[RhoXS]

Best I can tell, my "new" 2011 CPO X3 has 5 Lighter sockets:

1-Center front of console.
2-Inside console below phone cradle.
3-Behind console for rear seat.
4-Cargo area right side.
5-Below cargo area deck towards front.

This is from the manual (page 109) and as soon as I leave my office later today and get to car I will verify all five are indeed installed.

The fuse chart, graciously posted in another thread, indicates seven fuses associated with the lighter outlets.

1-5 Amp
54-20 Amp
65-15 Amp
143-15 Amp
144-15 Amp
171-No size specified
176-15 Amp

So, of the seven fuses, five are shown with ratings that are reasonable for a lighter socket although the 15 Amp fuses are underrated by about an Amp for the 200 Watt rating stated on page 109 of the manual. I certainly understand the fuse will not blow instantly when exceeding its rating but it will eventually.

I would like to know what fuse is associated with what outlet, especially the 20 Amp fuse. I just ordered a compressor and patch kit as a contingency for the run flat tires. The compressor (Viair 85P) is adverised to draw 13 Amps at 30 PSI. Loading it on to a 15 Amp fuse is cutting it too close for a number of reasons so I would prefer using the outlet protected with the 20 Amp fuse. Since the luggage compartment outlet is located almost adjacent to the rear fuse block, I would assume it would be fed from that. The 20 Amp fuse is located in the fuse block behind the glove box because it is fuse #54 so I would have to assume it feeds one of the three front outlets.

I did buy an adapter so I can connect the compressor directly to the battery terminals in the engine compartment. However, the lighter sockets are much more convenient, especially in an area that gets walloped with lake effect snow in the winter. Initially I started to order the Viair 88P but decided on the 85P because it has slightly smaller capacity and therefore draws less current, more consistent with the lighter outlet ratings.

[The X Men]

According to page 135 of the 2011 535i manual: load of all sockets must not exceed 140 Watt at 12 V. Looks like you are out of luck.

[bjarne]

According to page 109 of the 2011 X3 (with iDrive) manual, "The lighter socket can be used for electrical devices up to approx. 200 watts with 12volts with the engine running or the ignition switched on."

It doesn't specifically say that the different sockets have different ratings, so one could imply that they all are the same.

[NordicBMW]

It may not be of any help, but when I accidentally had a short in the center front console 12v outlet, the 20 amp fuse #54 was blown.

[noka]

I got the VIAIR 88P (which could draw higher amps than the 85P) and plan on connecting it directly to the battery terminals if I need to use it.

[motosport3]

This is useful information as the manual gives you minimal information.

My center front console outlet (Between the two cup holders) stopped working so it sounds like it would be on fuse 54.

How do you guys change the fuses that are behind the glove box? i opened up the entry door and the the fuse box is pushed far back and doesn't seem ideal to be swapping out fuses w/o something potentially slipping and falling into cracks.

I have a 2011 X3 28. TIA!

[96_Impreza]

Originally Posted by motosport3

.....How do you guys change the fuses that are behind the glove box? i opened up the entry door and the the fuse box is pushed far back and doesn't seem ideal to be swapping out fuses w/o something potentially slipping and falling into cracks.....

.
I identified fuse 54 as the culprit, bought a set of Torx drives for the glove box screws and wound up having the dealer replace the fuse gratis at our 15K service visit.

[motosport3]

Thanks for the response. It sounds like you didn't want to bother attempting to switch out the fuse either. I'm disappointed they've made it difficult to do simple things like that.

I guess I will have to schedule it to be brought in in the near future....