cigarette lighter not working

My cigarette lighter in the front of the vehicle stopped working, has anyone experienced this? Is it a simple fix? A fuse replacement? Thanks for the help.

I'm not too sure.....but I think your BMW dealer would sell you a new lighter for around $55

or try AutoZone for a few bucks. I am thinking if the fuse was blown you would be getting a message.

No clue as to where the fuse is located.

Also try the old lighter in the 12V power recepticle in the passenger compartment.

I believe I saw something saying there is a fuse box in the glovebox, but I'm not 100% sure on that. Check there first.

Originally Posted by German Steel

I'm not too sure.....but I think your BMW dealer would sell you a new lighter for around $55

or try AutoZone for a few bucks. I am thinking if the fuse was blown you would be getting a message.

No clue as to where the fuse is located.

Also try the old lighter in the 12V power recepticle in the passenger compartment.

Yea, well actually i don't need the lighter, i don't smoke, just need it to charge my phone. Guess i need to do some fuse investigation.

Originally Posted by schpenxel

Is this in the glove box or under the hood?

Originally Posted by csnpsu

Yea, well actually i don't need the lighter, i don't smoke, just need it to charge my phone. Guess i need to do some fuse investigation.

OK lets start over then. What year and model car (should state this for info requests)? There are two fuse boxes, one in the glove compartment and one above the battery in right rear of trunk.

On the 2008 535xi the "Front Cigar Lighter" is on Fuse F87, is a 20 amp fuse and located on the rear fuse panel.

I reference the above to "BMW 5 series Service Manual, E60, E61 Bently Publishers, Pg ECL25 Vol 2 4/2010.

This circuit is switched to the ignition and will not charge your phone unless the car is running.

I am a gadget freak and bought a 900 amp peak (450amp) wet cell battery pack that has USB charge port, 150psi compressor, 12 V access plug, and LED light. The charge is maintained by a 12V/110V inverter off the trunk 12V access plug. The extra power from this wet cell battery is good for boating, camping and event activity where extra power needed. If I need 110V power I just hook the inverter up to the 12V access on the pack. $54 Sams.

Originally Posted by German Steel

OK lets start over then. What year and model car (should state this for info requests)? There are two fuse boxes, one in the glove compartment and one above the battery in right rear of trunk.

On the 2008 535xi the "Front Cigar Lighter" is on Fuse F87, is a 20 amp fuse and located on the rear fuse panel.

I reference the above to "BMW 5 series Service Manual, E60, E61 Bently Publishers, Pg ECL25 Vol 2 4/2010.

Ok sorry about that, i have a 2008 528i.

Is he fuse panel in the same place as the 535 you were talking about above?

From what I see in the book, your car is rated as an E60 so it should be in the same location.

Clean out trunk, lift up floor panel and secure to upper trunk cavity lip with strap.

There are two small plastic screw locks holding interior panel, rotate counterclockwise and remove. Fuse box in front of you above your battery. There might be a tool kit in the trunk lid with extra fuses.

thanks for the help but that did not work. I went through every fuse and none of them were bad. The mystery continues.

The picture I posted is the fuse box in the glove box

It may be the fuse, and you can try the rear lighter in the front - as stated above,
but there is another outlet in the passenger footwell that should keep you busy until you get this sorted.

Your car is a 2008, right? Then why not use the power outlet located in the passenger's footwell? Just a thought, all LCI E60's have the additional power outlet in the footwell on the passenger's side.

Are the pre-lci ones not supposed to have that? I noticed an outlet in the passenger footwell on mine today (2004). I'm not sure if it works, but it was some kind of outlet, I think?

Originally Posted by schpenxel

Are the pre-lci ones not supposed to have that? I noticed an outlet in the passenger footwell on mine today (2004). I'm not sure if it works, but it was some kind of outlet, I think?

I think it was optional on the pre-LCI cars, my 2005 530 did not have it. Kind of like Bluetooth, it was optional for 2004-05 E60s, but became standard for 2006. I know the LCI cars have it standard, not sure when it became standard though.

Originally Posted by schpenxel

The picture I posted is the fuse box in the glove box

Oh ok, do you have to drop the glove box or is it down by the foot well?

Originally Posted by njlou

It may be the fuse, and you can try the rear lighter in the front - as stated above,
but there is another outlet in the passenger footwell that should keep you busy until you get this sorted.

Wow, i didn't know that was there, thanks. But it is kind of tough to access while driving.

Originally Posted by csnpsu

Oh ok, do you have to drop the glove box or is it down by the foot well?

Open the glovebox, then there's a plastic piece that either goes around the CD changer (if you have one) or covers up the empty hole if you don't. There is a plastic screw on each end of that piece.

You should be able to turn them 90* and pull them out. They aren't normal screws, so no need to spent a bunch of time trying to unscrew them. They are setup so that if you have them one way (can't remember if it's vertical or horizontal) they catch, and the opposite way they basically fall out.

Originally Posted by schpenxel

Open the glove box, then there's a plastic piece that either goes around the CD changer (if you have one) or covers up the empty hole if you don't. There is a plastic screw on each end of that piece.

You should be able to turn them 90* and pull them out. They aren't normal screws, so no need to spent a bunch of time trying to unscrew them. They are setup so that if you have them one way (can't remember if it's vertical or horizontal) they catch, and the opposite way they basically fall out.

I got to the fuse panel but all of the fuses are good. The mystery continues.

Originally Posted by csnpsu

I got to the fuse panel but all of the fuses are good. The mystery continues.

im having the same issue. my fuse was good and ive taken the center console apart and reconnected the plug and it still wouldnt work. i think were in the same boat here. time to buy a new lighter "outlet" from bmw. They may let you return it if it doesnt fix your problem.

Checked mine after reading this post and mine does not work either....

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Has anyone thought to grab a multimeter and check to see of there is ~12V getting to the lighter socket? If you are tearing the console apart, check the wires. Also, were the fuse checks visible or with a continuity meter. I have been fooled in the past by bad fuses that looked perfectly good.

One more thing...make sure you verify that the socket is bad based on two different devices being plugged in. It could be the device. This may be obvious, but the obvious is often overlooked.

Originally Posted by Bill109

im having the same issue. my fuse was good and ive taken the center console apart and reconnected the plug and it still wouldnt work. i think were in the same boat here. time to buy a new lighter "outlet" from bmw. They may let you return it if it doesnt fix your problem.

You try it first and let me know, lol

Originally Posted by andymax

Has anyone thought to grab a multimeter and check to see of there is ~12V getting to the lighter socket? If you are tearing the console apart, check the wires. Also, were the fuse checks visible or with a continuity meter. I have been fooled in the past by bad fuses that looked perfectly good.

One more thing...make sure you verify that the socket is bad based on two different devices being plugged in. It could be the device. This may be obvious, but the obvious is often overlooked.

That was actually my first thought, device is good, works in all of the other cig lighters in my car.