I was thinking about getting one of these mini flashlights to plug the auxillary power socket, has anyone found any other gadgets they would recommend?
I was really just looking for maybe a little led accent light, but couldn't find one.

Thanx,
TREX

 

I always have my USB power adapter plugged in. Mine lays in flush. It comes in much more handy as a non smoking iPod/iPhone user than a cigarette lighter ever has.

 

How much is it? I carry around a LED Surefire flashlight and I havent replaced the batteries in it in almost 2 years.

 

This is the cheapest I found for a black one. Some other colors were cheaper. $7.76 with free shipping.


http://www.dealextreme.com/details.dx/sku.21472

 

I was thinking about getting this one, but doesn't look like it is great quality. this is actually a lighter which isn't very useful.

They can be found here:

http://www.myaston.com/k/?view=item&...d+new+Cooper+S

 

I picked up one of the flashlights at Home Depot for 5 bucks about a month ago. Works pretty good. I has one setting for steady on, one for flashing, and it has a blue led that lights up when it is charging. I keep in the the boot area charger. I think the blue charging led would be too bright if charged up front.

 

Check out the flashlight at Griots.com- expensive, but looks well made

 

Molly's got a MINI MagLite tucked away in the Glove Compartment!!

 

I used to have one of these from a VW Touareg before it was stolen while my car was at my dealership for service.

 

Ok thevelourfog...this is a story 'we' have to hear!!

 

Oh you've already heard half the story! Basically my dealer MINI of Monrovia sucks pretty badly as I'm sure most here will agree with me about... During one service when I asked them not to clean my car, they did clean it a little too thoroughly. They tossed all my work receipts for my reimbursables, took the change from my ashtray as well as said flashlight. Since then I've left the car pretty barren and take pics of the glove box, ect.

Very shady, not much I can really do about it.

I'm more annoyed by them constantly scratching up my car. Unfortunately the car is not reliable enough to not see the service department constantly! Often other dealers somewhat close by home/work don't want to provide loaners, so it becomes tricky to not go to my dealer...

Anyways, that's about it!

 

Sorry to hear that, it's really to bad that 'all' Dealerships can't be on the "up and up" as it were and we have to find out the hard way which ones are Customer oriented and which ones aren't.

 

I use the cigarette lighter for another gadget...radar detector.

 

I have one each of:

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B000P6WN68 (Coast 7575 LED Flashlight)

http://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B001BDJVYQ (Spotlight Rechargeable)


I think the Spotlight is the better product (beware of fakes though). Neither fits really well into the socket, but they will charge. I have one in the rear lighter socket at all times.

A.

 

I have my radar detector plugged into the power socket as well.

Dave

 

My radar detector sits next to me, or should I say speed limiter. One thing about the mini, if you have a wife who doesn't like you to speed, the big speedo right in the middle of the dash isn't your friend!

 

Found a neat gadget for my need to plug in multiple devices up front, a four plug expander that only cost $8. Seems to be well made, got it from Amazon.

 

Recieved the little flashlight gadget. It is actually pretty cool and what I was looking for. A lot smaller than I thought it was going to be, which is good. You can have it off, or with a red led light when your ignition is on, or turn it on for another interior light. Plus it pulls out and works like a regular flashlight. Pretty handy little gizmo. The only thing I would change about it is I wish the ambient lighting mode was blue instead of red.

 

That's where the Sirius Sportster gets plugged in... Valentine 1 is hardwired into the map lights,

As an aside, What do you all think of the new Escort iQ? Radar detector, and photo radar / speed camera and portable GPS in 1 unit. Pricy but probably worth it if you can avoid a couple of speed camera revinue generators....

 

Radar detectors are good and bad. I have one on my motorcycle and got popped the other day. You have to remember that when you are the only vehicle on the road, there is no advanced warning. When it goes off, you just got popped.

The other problem with radar detectors is they provide a false sense of invinsibility. You think your protected, so you drive like your protected, and next thing you know you have a big fat ticket instead of the usualy 9-15 over.

So, if you can avoid the temptation to drive like you stole it, the more protection you have the better. Or, if you drive like you stole it with or without the extra protection, buy whatever your budget allows.
Like you said, doesn't take avoiding more than a couple of revenue generators to make any of these devices seem like a bargain. If you already have a valentine 1, wouldn't make much sense to buy another one where I live, but we don't really have photo radar here. wouldn't your valentine pick up that radar anyway?

TREX

 

How about the OEM mini rechargeable flashlight?

OEM part number is 63310138865
http://www.realoem.com/bmw/showparts...90&hg=63&fg=30

 

OEM flashlight? Sweet! Kind of pricey, but looks like it would put out a lot more light that the little one I bought.

 

I have two genuine Spotlights, one in each socket, both snap in nice and tight, great little product!!

 

I use the 12V outlet for my Garmin GPS however the plug is really chunky. The plug has the built in traffic alert radio which I never use. It also has 4 side spring (grounding) clips rather than the usual 1 or 2. If I am not careful the Garmin plug will pull up the entire socket out of the panel.
I have resorted to using a cheap 'Y' plug. Has 2 sockets wired to a plug, not the one piece type. I use the other for the cell phone charger.

My daughter uses the rear outlet for a portable DVD player.

 

I have a splitter plugged into my lighter socket... GPS and XM receiver plugged into it. As for flashlight, Surefire 6PX Tactical in the hidden compartment with the ipod. It makes daylight.