Cig lighter fuse
 

Ok everyone, I was trying to charge my phone via cig lighter and found the front and rear console plug, as well as the one under the glove box not working.

I searched the forums to try to find a quick answer to which fuse to check. There seems to be a lot of confusion as to which fuse box and which fuse. I have an 2003 4.6is X5. Here is what I found, it is #25 on the fuse box in the gove box. The right rear cig lighter plugs use a different fuse.

Simply open glove box, take out the BMW flashlight out of its socket (other wise the fuse box door will not open) and reach up in the top of the glove box and pull the two tabs down. They are about 10" apart. There will be two banks of fuses, and the cig lighter is on the top bank the sixth one in from the right side. It is # 25 and is a 25 amp fuse. I would suggest before you put in a new fuse check all three plugs to make sure something like a dime or some other object is not causing it to short out, inspect for any bent tabs as well. Waa laa, simple fix.

Ok, I also have an 2003 4.4 X5 that the wife drives. She just got home and it prompted me to check to see if the cig fuse is the same on the 4.4. It is!! The only difference is that on the schematic it says;

Cigarette lighter ------- 25 (33 AUS)

This means it is in the #25 position on the fuse bank. I assume if the car is sold in Australia it is 33 but who knows?

Hope this saves someone a little time if they run into the same thing.
Cheers!

I just had the same problem and this thread helped me out!

The cigarette lighter won't charge a GPS/Phone etc. But, it will charge any device if you plug it in UNDER the glove box!