Cigarette Lighter Power Wiring
06-25-2007, 04:25 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='439428' date='Jun 25 2007, 09:50 AM
I have a UK spec car which as mentioned did NOT have the passenger footwell socket as found in the US spec cars. However as mentioned its very easy to retrofit that socket as you simply need to extend the front socket into the passenger footwell.
As for the issue with the LCI cars I understand that both the front socket and the passenger footwell socket are missing. So if you want to make an official retrofit you will need to pull a wire all the back to the fuse box over the battery.
The easiest thing in my opinion is to simply extend the rear sockets to the front socket. That way you only need a small bit of wire running inside of the armrest.
As for the issue with the LCI cars I understand that both the front socket and the passenger footwell socket are missing. So if you want to make an official retrofit you will need to pull a wire all the back to the fuse box over the battery.
The easiest thing in my opinion is to simply extend the rear sockets to the front socket. That way you only need a small bit of wire running inside of the armrest.
Sorry Bruce, I was miss-quoting you, it was Bart sMartWeed who posted that there was one under the glove box.
06-25-2007, 04:27 AM
#32
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Originally Posted by Bart sMartWeed' post='439019' date='Jun 23 2007, 03:55 PM
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.
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.
Hi Bart, is your car UK spec? If so pls could you post a picture showing where the power outlet is. Cheers.
06-25-2007, 05:45 AM
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Originally Posted by Hormazd' post='438637' date='Jun 22 2007, 10:55 AM
There is also a a power outlet under the glove box. I use that to charge when phone.
06-25-2007, 07:59 AM
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Originally Posted by bruce_miranda' post='439156' date='Jun 24 2007, 12:35 AM
The way the Pre-LCI cars were wired were as follows.
Fuse 87 - Front socket and passenger footwell socket (US)
Fuse 88 - Both Rear sockets and boot socket.
You could tap into Fuse 88 via pins on a connector on the fuse box.
For the Fuse 87 to need to also tap into a connector X11012 on the rear fuse box over the battery. This is a large 32 pin connector and you will need to use pin 25 for the front socket (Green/White wire) and pin 24 for the passenger footwell socket (Green/Black wire). My biggest fear is that the wiring loom may not be present so it will require a very long wire from the front of the car all the way to the back fuse box.
I have WDS10 which doesnt seem to have the LCI cars on it. So all this information is for Pre-LCI car built after 2006-09
Fuse 87 - Front socket and passenger footwell socket (US)
Fuse 88 - Both Rear sockets and boot socket.
You could tap into Fuse 88 via pins on a connector on the fuse box.
For the Fuse 87 to need to also tap into a connector X11012 on the rear fuse box over the battery. This is a large 32 pin connector and you will need to use pin 25 for the front socket (Green/White wire) and pin 24 for the passenger footwell socket (Green/Black wire). My biggest fear is that the wiring loom may not be present so it will require a very long wire from the front of the car all the way to the back fuse box.
I have WDS10 which doesnt seem to have the LCI cars on it. So all this information is for Pre-LCI car built after 2006-09
Thanks for that. Now I've had a chance to look at the fuse box, I've been able to confirm pin 25 is not fitted and the relevant wire is not included in the harness (ditto pin 24 etc, of course). Also, I don't believe the "LCI level" WDS will show any material difference in this power distribution area of the design. (Although I should note the LCI's "X11012" has added pin positions).
It seems incredible that they would design/order/build/deliver/stock/supply a specific wiring harness for non-smoker RHD cars, just to save 3mtrs of wire in each of the comparatively few they build. Or do you know if they tailor a specific harness for each chassis according to its option list?
06-25-2007, 12:39 PM
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Originally Posted by bob.a' post='439545' date='Jun 25 2007, 04:59 PM
Bruce
Thanks for that. Now I've had a chance to look at the fuse box, I've been able to confirm pin 25 is not fitted and the relevant wire is not included in the harness (ditto pin 24 etc, of course). Also, I don't believe the "LCI level" WDS will show any material difference in this power distribution area of the design. (Although I should note the LCI's "X11012" has added pin positions).
It seems incredible that they would design/order/build/deliver/stock/supply a specific wiring harness for non-smoker RHD cars, just to save 3mtrs of wire in each of the comparatively few they build. Or do you know if they tailor a specific harness for each chassis according to its option list?
Thanks for that. Now I've had a chance to look at the fuse box, I've been able to confirm pin 25 is not fitted and the relevant wire is not included in the harness (ditto pin 24 etc, of course). Also, I don't believe the "LCI level" WDS will show any material difference in this power distribution area of the design. (Although I should note the LCI's "X11012" has added pin positions).
It seems incredible that they would design/order/build/deliver/stock/supply a specific wiring harness for non-smoker RHD cars, just to save 3mtrs of wire in each of the comparatively few they build. Or do you know if they tailor a specific harness for each chassis according to its option list?
06-25-2007, 12:59 PM
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Originally Posted by bob.a' post='439545' date='Jun 25 2007, 11:59 AM
It seems incredible that they would design/order/build/deliver/stock/supply a specific wiring harness for non-smoker RHD cars, just to save 3mtrs of wire in each of the comparatively few they build. Or do you know if they tailor a specific harness for each chassis according to its option list?
07-13-2007, 03:18 PM
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Model Year: 2006
In case someone is still looking for the part.
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-5-SERIES-E60-E61-FRONT-LIFTING-CIG-LIGHTER-UNIT_W0QQitemZ300128948749QQihZ020QQcategoryZ10374QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/BMW-5-SERIES-E60-E61-FRONT-LIFTING-CIG-LIGHTER-UNIT_W0QQitemZ300128948749QQihZ020QQcategoryZ10374QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem
07-11-2008, 12:19 PM
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How about plugging in into the rear sockets and then run the wire under the center console to the front where your Garmin is?
You could even run it to the glove compartment and put a contra-plug (so a socket on the end of the wire) there if the Garmin cable is short.
This would maintain warranty as you do not change anything to the car itself. And it would not be as visible as your current solution.
Other idea, if you have the flashlight in the glove box (I don't so it's not standard) there will be probably 12V continuous there. Connect a contra-plug to it's wiring and you have power. Perhaps even with a plug similar to the flashlight so you don't even need to take out the wires that lead to the flashlight. Saving warranty issues.
For a Garmin or charging a phone it will be enough but if you also plan to connect a watercooker, please don't do that to such wiring. In that case you need to run thicker wires to the fuse box and use soldered connections to avoid high temperatures at bottlenecks.
In fact, whatever you do, consider adding a simple in-wire fuse of lower value (lighter fuse I mean) than the fuse in the fuse box you connect to. This to ensure that that one blows first and the car's fuse is an additional protection.
haha! now I notice it's last year's post! I was wondering about the 14th (today is the 11th) but the year still didn't register
I was looking for the post about the 12V socket in the boot and how to connect it to the battery when I came accross this thread.
You could even run it to the glove compartment and put a contra-plug (so a socket on the end of the wire) there if the Garmin cable is short.
This would maintain warranty as you do not change anything to the car itself. And it would not be as visible as your current solution.
Other idea, if you have the flashlight in the glove box (I don't so it's not standard) there will be probably 12V continuous there. Connect a contra-plug to it's wiring and you have power. Perhaps even with a plug similar to the flashlight so you don't even need to take out the wires that lead to the flashlight. Saving warranty issues.
For a Garmin or charging a phone it will be enough but if you also plan to connect a watercooker, please don't do that to such wiring. In that case you need to run thicker wires to the fuse box and use soldered connections to avoid high temperatures at bottlenecks.
In fact, whatever you do, consider adding a simple in-wire fuse of lower value (lighter fuse I mean) than the fuse in the fuse box you connect to. This to ensure that that one blows first and the car's fuse is an additional protection.
haha! now I notice it's last year's post! I was wondering about the 14th (today is the 11th) but the year still didn't register
I was looking for the post about the 12V socket in the boot and how to connect it to the battery when I came accross this thread.
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