Instrument Panel Lighting???

RedRockM3 · 12-12-2015, 11:51 AM

New M235i coupe driver here with a question about the instrument panel lighting. Should the the speedometer and tachometer have white illuminated backlighting during daytime? All orange backlighting is working fine at night. The speedometer and tach look dull in the daytime. My other bimmers have had the white backlighting during the daytime, however, the new m235i doesn't. Just wondering if this is normal?

German1967 · 12-12-2015, 12:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRockM3

New M235i coupe driver here with a question about the instrument panel lighting. Should the the speedometer and tachometer have white illuminated backlighting during daytime? All orange backlighting is working fine at night. The speedometer and tach look dull in the daytime. My other bimmers have had the white backlighting during the daytime, however, the new m235i doesn't. Just wondering if this is normal?

Yes, it is normal.

Viffermike · 12-14-2015, 09:34 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRockM3

New M235i coupe driver here with a question about the instrument panel lighting. Should the the speedometer and tachometer have white illuminated backlighting during daytime? All orange backlighting is working fine at night. The speedometer and tach look dull in the daytime. My other bimmers have had the white backlighting during the daytime, however, the new m235i doesn't. Just wondering if this is normal?

It's one of my few beefs with the 2-series, outlined in a couple of other threads: no daytime backlighting on the speed and tach. It is normal, unfortunately. (Caveat: 3-series cars don't have it, either.)

BMW335iOn18s · 12-15-2015, 12:25 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RedRockM3

New M235i coupe driver here with a question about the instrument panel lighting. Should the the speedometer and tachometer have white illuminated backlighting during daytime? All orange backlighting is working fine at night. The speedometer and tach look dull in the daytime. My other bimmers have had the white backlighting during the daytime, however, the new m235i doesn't. Just wondering if this is normal?

The only bimmers that have white backlighting in cluster during the day are F chassis 5/6/7 and related X models, as far as I know.

Cyberdemon · 12-15-2015, 08:21 AM

It's very weird, coming from an F30 I swore the gauges had white backlighting during the day, because I never noticed not being able to see the gauges as much as I do in the 2.

My only thought is I either used the HUD way more than I realized, or the wider gauge cluster didn't get shadowed as bad.

InTheSound · 02-02-2016, 06:27 PM

Not to high jack this thread, but when you report the orange ambient light as 'working' at night - does your fuel gauge markings and fuel needle also light up in orange?

As the others mentioned, daytime mode does not backlight in white. I have the extended instrument cluster and the tach/speedo are not lit. My fuel gauge markings are presented in the digital display as white. However I believe something is malfunctioning when night mode kicks in... Fuel gauge remains white and the needle does not light up.

JChristie · 02-03-2016, 03:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InTheSound

does your fuel gauge markings and fuel needle also light up in orange?

As the others mentioned, daytime mode does not backlight in white. I have the extended instrument cluster and the tach/speedo are not lit. My fuel gauge markings are presented in the digital display as white. However I believe something is malfunctioning when night mode kicks in... Fuel gauge remains white and the needle does not light up.

Yes, fuel gauge and needle should turn orange along with everything else.

I've attached images of day/night mode.

Cloud IX · 02-05-2016, 07:26 PM

Mine is like his first picture with just the DRLs on. If I go to parking lights, its a hybrid of the speedo and tach in amber, while the bottom remains white. Once the headlights come on its his 2nd picture, all amber.

InTheSound · 02-07-2016, 12:07 PM

Thanks for the pics and the comments, clearly I have something malfunctioning at the moment. Something is likely wrong with the sensor for Day/Night. I noticed the navigation interface was also staying in Day mode - so bright at night. I tapped around the mirror and things started working again. I will get this looked at by BMW.

JChristie · 02-07-2016, 04:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Cloud IX

If I go to parking lights, its a hybrid of the speedo and tach in amber, while the bottom remains white.

Updated to add a photo of the above. Note that in my photo the colour on the speedo looks to be a mix of orange and white, but that's just due to an outside light source. The speedo and tach are pure orange while the fuel gauge, MPG display everything below is white.

sauceonside · 06-25-2017, 08:22 PM

Does anyone know if it is possible to code the amber backlight on the speed/tach to be on during the day?

I've read a few posts about people trying to keep the white digital colors at all times--but I do like the amber very much and would like to code the backlighting to be enabled at all times. I don't see any options in either bimmercode or Carly, however.

BEM-S4 · 06-25-2017, 09:16 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by sauceonside

Does anyone know if it is possible to code the amber backlight on the speed/tach to be on during the day?

I've read a few posts about people trying to keep the white digital colors at all times--but I do like the amber very much and would like to code the backlighting to be enabled at all times. I don't see any options in either bimmercode or Carly, however.

If you can figure out how to do this without your maps being in night mode all the time it would be a great option. I would assume however tricking the car i to thinking it's always night is easier than breaking the logic for interrelated systems.

moldcad · 06-26-2017, 02:37 AM

This dam thing is always reminding me the 2 series is a low-end product from BMW. Not that I need to constantly read my speed, but it's just aesthetically unpleasing... Yes, I remember how nice those gauges looked in my F10 - and is so cheap compared with the premium look in my current Golf R

Piotr

Sir Thomas Bombadil · 06-26-2017, 07:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by InTheSound

Thanks for the pics and the comments, clearly I have something malfunctioning at the moment. Something is likely wrong with the sensor for Day/Night. I noticed the navigation interface was also staying in Day mode - so bright at night. I tapped around the mirror and things started working again. I will get this looked at by BMW.

FYI: I think I know the issue you're talking about, and I think it's intentional. Based on how I've seen my bimmer operate, it has 3 light modes.

Day: no backlight
Day + shade: backlight for all but the gas gauge
Night: backlight for all

I don't really know why there's that middle ground, but it's what I've noticed. The fuel gauge generally won't come on until it's clearly dark.

krhodes1 · 06-26-2017, 05:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by moldcad

This dam thing is always reminding me the 2 series is a low-end product from BMW. Not that I need to constantly read my speed, but it's just aesthetically unpleasing... Yes, I remember how nice those gauges looked in my F10 - and is so cheap compared with the premium look in my current Golf R

Piotr

The 1/2-series IS BMW's lowest end product. What did you expect?

That said, VW does interiors better. I now have a GTI Sport and there is no comparison, it is so much nicer inside than my M235i was, other than being dark as a coal mine with no color choices. But I sure do miss iDrive. Android Auto is "OK" and entirely adequate, but the big-screen iDrive is just awesome.

mastrchee · 01-22-2020, 06:24 AM

Sorry to revive an old thread, but this is the first one that came up on google.

I just changed my leds in the cluster to white - much, much, much better!

j2dad5389 · 01-22-2020, 08:24 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastrchee

Sorry to revive an old thread, but this is the first one that came up on google.

I just changed my leds in the cluster to white - much, much, much better!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastrchee

Sorry to revive an old thread, but this is the first one that came up on google.

I just changed my leds in the cluster to white - much, much, much better!

I like that how did you do it ?

mastrchee · 01-22-2020, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by j2dad5389

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastrchee

Sorry to revive an old thread, but this is the first one that came up on google.

I just changed my leds in the cluster to white - much, much, much better!

Quote:

Originally Posted by mastrchee

Sorry to revive an old thread, but this is the first one that came up on google.

I just changed my leds in the cluster to white - much, much, much better!

I like that how did you do it ?

Mostly inspired by link below as I couldn't find a DIY for 2 series, but relatively the same.

https://www.e90post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1044425

The LEDs I used were from here: https://rover.ebay.com/rover/0/0/0?m...2F310314933505

You only need 6 LEDs, there's 3 around each needle.

12-12-2015, 11:51 AM	#1
RedRockM3 New Member 22 Rep 13 Posts Drives: 2018 M3 CP, 2015 X4 Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Las Vegas, NV iTrader: (0)	Instrument Panel Lighting??? New M235i coupe driver here with a question about the instrument panel lighting. Should the the speedometer and tachometer have white illuminated backlighting during daytime? All orange backlighting is working fine at night. The speedometer and tach look dull in the daytime. My other bimmers have had the white backlighting during the daytime, however, the new m235i doesn't. Just wondering if this is normal? Last edited by RedRockM3; 12-12-2015 at 12:08 PM..
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12-15-2015, 08:21 AM	#5
Cyberdemon Brigadier General 1538 Rep 3,331 Posts Drives: 2020 X5 40i, 2018 M3 Comp Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Long Island NY iTrader: (3)	It's very weird, coming from an F30 I swore the gauges had white backlighting during the day, because I never noticed not being able to see the gauges as much as I do in the 2. My only thought is I either used the HUD way more than I realized, or the wider gauge cluster didn't get shadowed as bad. __________________ Current: '20 X5, '18 M3 ZCP Previous: '11 E90 335i, '11 E90 M3, '16 VW GTI, '15 M235i, '13 335i, '08 TL-S, '00 Corvette
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02-02-2016, 06:27 PM	#6
InTheSound Enlisted Member 9 Rep 46 Posts Drives: BMW M2 '18 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	How 'bout your fuel gauge Day/Night Not to high jack this thread, but when you report the orange ambient light as 'working' at night - does your fuel gauge markings and fuel needle also light up in orange? As the others mentioned, daytime mode does not backlight in white. I have the extended instrument cluster and the tach/speedo are not lit. My fuel gauge markings are presented in the digital display as white. However I believe something is malfunctioning when night mode kicks in... Fuel gauge remains white and the needle does not light up.
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02-05-2016, 07:26 PM	#8
Cloud IX Lieutenant 122 Rep 444 Posts Drives: Quickest Stock Turbo F8X Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Sky iTrader: (4)	Mine is like his first picture with just the DRLs on. If I go to parking lights, its a hybrid of the speedo and tach in amber, while the bottom remains white. Once the headlights come on its his 2nd picture, all amber. __________________ Quickest Stock Turbo F8x In The World
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02-07-2016, 12:07 PM	#9
InTheSound Enlisted Member 9 Rep 46 Posts Drives: BMW M2 '18 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Vancouver iTrader: (0)	Thanks for the pics and the comments, clearly I have something malfunctioning at the moment. Something is likely wrong with the sensor for Day/Night. I noticed the navigation interface was also staying in Day mode - so bright at night. I tapped around the mirror and things started working again. I will get this looked at by BMW.
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06-25-2017, 08:22 PM	#11
sauceonside Private 31 Rep 68 Posts Drives: 2017 240i MT Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: Metro-West iTrader: (0)	Does anyone know if it is possible to code the amber backlight on the speed/tach to be on during the day? I've read a few posts about people trying to keep the white digital colors at all times--but I do like the amber very much and would like to code the backlighting to be enabled at all times. I don't see any options in either bimmercode or Carly, however.
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06-26-2017, 02:37 AM	#13
moldcad Major 262 Rep 1,091 Posts Drives: M235i Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Poland iTrader: (0)	This dam thing is always reminding me the 2 series is a low-end product from BMW. Not that I need to constantly read my speed, but it's just aesthetically unpleasing... Yes, I remember how nice those gauges looked in my F10 - and is so cheap compared with the premium look in my current Golf R Piotr __________________ previous: 2003 E46 330i SMG just sold: 2013 F10 528i xDrive my AWD beater: 2015 Golf R mk7 DSG my RWD pirate & long-distance cruiser: 2015 M235i AT8, LSD
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01-22-2020, 06:24 AM	#16
mastrchee First Lieutenant 84 Rep 396 Posts Drives: i4 M50 Join Date: Nov 2012 Location: London, UK iTrader: (4)	just changed my leds Sorry to revive an old thread, but this is the first one that came up on google. I just changed my leds in the cluster to white - much, much, much better! Attached Images
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