

In the winter the umbrella holder makes a great snowbrush holder, I would rather have the blowing snow going into the hatch than onto my seats. I also like that it holds a full size umbrella instead of the small one that mounts up front.

As for the bag hooks I think they work great for when you have less stuff than you would want to put under the bungee net.

Well, I did say I don't find the features useful - not that the features won't be useful to anybody.

The umbrella holder doesn't do me much good because I don't like having to get out of the car in the rain to find an umbrella. So, I wind up keeping a small one in the door pocket. The big one in the cargo area hasn't been touched since I put it there.

It's nice that it holds a snowbrush, but being Los Angeles based, I don't even own a snowbrush.

The bag hooks never have worked for me, mainly because I tend to get my groceries in big paper bags.

To each his own though. I'm not saying these features aren't great for others - just not for me.

Oh, and btw, I relied on many of your earlier suggestions as to what acccessories to get to protect the cargo area of my E91. Your advice proved very helpful.

[skiwagon]

Originally Posted by Kilgore Trout

Oh, and btw, I relied on many of your earlier suggestions as to what acccessories to get to protect the cargo area of my E91. Your advice proved very helpful.

Always glad to be helpful. I think we all love preaching the wagon gospel.

One of these years my knees are going to finally say 'no more skiing' and I will hopefully never need a snowbrush again. I had a few days last week with more time behind the snowblower than the steering wheel.

[Kilgore Trout]

Originally Posted by skiwagon

Always glad to be helpful. I think we all love preaching the wagon gospel.

One of these years my knees are going to finally say 'no more skiing' and I will hopefully never need a snowbrush again. I had a few days last week with more time behind the snowblower than the steering wheel.

I hope that time is a long way from now - because skiing is obviously a lifestyle for you (just like hiking and cycling for me)!