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Cigarette lighter replacement

E28 technical advice asked and given! Troubleshooting, modifications and more.
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briangelc
Posts: 48
Joined: Feb 18, 2014 4:26 PM

Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by briangelc »

My searches have not turned up any results for replacing the weirdo size cigarette lighter with a standard size socket. Has anyone done this successfully?
None of my iPhone chargers stay put, and the plastic shim thingys break or get lost. HEEEELLLLPPP!!!!!!!
mooseheadm5
Beamter
Beamter
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Post by mooseheadm5 »

Roll up a thin brass shim to reduce the ID of the lighter socket. Done.
briangelc
Posts: 48
Joined: Feb 18, 2014 4:26 PM

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by briangelc »

Did that trick since 1986. Works fine as long as the thing you are plugging in is basically weightless, like a radar detector cord or charging plug.
But so much of what we plug in these days has....bulk.
My solution was to jumper wire a second plug, and mount it to the kick panel on passenger side. It firmly holds all the crap I put in it
Blue Shadow
Posts: 10345
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: SE PA

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by Blue Shadow »

Install the sockets you need in convenience locations in the car using the etm to source the kind of power you want.

There is a USB install in the blank next to the radio some have done. Some steal the flashlight socket for power.

Lots of ways to do this if you can't get the cigar lighter socket to play along.
foamy
Posts: 1527
Joined: May 29, 2007 6:39 PM
Location: North Branford Connecticut

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by foamy »

in mine i have one installed in the blank to the right of the radio. i cut the cover to fit tightly around the top half and the lighter is on the bottom the part that screws on from the back holds it all together. the blank spot is just wide enough to hold it left to right its just too tall.
unt0uchable
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Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by unt0uchable »

Thanks for posting this! I need to fix mine as it broke on the way back from FL since I was using it so much.

I'd like the idea of relocating the socket and just placing the lighter in the original hole.

Can some of you post photos of your relocated lighter sockets?
foamy
Posts: 1527
Joined: May 29, 2007 6:39 PM
Location: North Branford Connecticut

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by foamy »

here is mine. i know its got gaps in the corners but it could also easily be put back like i did nothing at all just by replacing the blank piece.

Image
ahab
Posts: 6202
Joined: Jun 11, 2006 9:12 AM
Location: Chalfont, PA

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by ahab »

Nice work foamy. Next time take two blank covers and cut them at a radius, one for top and another for bottom and you wont have the gaps. You will have to glue them in place though so unless you're careful, reversibility could be questionable.
zerocool
Posts: 14
Joined: Aug 19, 2014 5:51 PM
Location: Earth

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by zerocool »

Only so many of us can be a genius. The fix to all your problems is in the pic below:

Image
BRRV
Posts: 3160
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Pensacola, Gulf of America

what you really need is a dedicated dual USB port

Post by BRRV »

zerocool wrote:Only so many of us can be a genius. The fix to all your problems is in the pic below:

Image
I especially like this, especially with the new 'loose pillow' look BMW tartan plaid upholstery, a real favorite of mine. Good Job! Maybe I'm not remembering it correctly, but I think there used to be a BMW connector with a lighter-socket that would connect to the flashlight connector in the glovebox. Assuming it's still available (who knows?) wouldn't doing that be faster and easier? Lastly, what about something like this, inside the ashtray? Easily do-able:

Image
foamy
Posts: 1527
Joined: May 29, 2007 6:39 PM
Location: North Branford Connecticut

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by foamy »

for me not everything i have is a usb end.
waynet1
Posts: 2524
Joined: Jan 10, 2011 11:49 AM
Location: Port Charlotte,FL-Newport,RI

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by waynet1 »

zerocool wrote:Only so many of us can be a genius. The fix to all your problems is in the pic below:

Image

This picture brings to mind a story that ahab told me just a week or so ago. :heehee:
John in VA
Posts: 5304
Joined: Feb 12, 2006 12:00 PM
Location: Leesburg, VA

Re: what you really need is a dedicated dual USB port

Post by John in VA »

BRRV wrote:Maybe I'm not remembering it correctly, but I think there used to be a BMW connector with a lighter-socket that would connect to the flashlight connector in the glovebox. Assuming it's still available (who knows?) wouldn't doing that be faster and easier?
That piece is NLA, and difficult to find & pricey. Even the newer style (doesn't work in the E28 as-is) has gone NLA and jumped from ~$10 to ridiculous (>$100).

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ahab
Posts: 6202
Joined: Jun 11, 2006 9:12 AM
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Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by ahab »

zerocool wrote:Only so many of us can be a genius.
Yeah, better luck next life. That looks like shit. Truly.

Wayne, I thought we agreed you weren't gonna say anything ;) . At least the cigar lighter is fused...
waynet1
Posts: 2524
Joined: Jan 10, 2011 11:49 AM
Location: Port Charlotte,FL-Newport,RI

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by waynet1 »

ahab wrote:
zerocool wrote:Only so many of us can be a genius.
Yeah, better luck next life. That looks like shit. Truly.

Wayne, I thought we agreed you weren't gonna say anything ;) . At least the cigar lighter is fused...
Image
demetk
Posts: 8431
Joined: Aug 09, 2007 8:58 AM
Location: CT, USA

Re: Cigarette lighter replacement

Post by demetk »

You guys crack me up. :)
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