12v cig outlet and other shifter console things always energized - Resolved

[jimmygee]

I purchased this 2001 X5 3.0 and notice a couple things that don't seem correct.

The cig lighter is always energized even when key in OFF.
Also noticed that the gear selection indication is always lit... for example, when the car is parked and turned off, key removed, doors shut, alarm turned on etc, the 'P' indicator on the console is still illuminated.

Neither of these seem normal. Previous owner had installed an iPhone charging cable that feeds from under the console so I'm assuming he tapped into the 12v circuit feeding the cig lighter. Since I don't have an iPhone I don't use this cable and don't know if it is always energized also. But perhaps in the process of him doing this, something else was miswired resulting in these other two situations I observe.

Any input or advice?

Thanks in advance.

[TerminatorX5]

all 5 cigarette lighter outlets in the car are always energized, as they are wired directly to the battery via a series of fuses...

The "P" in the console may stay lit or turn off, depending on the build date of the car... while the WDS indicates one cut-off date, in the reality the date is different... nevertheless, the "P" may go out when the car is asleep, 16 minutes after the last activity in the car happened... with your early car, the "P" may never go out and may stay lit at all the times

[Quicksilver]

Personally happy that the 5 cigarette lighter outlets in the car are always energized.
It allows me to charge phones while the key is off. It also allows one to operate
other devices as well. So this is normal in this case.

[jimmygee]

Thanks to all for the clarification and education.

[Elvis 3.0]

In my '08 528i the rear of the center arm console cig lighter was only energized with key in pos. 2 or on, not when the car was off. So, when you turned vehicle off anything remaining plugged into the charger would not draw energy.

In my '10 X3, it does as Term states stay energized. My question is, will this 'draw' of energy provided the device it is drawing to is off (radar detector, or in my case Sirius radio) have negative effects on drawing down the battery?

Can I leave my sirius radio plugged into the cig charge so long as the radio itself is off, but the green light indicator on the plug from the radio ( in the cig lighter) is illuminated and not worry about it killing the battery?

Thanks