Cigarette Lighter Illumination Ring Install
 

The plastic ring around my cigarette light at the front of the center console disintegrated. I ordered a new one, but cannot see how to get the old one out. It does not seem like it can be pulled out from the hole - there is an abutment where a wire connects, etc. Can someone advise as the minimum that has to be removed, and how, to get at this part?

Any experience replacing this part and what to remove and how from the console?

yes and yes
 

I have replaced mine and can walk you through a step by step process. I can also sell you the ring as when I purchased mine I have to buy a few extra as the supplier was unwilling to split the bulk pack they came in. I think I have 3 of them....I will check.

Mine was broken when I purchgased my 2004 X5 4.8is. It took longer to figure out what held it in place then any attempt at repair/placement.

The ring is held in by a little long locking tab on the inside of the barrel. Just break the ring tabs with a blade screw driver, it will now just pull out of the lighter hole. The new one just snaps in place when it is aligned correctly.

it really is three pieces
Lighter (plug), lighter shell element, ILLUMINATED RING

Is your lighter element loose in the cavity? The ring locks it in place. If you look inside you can see the tab that locks the lighter to the ring and after removal you can see that the ring locks to the housing.
51168223050 ILLUMINATED RING

The power wire is a push on connector at the bottom of the lighter shell. It is way short so on reinstall you will need a needle nose pliers and a little patience to get it on and the parts back in.

the trick is to understand the alignment of the ILLUMINATED RING and the shell first, install the ring, connect and install the shell. there is a little tab on the ring that locks the shell and the ring has a collar that locks the two pieces into the console. Sounds like a lot but it is real simple.

Penske Parts - Technical Diagrams - E53 X5 4.8is (N62) SAV

see #17

Thanks. I had already ordered the ring from Pelican and expect it soon.

There seems to be an abutment on the side of the illumination ring that prevents it from coming out of the console tray area. I looks like it might be a small led board. I cannot figure out how the wire or small board gets removed from the side there. I cannot get the ring out even though it is broken up. The cigarette lighter outer shell if very free and can be pulled above the ring.

The ring has locking collar and a finger or two locking the shell. Remove the shell, (pull the positive wire loose from the bottom of the shell- Yes you can fish it out later with a LONG needle nose pliers). twist and break up all the ring pieces remove them with a needle nose pliers. The big pieces will come out now.

The install is ring, shell with wire attached, and then your done. PM me if you need voice help.:thumbup:

Got it. Got the new plastic ring in from above, with the led module clipped on. Took some doing, but got it in without breaking it. I had the lighter shell wires coming out of the center of the ring when doing this.

To get the lighter shell in, I had to align the protrusions near the bottom with one of the two sets of grooves on each side of the ring. It would not go in with the ring seated in the console, but if I pulled the ring up about 1/2 to 3/4 of an inch, and then pushed the shell in, and then pushed the combination of the ring and shell into the console, that worked well.

Congrats, You are now an official DIY on X5. A Skinned knuckle award will be sent to shortly..or as soon as you work on the next item that is coming.......:rofl:

Thanks, but I think my DIY award came with the four wheel brake job with new drilled and slotted discs, while also replacing both front axles. Plenty of knuckle busting then! LOL. But this cigarette lighter ring was challenging!

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You are right about that Cig lighter ring and mounting puzzle. I worked on mine longer trying to figure out how the heck it was assembled than I did actually installing it. Even with a mirror and a flashlight I could not see those little alignment tabs on the ring when it was still in the tray to release it.

When I bought my X5 the ring was broken but the lighter was still in the slot. Loose but there.

It was not straight forward like any mormal maintenance challenge...Brakes, suspension, exhaust, cooling system etc. Cheap part though, so it makes up for the brain work.

Keep the posting of any projects as this site needs some more technical postings.