How many cars have you owned? Some are switched some arent. I prefer unswitched, I can charge my phone while parked.

 

both my bmws are the same way. constant. maybe that's how it's made

 

Generally it is a design question- usually part of the specification process.

Look at it this way:

If it is switched, and you want to have power you are forced to turn the car on (turning on this circuit and all others)....If it is unswitched and you wish it not to be powered, you can accomplish that for just that item/circuit by unpluggiung it. The trade off on this question favors being unswitched.

If you look at it as a 'real cigarette lighter', then it should - of course- be unswitched: since a cigarette lighter cannot stay on, will automatically turn off, and might be used when someone is sitting in the car with it turned off. There is no rational reason a cigarette lighter should be switched.

Your V1 needs to be hardwired..and as mentioned above I like being able to charge things when I leave them locked in the car.

A

 

Newer BMWs (E60, for example), switch to 'sleep mode' after 15 minutes the car is shut off. Personally, I prefer unswitched so I can use the Battery Tender with the cigarette lighter plug. :cool2:

 

I prefer unswitched so I can use the Battery Tender with the cigarette lighter plug. :cool2:

Same here. Remember to turn off your radar detector!

 

In my 2000 the 12v in the glove box for the flashlight is switched. Get the adaptor that converts the flashlight to a female cigarette plug and you are set. I know..not the best option but an option.

 

I thought it was always on to provide power for the air compressor when stranded. It was the only logical thing I could think of. Also, being a European car, I think they focused on giving the driver / passengers the ability to light up a cigarette at any given time. Working for a global company, it's my observation that the ones smoking outside are mostly expats from Europe.

 

Hmm thats odd, never even noticed that. I guess i should have noticed it when my iphone continued to charge even though the car was switched off. Every car ive owned before along with pretty much 90% of nissans all have a switched (acc pos) cigarette lighter. Personally its good in a way for people who like to leave electrical devices plugged in when parking their vehicles, but it would be nice to not have the key in the accesory position to charge something or have something on.

 

Can someone please let me know why my cigarette lighter is NOT switched 12v? Right now it is constant 12v and if i forget to take me V1 out it sits on. This does not make sense as even the rental the dealer gave me had a switched 12 plug. Manual says nothing about this.

SP

Just hard wire it. Takes 5-10 mins tops. Just pop out the homelink, splice it, pop the wire through and done. Hit the acc. wire and it will turn on and off with the car.

Also, It May be switched based on battery strength, but just a guess.

 

Is there a fuse for the cigarette lighter?

Mine doesn't work at all...
The list of fuses in the trunk doesn't highlight any particular one for the cigarette lighter.

 

Is there a fuse for the cigarette lighter?

Mine doesn't work at all...
The list of fuses in the trunk doesn't highlight any particular one for the cigarette lighter.

Behind the glove box. #7 fuse IIRC 30amp?

 

A German would simply say (in German) "Remember to unplug it"

 

In the end I just hardwired the V1 to the Homelink. This is NOT universal for all BMW's as I stated earlier, the rental I was given from the dealership HAD switched 12v for the cigarette plug. Hence why I was pondering if there was a fault in my M5. Why would I want to have a full routine of shutting this and that off every time I park my car? I dont, hence why I hardwired it in the end to a known switched 12 source.
SP