Hi,

Today I tried to use the lighter socket in my Z4 for power for my Valentine V1 radar detector. For some reason, I could get no power even though the plug seemed to be going in properly.

To see where the problem originated, I also tried to plug in my Blackberry charger and the car charger for my iPod: neither of these worked either. FYI, the lighter works just fine.

What am I doing wrong?

TIA,

The Z4 cigarette lighter 12V source is active in my car even when the ignition key is removed, and this is confirmed in my owner's manual. If the lighter works, then there is 12V there. The only way this can not be functional with whatever you are plugging in there is if you are not making positive contact, i.e. the tip of your plug is not making it to the positive source at the bottom of the socket, or the negative contact on the side of the plug is not mating to the negative metal of the BMW socket. Some plugs have spring loaded tips, some don't. Some plugs have ribs on the side that prevent them from going all the way into the BMW socket, why I do not know. My only guess on yours would be that the plugs you are trying are not making it fully into the BMW socket, or are not making side contact for the negative (ground) connection. Radio shack and others make car 12V lighter plug extensions, maybe you could try one of those, the radio shack plug into the BMW socket (works on mine), the other end plug to your iPod of whatever. Just a thought, hope you get it figured out :D:D

Addendum: You are doing nothing wrong :eyecrazy:eyecrazy

I tried two other plugs in my Z4, one a cell phone charger, the other a portable TV plug, neither would work. But the lighter works fine and the radio shack extension plug works fine. It apparently has to do with the BMW plug design not making contact with some types of plugs :confused:confused

Rotate the plug 90 degrees...

Hi,

Thanks for your observations and advice.

Rotating the plugs did not solve the problem. However, I did drop by Radio Shack and picked-up an extension / splitter cord. The plug on this device does get power from the light socket so my problem is solved.

Thanks again for your help!

Best,