Cup holder retrofit for Seat Leon mk3

Just recently, a cup holder contest started on Maker World, so I decided it was finally the right moment to publish a solution that I’ve been using daily in my car for almost a year now. The project was created out of a very practical need and turned out to be one of the most useful accessories I’ve ever printed for my car.

For me, the SEAT Leon Mk3 has two major problems related to the cup holders: very inconvenient access to the driver’s cup and practically no way to comfortably use two cups at the same time. Buying even a small coffee from McDonald’s or a gas station always ended with the passenger holding the second cup. Trying to place two cups side by side caused them to jam together and sometimes even spill because one of the cups had to be inserted at an angle:

In my previous car — Renault Scenic mk2 — the cup holders were excellent. They were positioned close to the gear shifter and could easily hold two cups at the same time. After switching to the Leon, I started missing that solution almost immediately during longer trips with a passenger.

So I decided to design my own solution. The model works as an extension placed over the original cup holders and moves one of the openings closer to the front, giving the driver much easier access to the drink. I tested several different versions, but this design is the one that ultimately stayed in my car permanently.

The passenger can still use the left factory cup holder, while the driver gets a raised and forward-positioned holder equipped with a spring-loaded clamping mechanism. The solution works especially well during long highway trips, where frequent gear changes are not necessary and access to a drink needs to be comfortable without taking your eyes off the road for too long.

To build the holding mechanism, I used parts available on MakerWorld:

• dowel pin 3x50 mm (DA025),
• torsion spring 0.6x5x4 mm (BC005).

Alternatively, a stronger 0.8x5x3 mm spring (BC006) can also be used, which I tested as well. It provides a very firm grip, but with some paper cups the holder grabbed so tightly that removing the drink would lift the entire print, requiring it to be held down with the wrist.

You will also need:

• 2x 3x10 mm self-tapping screws.

Recommended material:

• PETG or another heat-resistant filament.

Assembly process

1. Place the spring under the clamp and hold it with your index finger.
2. Insert the clamp into position and slide the dowel pin in from the side hole.
3. After checking that the mechanism moves smoothly, glue in the beveled cap.
4. Turn the model upside down and place the two rectangular connectors into their dedicated slots.
5. Attach the second half of the model and screw both parts together while firmly pressing them against each other. A magnetic screwdriver bit makes the assembly much easier.

Information: The model was tested on a facelift Seat Leon Mk3 5F from 2019 with a manual transmission.