I replaced the cheap and nasty cig lighter socket on my 4/4.
I used a marine item - made by Sutars - much higher quality, has a rubber cap, and a defined ridge inside the opening which helps retain the "plug". This was essential to make a reliable connection with my CTEK charger, which is also now fitted with a Sutars plug rather than the suppled one. Total cost around £10.
The OE one is something you can buy for 99p or less in any Halfords etc, not exactly a quality item, and I do wonder why the car industry is still using a socket designed for intermittent connection with a pop-up cigarette lighter, for continuous 12v power, a really poor choice. All sorts of things will pop out of the standard socket, and if you don't have a cap (as in the Morgan) there is the potential for a short. The "DIN" socket used by BMW is not much better in my opinion. What we really need is a switched, polarised, protected socket that makes a good reliable connection, not some hangover from the past.
Nigel
PS still interested in the "glove box door opener thingy".
