Not joined yet? Register for free and enjoy features such as alerts, private messaging and viewing latest posts and topics.

Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post Reply
Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:00 pm

Okay, I would prefer to trickle charge the Zed through my cigarette lighter for convenience.

My question is simply, can I do this on my ///M if I buy the charger adapter?
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

User avatar
WLH
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 12277
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 2:08 am
Location: Taxsylvania
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by WLH » Sat Dec 01, 2012 11:08 pm

My 2007 ///M stays hot all the time. I know some have said it turns off after a period of time but mine does not and I do use my BMW charges via that connection. However, I also installed a direct connection to the battery in the trunk/boot and that works really good as well.
2007 ///M Roadster - My Zed's - Member ZSCCA - ///M Registry - My Videos
Image

Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Sun Dec 02, 2012 10:54 am

Thanks Bill. Looking at convenience connectors for the rear too as it happens. Plugging direct into the cigarette lighter would be preferable if it charged.
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

User avatar
powerontap
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1948
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:42 pm
Location: Montreal

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by powerontap » Sun Dec 02, 2012 1:23 pm

Mine (2003) turns off after awhile, but don't know if all M's stay on. Ask your dealer about yours, they sold me the battery terminal connector type because of this. BTW, love my BMW OEM charger!
Go Topless

Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Sun Dec 02, 2012 8:46 pm

powerontap wrote:Mine (2003) turns off after awhile, but don't know if all M's stay on. Ask your dealer about yours, they sold me the battery terminal connector type because of this. BTW, love my BMW OEM charger!
Good advice and I'll check it out.
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Sat Dec 08, 2012 11:59 am

Okay, I'm stupidly scared of going near any car battery and have just been outside to see if I could be brave enough to hook up a battery conditioner. Anybody advise which part I need to attach for the positive? There are lots of heavy wires attached and what look like two terminal boxes, one of which is at the back and really difficult to get to (top right if picture).

Image
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

User avatar
Wondermike
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10469
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:16 pm

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by Wondermike » Sat Dec 08, 2012 12:19 pm

inkey$, I think you should be going under the bonnet and using the terminals there instead. I think, not certain.

User avatar
powerontap
Senior Member
Senior Member
Posts: 1948
Joined: Sat Apr 19, 2008 8:42 pm
Location: Montreal

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by powerontap » Sat Dec 08, 2012 1:51 pm

Wondermike wrote:inkey$, I think you should be going under the bonnet and using the terminals there instead. I think, not certain.
That's where I've got mine hooked up, very easy and "safe". The positive is near the middle of the firewall, under a red plastic cover. The ground is a large bolt welded to one of the strut towers.

You can channel the cable in the space where the pointy tips of the fender and front fascia meet, enabling you to close the bonnet completely :thumbsup:
Go Topless

User avatar
Taz
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 19501
Joined: Tue Jul 14, 2009 9:56 pm
Location: Saddleworth

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by Taz » Sat Dec 08, 2012 3:00 pm

inkey$ wrote:Okay, I would prefer to trickle charge the Zed through my cigarette lighter for convenience.
why is that more covenient?

Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Sat Dec 08, 2012 3:52 pm

Taz x wrote:
inkey$ wrote:Okay, I would prefer to trickle charge the Zed through my cigarette lighter for convenience.
why is that more covenient?
More convenient I don't blow my face off :(

Okay, just too a look under the bonnet and negative bodywork nut is there but can't see a positive terminal or red plastic cover.

Image
Image
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

User avatar
Wondermike
Moderator
Moderator
Posts: 10469
Joined: Fri Jun 15, 2007 10:16 pm

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by Wondermike » Sat Dec 08, 2012 4:01 pm

Can you see it here?

pvr wrote:When you open the bonnet, there is a + terminal marked near the windscreen and a big bolt (negative) on the wing. Use those.

Image

Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Sat Dec 08, 2012 4:57 pm

Cheers Wondermike; that pvr picture helped a lot. Found it hidden and sans plastic cover. She's all plugged in and running on maintenance mode :)

Image
Image
Image
Image
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

sutts
Member
Member
Posts: 78
Joined: Fri Oct 21, 2011 5:50 pm
Location: Kent

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by sutts » Wed Dec 19, 2012 2:56 pm

I just tried my new charger/conditioner using the cigarette lighter adapter and it didn't work, so the lighter socket in my 2007 MC isn't live all the time.

Went under the bonnet as above and all is good :)
Sapphire Black/Imola Z4MC

Online
User avatar
inkey$
Lifer
Lifer
Posts: 10475
Joined: Sun Mar 21, 2010 9:48 pm
Location: Sevenoaks & Suffolk
Contact:

Re: Charge through cigarette lighter?

Post by inkey$ » Wed Dec 19, 2012 7:50 pm

Good to know for certain Sutts. Thanks for updating this thread as well as your own mate. Hopefully help future questions.
Current: Project Audi A2 1.4SE
Previously: Z3R 2.8 • E46 330i • Z4R 3.0 • Z4///MC • E90 335i • Z4///MR • Z3///MC 'Breadvan' • Z3R 2.8 • E30 325i R • Z4C • Z4R 3.0

Post Reply