Intermittent connection via cigarette lighter socket

[r44raven]

Connection of (say) a mobile phone charger to my E500 cigarette lighter socket results in only an intermittent supply to the phone. Strangely, compared with when I use the same connector in other cars, where it is a snug fit, in the E500 the plug is very "loose" in the socket - and I'm sure this is what is causing the breakdown in electric supply. I seem to recall that in a previous W124 I owned, there was a "collar" which fitted in the lighter socket which resulted in any auxiliary connection being a nice tight fit. I seem also to remember this collar could be removed.

Am I correct? Am I missing this "collar", and if so, does anyone have a spare one they can throw my way??

 

[gerryvz]

I have always had bad luck with lighter socket connectors in my E500 as well. I constantly have to check it to make sure it hasn't lost connection while driving down the road. I've been very tempted over the years to install a discreet USB socket inside the center console to directly plug a phone into for charging, but have never gone beyond the research phase of doing this.

 

[gsxr]

I have always had bad luck with lighter socket connectors in my E500 as well. I constantly have to check it to make sure it hasn't lost connection while driving down the road. I've been very tempted over the years to install a discreet USB socket inside the center console to directly plug a phone into for charging, but have never gone beyond the research phase of doing this.

Same here. ALL lighter socket male plugs are a poor fit in the 124 ashtray female socket. I don't know why. Very annoying and I don't know of a good fix.

If a socket would work for your application if located inside the center console roll-top box, you can wire up an aftermarket socket in there. I did this for an iPod install years ago, before 3rd party iPod adapters were commonly available that powered the unit via the 30-pin connector.

If you only need a USB connection, Gerry's idea would be better - wire up an aftermarket USB socket instead.

 

[luckymike]

Connection of (say) a mobile phone charger to my E500 cigarette lighter socket results in only an intermittent supply to the phone. Strangely, compared with when I use the same connector in other cars, where it is a snug fit, in the E500 the plug is very "loose" in the socket - and I'm sure this is what is causing the breakdown in electric supply. I seem to recall that in a previous W124 I owned, there was a "collar" which fitted in the lighter socket which resulted in any auxiliary connection being a nice tight fit. I seem also to remember this collar could be removed.

Am I correct? Am I missing this "collar", and if so, does anyone have a spare one they can throw my way??

If there is a dedicated collar, I’m interested, too.

In the meantime, I just made a shim for the plug I’m using.

 

[r44raven]

So given that it seems all W124s suffer the same problem - I'm wondering if that "collar" I'm recalling from a W124 I owned years ago, was an after-market item bought by an earlier owner of the car to cure the problem?

I've searched the internet for such an item, but no luck so far. And there seems little point in investing in a new OE unit (assuming they not NLA!), if its an inherent problem.

The idea of a discreet USB connection would seem to be the answer, unless there is a non-OE after-market item out there (which does not suffer the "slop"), that would be a direct replacement?