Power Outlet not working, whats wrong?

[ES_TRADER]

Normally I wouldn't care but its been increasingly frustrating that my tire air pump wont work with the m3. Ive been getting flats a lot lately and every time I need to pump air into the tire, I have to use another car to plug my pump into.

For some reason, my air compressor will not work with either of the 2 outlets in the M3. It cant be an issue with my pump since the same pump works when plugged in my 328, 535, and 335.

What could be wrong here? At one point in time, my compressor did work with the M3, but now it doesn't. I don't get any power when its plugged in, even when i turn the engine ON. Ive tried all different positions with the ignition and cant get any power whatsoever.

Can someone pls chime in? I dont want to go to the dealer for this issue to have them rip it all apart.

I do have my car coded for windows roll up via key fob, so could this be causing an issue?

thx

[JohnnyRoaster]

Have you tried anything else in the power outlets? There should be three in total. One in the armrest, one by the ashtray and one in the passenger foot well.

[1MOREMOD]

the car needs to be running for the outlet to work.

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

Have you tried anything else in the power outlets? There should be three in total. One in the armrest, one by the ashtray and one in the passenger foot well.

yea I just tried them all, nothing works, not even the cig lighter..i pushed it in and no heat.

I also plugged the M mobility tire inflator in all outlets and no power.

Did I blow a fuse somehow? how can I fix this?

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by chriszeh

the car needs to be running for the outlet to work.

i tried it while running the engine, no power..but the light around the cig lighter does light up.

Also, my other bimmers work just fine w/o car running...just switch to ON position on the ignition and i get power to all devices

[1MOREMOD]

i dont in either my x5 or m3. at the track to add air i need to be running. can you charge your phone or is this a new thing?

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by chriszeh

i dont in either my x5 or m3. at the track to add air i need to be running. can you charge your phone or is this a new thing?

i have an iphone, and i charge it via the USB port so phone is non issue...i guess ill turn it on one more time and see.

I only notice now more than ever because my tires keep losing air and it frustrates me that this car wont give power to my pumps...luckily all the times ive caught were tpms telling me right when i pulled out of my driveway so i just turn around...the one time i got caught on the freeway and had to get a tow

[bsd damon]

Car doesn't need to be running but the electronics need to be fully on. Both my cig lighter and arm rest sockets are incredibly picky. I need to fiddle with the position of the accessory many times before they get current. Try pushing all the way in then turning slowly until you get some current. Do they work with a cell phone charger?

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by bsd damon

Car doesn't need to be running but the electronics need to be fully on. Both my cig lighter and arm rest sockets are incredibly picky. I need to fiddle with the position of the accessory many times before they get current. Try pushing all the way in then turning slowly until you get some current. Do they work with a cell phone charger?

Nope. Ive tried turning car engine ON as well. and pushed the plug in all the way and rotated it several times. No power to devices

[JohnnyRoaster]

Check the fuse box behind the cover in the glove compartment. The cover should have the fuse assignment on the back. Good luck figuring out what the little symbols mean.

[VMcV3y]

The passenger footwell plug.... is that on the passenger's left side, about where his/her knee would be, below and left of the glove box?

I've got a formed-plastic hole there, but there are no "guts" or electronics above it. It's empty.

Or am I looking in the wrong spot? The manual does not show a diagram or picture of where this would be. It just refers to it in text.


E93



.

[WeathersWe]

Car doesn't need to be running but the electronics need to be fully on

[mlhj83]

I would say check the fuse for the 12v sockets.

[Time]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

Check the fuse box behind the cover in the glove compartment. The cover should have the fuse assignment on the back. Good luck figuring out what the little symbols mean.

Sounds like its the fuse to me

[ES_TRADER]

Originally Posted by mlhj83

I would say check the fuse for the 12v sockets.

Originally Posted by ///MMB

Sounds like its the fuse to me

Anyone have any clue which numbered or color fuse it would be? Also is there a spare in the box?

[mlhj83]

It's in the manual. Please read it. Fuses are cheap and easy to buy.

[aus]

Originally Posted by VMcV3y

The passenger footwell plug.... is that on the passenger's left side, about where his/her knee would be, below and left of the glove box?

I've got a formed-plastic hole there, but there are no "guts" or electronics above it. It's empty.

Or am I looking in the wrong spot? The manual does not show a diagram or picture of where this would be. It just refers to it in text.

E93

.

This is BMW cost cutting. The early cars had the outlet, but newer cars lost it.

[Lorde]

I believe it's fuse #8.

[JohnnyRoaster]

Originally Posted by mlhj83

It's in the manual. Please read it. Fuses are cheap and easy to buy.

Actually in this case it is not in the manual. My manual just says to refer to the back of the fuse panel cover.

I think there are a couple of extra fuses and a fuse puller in the fuse box. Unless they eliminated it along with the foot well outlet.

[mlhj83]

Originally Posted by JohnnyRoaster

Actually in this case it is not in the manual. My manual just says to refer to the back of the fuse panel cover.

I think there are a couple of extra fuses and a fuse puller in the fuse box. Unless they eliminated it along with the foot well outlet.

Sorry, I meant the fuse card. The footwell outlet became an option, which I think makes business sense, given that there are already 2 interior power sockets as standard, and most won't use the footwell outlet.

To the OP, if you can't figure out which fuse it is on the fuse card, why not just give BMW a quick email or call to ask which fuse it is. If the fuse is intact, then consider bringing the problem to the attention of a professional.

[LateBraking]

Happened to me, it's most likely the fuse. My tire inflator blew my glovebox fuse, a trip to Radioshack took care of it.

[crabman]

Originally Posted by mlhj83

Sorry, I meant the fuse card. The footwell outlet became an option, which I think makes business sense, given that there are already 2 interior power sockets as standard, and most won't use the footwell outlet.

To the OP, if you can't figure out which fuse it is on the fuse card, why not just give BMW a quick email or call to ask which fuse it is. If the fuse is intact, then consider bringing the problem to the attention of a professional.

While this is good for BMWs bottom line I disagree with the concept as we use(d) a similarly placed outlet on other cars quite frequently. This particular car is hurt by the fact that the outlet in the console will not accept many chargers while allowing for the lid to close. IMO modern cars should have one in the console and the design should allow for the lid to close on most typical chargers for a start. Then there should be two accessible outlets outside of it up front and at least one in the back. We are living in a multi device world but only have one actual usable charging point without leaving the console lid open when two devices are active such as when I am using maps and my beloved is responding to or sending texts and the usb port is already occupied by a memory stick for music.