Electrical Rumor

[dnhynz]

A friend of mine just purchased a used Z-4 roadster. When asking me about adding a stereo system or plugging her iPod into the car's cigarette lighter, she told me that she had been warned by someone in the know that tapping into the wiring system for the purpose of powering after market accessories (like a car stereo, etc.) or plugging into the cigarette lighter (i.e. an iPod or cell phone charger) with anything other than a cigarette lighter could somehow cause damage to the electrical system of this BMW automobile.
1) Is there any truth to this, and if so, what is the explanation?
2) If not on this car, is it true for any BMW model or year and why?
3) If not for any, how do rumors like this get started (if you know)?
Thanks for your input.

[nick_318is]

I can't answer 1 or 2, but 3 could be someone had an issue and thats what they were told when it was really not an issue or it was some other problem.

Welcome to United Bimmer

[Red_Rocket]

the only thing that i know of happening would be blowing a fuse

the male end of the plug that goes into the lighter, if it gets pushed in too far then it could short, causing the fuse to be blown....

happens to my moms 06 civic when she wants to charge her phone

sounds like the same problem

[xsperf]

exactly, even if you did somehow "screw it up" the fuses will blow out(and thats actually a good thing) b/c they are there for ur benefit(believe it or not), and no, you can definately connect aftermarket accesories(like hard-wired radar detectors)