bob.a

Thanks for pointing me to that - it could be a help. In any case, it looks generally useful and inexpensive enough that I'm buying one for future flexibility. However, it's BMW's mess and I've not yet given up on finding a fixed, clean, warrantable solution that they ought reasonably be expected to install.

aybeesea

When I asked about the Smoker's Package Deletion, I was told (rightly or wrongly for pre-LCI) that this would or could have serious implications for powering accessories.

Taking that into account plus being aware of the potential resale market, I decided on the status quo.

Whilst it doesn't help with confirmation that pre-LCI retained a 12V supply when Smoker's Pack was deleted, it does show that not all BMW dealers are negligent in drawing customers' attention to these implications.

Was yours?

ABC

Bart sMartWeed

I had exactly the same problem with my LCI 525d. I asked the tech people in the dealership to give me a solution and the proposal was to build an extra 12V outlet in somewhere but that would take about 3 hours of work because of the additional wires they had to put in. :thumbsdown:

In the opinion that it couldn't be possible BMW doesn't provide some kind of 12V outlet I read the manual again and ... there is one at the passenger side after the glove compartment. You have to know it is there else you won't see it. The dealer didn't know it either, I had to tell them!

So, no worries, there is one.

bob.a

I'm not quite clear what implications you were told about. UK pre-LCI "non-smoker's" cars did retain the 12V socket and I've not heard of any limitations different from those of "smoker's" cars - obviously, both are compatible with the Garmin GPS units BMW UK dealers sell. My rep knew the over-view of the console re-design, but evidently had not been warned that the effect of deleting the smoker's pack on an LCI car would be different from that he was used to on pre-LCI 5's and other models. So, he told me the socket would be fitted.

aybeesea

That's why I wondered why/how the dealer/rep had been negligent.

ABC

bob.a

Those footwell outlets aren't fitted on UK delivered cars. (Or is it RHD cars?) So it may not be BMW's clear thinking that saved you - it might have been just luck!

bob.a

No, I knew the socket was retained on pre-LCI E60s. I was seeking confirmation that it was also retained on a wide range of other BMWs over the years - certainly it was the case on the E36 coupe I bought in 1992. I'm wondering if the difference on these E60 LCI cars is actually very exceptional, or even unique. If you can shed any light (either way) on that, I'd be grateful.

Nor did I suggest the dealer or rep were negligent. To do that, I'd have to know they'd been given information that informed them of the change and I don't. In fact, I guess they were not and that there was some wider confusion about the matter within BMW. Building cars that can't support 12v socket gadgets doesn't strike one as the kind of thing the world's leading car company would be determined to do.

bob.a

Which fuse protects the front ashtray 12V socket on cars that have it installed? My car has 20A fuses plugged in both #87 and #88, but all three of the installed sockets (2 in the rear and 1 in the boot/trunk) are connected to #88.

Also, can anyone tell me the colour of the harness wire associated with fuse 87?

aybeesea

Ah. OK. So your phrase of "BMW's mess" is not that strident a denouncement rather a comment declaring an element of dissatisfaction.

Fair enough.

ABC

bob.a

The main point is that it was a comment attributing responsibility for the mess to BMW; not to the dealer.

Regarding the somewhat less interesting question of whether it's a mess or an imperfection, I suppose one of the things that might colour one's opinion could be whether one happens to own a brand new GPS-unfriendly BMW, or not.