[sharknose///M]

Hi all,

I bought the M sport illuminated gear knob retro fit kit from BMW.

Part No. 25 11 2 231 561

I have wired it into the car and it looks great.

The problem is that it's permanently lit up. I wired it into the cigarette lighter wires thinking that there's hardly power going to that when the key is out of the ignition. But, there it is, lit up like a christmas tree.

There's no doubt it's going to drain the battery like hell so I'm wondering does anyone know a way around this?

It looks like everything is powered up down there when the car is fully turned off. Electric windows, softop switch, ASC switch.

It's going to be an expensive gear knob if I can't get it wired in properly.

Thanks in advance.

 

[ValdelisBMW]

My one works like it should be .maybe u getting power from cigarette lighter main power ,not from it lighting?

 

[sharknose///M]

Ah ha!

Yes, you are exactly right.

My fault for being a beginner, I'll have another go, will post how I get on.

Thanks very much.

 

[Don B]

There's also a loom available from the dealer for about 10 euro that plugs in
behind the dimmer dial for the clocks.

 

[Smokey Bear]

Pics Pics Pics!!!!!

I always wanted one of those!!!

 

[D.R car audio & security]

should be 3 wires at cig lighter...
the live (which powers the socket)dont use
the earth- solid brown cable
and 3rd wire not sure of colour but thats the one you
need to tap into not the live!!! its the one that shows up live
when the lights of car are on..
them instructions id say are best as no point having it lighting in
daylight!
hope it helps!

 

[sharknose///M]

All great advice lads, I'll let you know how I get on.

There will be pictures my friends, oh yes..there will be pictures.. ( in the voice of Chandler Bing )

 

[Andy]

I got the complete kit with the wiring that plugs directly into the rheostat that adjusts the dashboard lights brightness. It wad the easiest thing to fit. It is just plug and play. It find and brightens like the dash and comes on when you turn on lights.

Sent from my HTC Desire S using Tapatalk

 

[sharknose///M]

Ok, so there's only two wires going to the cigarette lighter, the live ( red/grey ) and the earth ( brown ).
The amber circle around the lighter doesn't seem the recieve its own power supply. So I reconnected those back to where they belong.

Next attempt was to the rheostat that dims the dash lights. I disconnected that and plugged in the gear knob instead. The cable that came with the gear knob was a direct fit. Re-connected the battery...

Turned on the lights.....nothing.

No dash lights, no instrument cluster lights, no heater control lights.
No M sport illuminated gear knob lights.

Thought I may have blown a fuse somehow so checked them.
Fuse 37 protects the instrument cluster lights and dash lights and it wasn't blown.
I know it wasn't blown because it also protects the rear licence plate lights and they were working fine. I replaced the fuse anyway.

Rechecked all the wiring I had been anywhere near and put everything back where I got it before I started the job.

Still nothing.

I always thought I was more of a Ross than a Chandler, but now I feel like a Joey..

...Huh?

Anyone got any ideas, have I fried my LKM maybe?

 

[D.R car audio & security]

ok its definately a fuse thats blowm somewhere
along the line. my experence i dont bother with the
fuse diagrams as its not always that one thats blown
get a tester and check all fuses..
fuse box in the glove box and one under the bonnet
when testing fuses with tester make sure lights are in "on" position
where abouts u based?

 

[Kielo]

Your definitely watching too much friends... lol

 

[sharknose///M]

Ok well this was the most complicated effort at doing the most simple upgrade on the planet and my own fault for not asking for advice first.

Fuse 32 for the cigarette lighter was blown, i replaced it and everything is working as it should be.

Thanks everyone for all the help.

In the famous words of Chandler Bing......

''Later dudes.....''

 

[joey]

I always thought I was more of a Ross than a Chandler, but now I feel like a Joey..

Bit of a low blow that

 

[sharknose///M]

I always thought I was more of a Ross than a Chandler, but now I feel like a Joey..

Bit of a low blow that

Oops!

Sorry about that.

Doh! Feel like a bit of a Homer now... hope there's no-one on here with that name.