12v outlet socket broken

[Tyceman]

Hi,

My 12v phone charger has broken apart leaving half of it trapped inside the 12v socket (the one under the arm rest). I’ve tried needle pliers, prying with a flat blade screwdriver but no amount of force is moving it. Any suggestions very welcome. Thinking I may have to remove the panel that the socket is located on. No idea how to do that either!

Thanks

 

[eNate]

This doesn't address your immediate question, but while you're working that point, I just want to confirm you know about the "hidden" 12v socket underneath the dash, slightly centered above the cup holder?

Re: your broken charger, have you tried a thin flat blade screwdriver inserted between the socket and charger?

 

[Tyceman]

Thank you, yes, I did find that socket too. Just hoping I can fix the problematic one too. I tried to do as you said with a flat blade screwdriver but there isn’t any clearance at all. I’ll give it another go the evening though, and if that fails I’ll get Bmw to take a look at it. Thanks for your help.

 

[vreihen]

When the plug separated, did the ground tab(s) on the side of the plug come out with the cord or are they still in the socket? Those tabs may be catching the lip inside the socket and holding the other half of the connector inside.....

 

[Anonymous]

According to the repair manual, the 12 volt sockets pull out for service. Not sure if they are friction fit and just pull straight out, or need to be turned to 'unlock' them. Instructions say to pull out the socket with the 'special tool' until the connection is exposed at the bottom of the light ring. In the picture it looks like the tool gets turned 90 degrees counter clockwise, but that likely is to lock the tool in the socket.

View attachment socket.jpg

 

[Tyceman]

Thanks for the reply. The ground tabs were left inside the socket but I have since managed to bend them out of the way. Something else must have engaged within the socket.

When the plug separated, did the ground tab(s) on the side of the plug come out with the cord or are they still in the socket? Those tabs may be catching the lip inside the socket and holding the other half of the connector inside.....

 

[Tyceman]

Thanks, that’s Very interesting. You may be right. Alternatively, the tool might engage with the female cutouts in the lining of the socket, then as you said a quarter turn releases the socket. Wonder if I can buy that tool anywhere?!

According to the repair manual, the 12 volt sockets pull out for service. Not sure if they are friction fit and just pull straight out, or need to be turned to 'unlock' them. Instructions say to pull out the socket with the 'special tool' until the connection is exposed at the bottom of the light ring. In the picture it looks like the tool gets turned 90 degrees counter clockwise, but that likely is to lock the tool in the socket.

socket.jpg

 

[eNate]

You can pull the socket without the special tool.

I was able to easily remove it with a common plastic panel puller tool, the smaller size (about 1/2" width). I then did it again using a small flat blade screwdriver.

You'll notice two gaps in the light ring surrounding the socket. Behind these gaps are plastic tabs that hold the socket to the surface it's mounted to.

Wiggle your tool in from the side, right above the gap, and lightly twist it to make it pop.

Then, for the second tab, rather than attacking it directly, wiggle your tool around, underneath the lighted ring, and as it gets close the the second gap, it'll pop loose. No magic!

I did try inserting a micro screwdriver directly into the gap in the lighted ring, which looks like it should work, but didn't. But I didn't play with it too much.

Maybe practice first on the one in your hatch area since it's open in all directions and easier to operate on.

http://www.****oodog.net/images/i3/i3-12vsocket1.jpg

http://www.****oodog.net/images/i3/i3-12vsocket2.jpg

 

[Tyceman]

Thanks for the detailed suggestion, it is much appreciated. It looks as though my socket is slightly different to yours unfortunately. Mine doesn’t have those gaps in the ring, so that method looks like it won’t work for me.

Cheers

You can pull the socket without the special tool.

I was able to easily remove it with a common plastic panel puller tool, the smaller size (about 1/2" width). I then did it again using a small flat blade screwdriver.

You'll notice two gaps in the light ring surrounding the socket. Behind these gaps are plastic tabs that hold the socket to the surface it's mounted to.

Wiggle your tool in from the side, right above the gap, and lightly twist it to make it pop.

Then, for the second tab, rather than attacking it directly, wiggle your tool around, underneath the lighted ring, and as it gets close the the second gap, it'll pop loose. No magic!

I did try inserting a micro screwdriver directly into the gap in the lighted ring, which looks like it should work, but didn't. But I didn't play with it too much.

Maybe practice first on the one in your hatch area since it's open in all directions and easier to operate on.

http://www.****oodog.net/images/i3/i3-12vsocket1.jpg

http://www.****oodog.net/images/i3/i3-12vsocket2.jpg