13 replies to this topic

[Miniminx71]

I have a 1997 Cooper which has a blank where (I suspect) there should be a cigarette lighter (I've owned it since new and it's never had one). I mentioned it to my mechanic today and he said "people still smoked in 1997 didn't they?" (seemingly genuinely confused by the tight-wadedness of Rover). Being female, I've naturally always been rubbish at reading maps and rely entirely on my SatNav in my other-workhorse-stuck-on-the-drive-never-cleaned VW. But I want to be able to drive somewhere different in my nice shiny Mini accompanied by that kind lady from Garmin, but there's the huge problem of where to plug the SatNav in .... any advice on whether fitting one is an easy job, or will I always have to take a man with me everywhere?

[Carlos W]

It's perfectly possible to retro fit a cigarette lighter.

 

Did your mechanic not say they could fit one for you?

[Miniminx71]

Not as such, just hadn't done one before and was wondering where all the wiring etc went. He's a very good but definitely classic car mechanic so these new fangled fag lighters are a bit of a mystery I think.

[Alex_B]

They are very easy to fit and I would be worried about trusting a mechanic that didnt know enough about electrics to fit one. They only need a fused 12v live and a ground, the only issue is the fuse rating however most after market cigarette lighters include the wiring and fuse so it just needs to be given 12v +tive and the ground connected to the vehicle body

[Kieranlee999]

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item51b128a962

simply install one of these 

(dont take my next steps as i dont trust the previous owner unless someone agrees with my point)

the feed has been taken from the 2nd fuse down on the standard 4 pin fuse box and then earthed on the side of the heater matrix so its simple on how to do it 

[Miniminx71]

Thanks Alex_B.

[RedRuby]

I am guessing here as you don't say what mini you have but a 97 Cooper I am thinking it is a MPi if so the blanking plug which is situated to the left hand side of the switch panel would give problems if you tried to fit a cigarette lighter there. If you drill it out to take a cigarette lighter it will likely damage the plate which sits behind and has the securing nut to hold that side of the switch panel. Again if it is an MPI with a wooden dash it may be better considering drilling a suitable hole perhaps to the side of the radio housing and mounting it there.

Edited by RedRuby, 07 May 2014 - 09:50 PM.

[Miniminx71]

Hi RedRuby.Yes, it is standard wood dash MPi. Bit reluctant to drill the dash though ..

[Alex_B]

You can get a little bracket shaped like an L that could let you mount a ciggy lighter under the dash rail out of the way to avoid dashboard drilling 

[domdee]

heres a thread i started as i wanted to see where i could mount my cig lighter.

not yet done it though lol....

 

http://www.theminifo...s/#entry3044762

[L400RAS]

I have a 1997 Cooper which has a blank where (I suspect) there should be a cigarette lighter

 

That would be where the choke cable goes.  Your car is injection so does not have a choke.  Cigarette lighters were never standard fit. 

 

I fit these to my cars.  I cut the "male" plug off, wire to hte fuse box (+in-line fuse) and leave the "female" end dangling under the dash in the passenger footwell.  Not solidly mounted - no need for the occasional sat nav / phone charge, but hidden away, and no holes drilled in the dash.

 

http://www.ebay.co.u...=item53ff76cf20

Edited by L400RAS, 08 May 2014 - 12:05 PM.

[Jordie]

I got a twin 12v socket thing from ebay for about £5

 

It uses 2 self tappers into the lower dash rail. So sits quite nicely out of sight. Comes with 2 caps to cover the sockets too (think it was made for a boat, its fully waterproof)

[Badboytunes]

I got a twin 12v socket thing from ebay for about £5

 

It uses 2 self tappers into the lower dash rail. So sits quite nicely out of sight. Comes with 2 caps to cover the sockets too (think it was made for a boat, its fully waterproof)

 

 

Same here, took about 15 mins to fit inc the wiring. I took a switched live from the heaterwith an additional fuse. never had any issues