Retrofitting the power outlet socket

[jonothan]

So, here in the UK winter's setting in, the roads are being salted and gritted and the temperature at night is falling below 0ºC, and so also the time has come for me to use the car on a more regular basis and put Bertie the BMW away for the winter.

Now, as I might have already mentioned, there is no auxiliary power outlet for charging my battery on my R850R and retrofitting one seems to be the better option.

The thing is, because the BMW dealer seemed rather confused about which part(s) I need, I wondered if any of you helpful folk could advise me what part or parts I should order. Mine is the '03 R850R which is basically the smaller sister of the current R1150R with the oil coolers enshrouded on the front lower sides of the fuel tank.

Also, fitting. Is this a major task or could I undertake it myself? And, moreover, do I need to order the plug for that socket or is it a fairly universal plug type?

Thank you, kind forum members, in anticipation of your ever friendly and helpful advice.

J

[leno]

Fitting should be the easiest of tasks. But i wonder if you have the blank in place? If so then it's just a case of replacing it and then doing the wiring.
The plug is BMW fitment so you will need one but I thing the last one I got was £7 or £9. Can't help you with the part numbers but I don't think that they would be special to that bike. I think that the wires for it were already fitted on mine(1150), all they had to do was fit the socket and attach the wires hidden out back.

[Capt. Blackadder]

The thing is, because the BMW dealer seemed rather confused about which part(s) I need, I wondered if any of you helpful folk could advise me what part or parts I should order. Mine is the '03 R850R which is basically the smaller sister of the current R1150R with the oil coolers enshrouded on the front lower sides of the fuel tank.

Also, fitting. Is this a major task or could I undertake it myself? And, moreover, do I need to order the plug for that socket or is it a fairly universal plug type?

Jonothan,

I can't imagine it's that hard, and several times I've read about owners doing this themselves. As for the parts needed, I'm almost positive that all you need is the socket and the plug. The wires should already be in place, like leno said, and you could just drill a hole in the plastic panel for the socket. The BMW plug and socket are smaller than the universal-size car lighter plug, FYI.

I found these part numbers in Max BMW's online fiche:

- Plug-in Socket: 61 13 1 391 630, $25.00
- Installation instructions: 01 29 7 663 960, $0.00
- Plug housing: 61 13 8 060 106, $10.90

Click on "R1150R", then "Vehicle Electrical System", then "Various Switches." I'm not entirely sure whether that "plug housing" is the actual plug that fits the socket, but it seems the most likely candidate as far as I can tell.

Good luck!

[jamming]

The plug for the back of the socket was buried way up on my bike. Had to take off the starter cover, no big deal. Took me 10 min to put in the acc. socket.

FYI..when you need to add a plug to something, go to a John Deere Tractor dealer and get it there, works great for a couple of bucks verses 10 or more for the BMW plug. I made one up to fit my cell phone so I can charge it at rallies.

Roger

[Peter J]

The bigest difference is that with the expensive BMW socket ($25.00 us) the power lead will plug right in will only require drilling a 3/4" or 19 mm hole in the starter cover. Aftermarket sockets will require changing the end of the lead to spade terminals. I added an additional socket for my electric vest after I got sick of the lead being pulled out of the stock location.

[hotzuk]

Hey guys,

I am thinking about adding an accesory plug near the steering head. Any suggestions on the best location for this? Any/all pics are appreciated.

[Mike UK]

Hotzuk,

I ran an extra power cable off the back of the power socket next to the starter motor to the top of the airbox so that I could route power to the tankbag (using Powerlet products) for mobile phone charging ect.

Powerlet have plenty of BMW standard sockets and mounts (for handlebars ect):

http://www.powerletproducts.com/

I used an R1150RT or GS extension cable plus a new socket. This "Y" cable plugs inbetween the existing power socket and loom connecter allowing you to run the spur anywhere on the bike. It is long enough to do this.




I now intend repeating this by connecting another spur ("Y"cable) from the airbox position to the front of the bike. I plan to mount it under the steering head inside the frame using the spare hole on the frame (used for R1100R tankbag front strap mounting plate / hook). You can see the hole on the bottom of this photo.



But, like I said you can mount it anywhere on the bike using either BMW or Powerlet parts.

Hope this helps. I cannot get onto Smug mug as I was going to post a picture of the "Y" cable. Just ask for an extension power cable from either the GS or RT. It was a problem at first for the parts guy but he soon worked it out.

Happy to e-mail a picture of the cable. Send me a message via this site.

Mike

[peter J]

The R1150GS additional socket kit ($59 us) includes the above mentioned y cable, a BMW socket and a mounting bracket for the rear footpeg mount. I mounted the socket in the blackpart of the left oil cooler. to elimnate my vest cord from pulling out. The kit was a perfect fit and had about 8 -10 extra inches of cable, it could make to the steering head. I paid the money for the kit because I wanted a plug and play fit to the stock power socket. For my tankbag power I just ran a power lead with a SAE end spliced on from an accessory fuse panel.

[hotzuk]

Mike,

Thanks for the info. If you can snap a pic of the cable, that would be much appreciated. I have two socket on my bike. The first is near my left drivers leg. The next is near the passenger rear foot peg on the same side. From what you are saying, I can splice into one of these babies, mount one in the front and I am done.

I looked at the picture that you indicated for the whole in the front but I really do not see where it is suppose to mount. It is late at night for me so excuse me if I have a "duh" comment

[Mike UK]

Hotzuk,

This is simple "plug and play" work no cutting or splicing required!

1. unplug the bikes wiring loom from the back of the original power socket.

Then looking at the photo of the cable for reference...

2. Plug the bikes wiring loom connector into the left hand connector of the new cable.

3. Plug the middle connector into the back of original power socket.

4. Run the long cable and connector (R/H in the picture) to the place of your choosing for your new power socket



I don't have the part number of the cable but here is a close up of the label.



As for the mounting point of my choice. Study the picture in the previous reply and you should see the small hole in the frame half way along the lower edge of the photo.

Good luck.

Mike

[hotzuk]

Mike,

Thanks for the info. I will have to get the part numbers together for everything to place my order for the install.

[hotzuk]

Hey Mike,

Any suggestions for where to mount the outlet near the steering head? Also, any help with the part numbers is greatly appreciated

[jonothan]

Well, I collected the power outlet socket today from my local BMW dealer. It cost me a fraction over £20.00, and a plug to fit onto my new battery charger was another £8.00.

The instructions showed this to be a very easy job indeed, so I thought I'd tackle it myself. I removed the starter motor cover with the Allen key, and took the cover off. Next, I pushed out the plastic grommet and put the power socket in its place. The 22mm nut held it tightly in place from behind. The wiring was already there, with the plug all ready to fit into the back of the socket! I refitted the starter motor cover, put the plug on the battery charger leads and the job was done. It took me 20 minutes, and I wasn't rushing. Even the BMW plug was an easy job as it needed only a small electrical screwdriver, and no soldering.

It was much much easier than accessing the battery.

Hopefully now the battery will remain in good condition over the winter.

J

[hotzuk]

Does anyone have the part number for the kit listed by Peter J? What would be the Powerlet alternative part numbers?

[hotzuk]

Anyone? Anyone? Itching to call up Chicago BMW. I get nervous when I do not get a UPS delivery at least once a month

[Peter J]

I am at work right now so I do not have access to the part number. The kit (additional socket kit) is the one for the R1150GS/Adventure, I think you already have one installed if there is a power socket by the passenger peg. I do not belive you can add yet another to the harness? If you are looking to add a power point to the front for a tank bag power? You could use a Battery Tender lead, you can get many of the powerlet products from whitehorsepress.com . For my tankbag power I used a battery tender lead and put a relay in line so there was only power with the key on. If you were careful not to leave anything on, you could power it direct from the battery without the relay.