[Dan_335i]

i got a dash cam plugged into the power socket beside the ashtray or coin storage thing. but when i shut the car off and lock it the camera doesnt turn off? the car is still giving the camera power

is there a way to fix it?

[HFW003]

Unplug it.

[Dan_335i]

Originally Posted by HFW003

Unplug it.

but what if i forget then the car wont start the next day? there must be a fix to this....

[Philipangoo]

You should wire it to the plug by the glove box. That one shuts off after a few minutes of the car being powered off.

[DJax]

Doesn't Your dash cam should have an on/off switch or a way to power it down? If you close it down its not drawing any circuit. It seems the obvious answer would be to just unplug it.

[Sedan_Clan]

Originally Posted by Dan_335i

i got a dash cam plugged into the power socket beside the ashtray or coin storage thing. but when i shut the car off and lock it the camera doesnt turn off? the car is still giving the camera power

is there a way to fix it?

It does provide power until the car sleeps.

[rich1068]

WHS ^^

The socket will supply power for about 10 minutes after you turn off the ignition and lock the car. Go and check after you've made a cup of tea or something but don't unlock/open the door or the power will kick in again.

[Dan_335i]

Ok will try waiting 10 mins

[rich1068]

I wondered the same thing when I first got the car. I have one of those BMW USB ciggie lighter adapters and it has a little green light on it. I'd lock up the car and the light would still be on. But if I left the car, returned later and looked through the window the light was off. Unlock the car/open the door and the power is back on.

[raleedy]

Just like your refrigerator light.

[F16]

My dashcam is plugged in the same socket. It turns off 10 min after you exit and lock the car.

[Ali Shiralian]

I know it's an old thread but I had postponed buying a dash cam since I wasn't sure the lighter socket powers down. I was almost looking to have a professional hard wire it for me after I purchased one. This forum is truly amazing. So much knowledge you guys. Saved me a lot of dough

[diablo2112]

I, too, have wired dash cams into both of our F30s. Personally, I don't like the 10-minute retained power on the cigarette lighter. I wired a relay into the under-glovebox outlet, and triggered it off the Homelink Garage Opener in the rear view mirror. That circuit powers down a few seconds after the car is shut off. Much nicer this way.

No doubt, my solution was way more complicated than it could have been, but now the cig lighters power down when I want them too. I also wired LED fog/driving lights into the same circuit, and I didn't want them to stay on for 10 minutes, either.

[RPS328ix]

I have the BMW led flashlight that goes in the power socket. Dumb question maybe, but is it safe to just leave it in the socket all the time, or will it drain too much power? I'm sure the power draw is tiny, but if it is in there all the time that might add more wear than its worth.

[Sam28]

[QUOTE=henryrumpole;16144524]I have the BMW led flashlight that goes in the power socket. Dumb question maybe, but is it safe to just leave it in the socket all the time, or will it drain too much power? I'm sure the power draw is tiny, but if it is in there all the time that might add more wear than its worth.[/QUOTE

That is not a dumb question.

IMO I would keep your flashlight charging. It will not drain your battery and you ought to not have any further concern.

However, a little of topic, but BMW's aren't perfect and people don't always accept that. People are completely cluless of the effort that goes on behind the scenes to give them such a vehicle. For example, if one's driving behavior is at times not optimal for the road conditions, the car helps you out whether it's steering, breaking or such. People don't appreciate how forgiving thier BMW's are until they get into a rent a car.

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by Ali Shiralian

I know it's an old thread but I had postponed buying a dash cam since I wasn't sure the lighter socket powers down. I was almost looking to have a professional hard wire it for me after I purchased one. This forum is truly amazing. So much knowledge you guys. Saved me a lot of dough

As others have said: the socket under the glove box powers down after about 10 minutes.

I also did a dashcam, but I didn't want to run the wires down to the socket nor have the camera on for 10 minutes after stopping, so I hard-wired it into the rear view mirror.

There is a switched 12V wire available there.

See my DIY on my installation: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=974007

My dashcam runs off of 5V, so I had to add a DC-DC converter, but if yours runs off of 12V, you can just wire it directly.

[amoeba]

The poweroff is the same for both cig-lighter sockets? The one under glove box and the one next to ash tray both auto-shut off after a while?

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by Frogman

As others have said: the socket under the glove box powers down after about 10 minutes.

I also did a dashcam, but I didn't want to run the wires down to the socket nor have the camera on for 10 minutes after stopping, so I hard-wired it into the rear view mirror.

There is a switched 12V wire available there.

See my DIY on my installation: http://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho...d.php?t=974007

My dashcam runs off of 5V, so I had to add a DC-DC converter, but if yours runs off of 12V, you can just wire it directly.

Thanks for the advice. Mine is a Garmin dashcam20 and runs on 12v. I plugged it in the socket under the glove compartment and it does shut down after 10min. I think I can live with that

[bonabono]

I have an opposite question.. When does the socket turn on?
I have a dual USB charger connected in the center power socket to charge my cell phone.
It looks like it starts working 5-10 minutes after I start the car.

Maybe it has something to do with the usb charger I use. It is this model:

[Ali Shiralian]

Originally Posted by bonabono

I have an opposite question.. When does the socket turn on?
I have a dual USB charger connected in the center power socket to charge my cell phone.
It looks like it starts working 5-10 minutes after I start the car.

Maybe it has something to do with the usb charger I use. It is this model:

My dash cam powers on as soon as I touch the door handle. I guess the power comes on (car wakes up) right then. It must be a problem with your device.

[aditzah84]

Hi , i have also a mirror cam from dod and can anyone tell me how to make it run non stop, the car shutsdown the power after 10 minutes or so, i have it pluged in the trunk socket and i want it to record non stop when triggerd bu motion . Thanks. I dont think this device will be a problem for the battery , i had it on a skoda before and no problem.

[Billfitz]

Originally Posted by aditzah84

Hi , i have also a mirror cam from dod and can anyone tell me how to make it run non stop

You need to wire it to the fuse box, tapping a fuse post that's always on.