[German1967]

I have never been able to actually "see" any ambient lighting in my 2015 M235 regardless on the brightness setting or color choice. I have an X3 to compare were the ambient light is very visible while driving even in mid-level brightness setting.
What do I miss?

[Nyorky2428]

To me, it's basically the same as a full moon shining down through the sunroof. The two lights that emit the ambient light are up near the roof controls, I don't even notice it in my day-to-day (night-to-night) driving

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by Nyorky2428

To me, it's basically the same as a full moon shining down through the sunroof. The two lights that emit the ambient light are up near the roof controls, I don't even notice it in my day-to-day (night-to-night) driving

That's funny because I've changed that setting between "Sport" and "Classic" a number of times and could never figure out what the difference was. I suppose I never looked up!

[harma24]

By default, the ambient lighting level is controlled by the dash rheostat. If you keep the dash brightness all the way down, the ambient lighting is off regardless of the brightness setting in iDrive. For the first couple of weeks, it drove me mad trying to figure out what setting I had messed with or what mistakes I made coding that turned off the ambient lights. It was only when I went back for an encore that I finally found out about the rheostat.

However, you can code it so the ambient lights are controlled solely by iDrive and not tied to the dash rheostat. Now I can keep the dash lights down, but the ambient lights (classic red) up!

[German1967]

@harma24

I did all of that and still have no idea where the ambient lighting is supposed to come from.

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by German1967

@harma24

I did all of that and still have no idea where the ambient lighting is supposed to come from.

It's the two small vertical lights in the overhead panel just in front of the map light controls.

[German1967]

Thanks... I see it now. Indeed it exists, but barely noticeable unless you brighten the instrument cluster all the way up which is not really helpful.

[RotorOver]

Originally Posted by German1967

Thanks... I see it now. Indeed it exists, but barely noticeable unless you brighten the instrument cluster all the way up which is not really helpful.

Yeah, not very useful nor does it add to styling. I noticed there is also similar lighting coming from the back of the overhead panel above the back seat. Not sure what it looks like from the back there though. I imagine just as underwhelming.

[Quantumn]

Out of curiosity, does anyone know if this part would fit our cars?
64119358940

I was in an LCI F30 loaner and fell in love with the center having a nice soft glow...
I wish our F22s had more ambient lighting aside from the single diode

Note, I am aware this part number is for the F30/F80... just checking to see if anyone has crazy ideas like me haha

[norvegicus]

I coded my ambient lighting to be full brightness all the time. It makes a perfect, useful but not obtrusive red glow.

[Theoneandonly]

Do you not also get lights in the interior door handles and footwells?

[MadOzodi]

What I noticed when playing around with ambient lighting was the change of color in the footwells...

Classic = Orange
Sport = White

[cxp213]

Correct, sport = white, classic = orange.

Personally, I wish the 2 series came with lighting package that is available on the other models, like on the door. Really miss that from my E92.

[aozer]

Originally Posted by RotorOver

It's the two small vertical lights in the overhead panel just in front of the map light controls.

Attachment 1602690

its also in the door handles and foot wells but it is super subtle.

[kdelalic]

Originally Posted by German1967

@harma24

I did all of that and still have no idea where the ambient lighting is supposed to come from.

Classic = Orange ambient lighting
Sport = White ambient lighting

I prefer the orange, it looks cooler

[CHarrisMedia]

Originally Posted by MadOzodi

What I noticed when playing around with ambient lighting was the change of color in the footwells...

Classic = Orange
Sport = White

I didn't know about the footwells, maybe that's why they look

View post on imgur.com

rather than the traditional tungsten bulbs.

[cxp213]

Originally Posted by CHarrisMedia

I didn't know about the footwells, maybe that's why they look

View post on imgur.com

rather than the traditional tungsten bulbs.

I didn't think your footwell bulbs changed colors, only the ambient lighting (they don't ever turn off and are dimly lit at night). I always had mine to Sport because I don't like orange lighting. You're missing the diffuser, BTW.

[//M235ixD]

Search on Amazon..you can buy these LED lights that will change color (with a magnet) to what ever you want . i have mine setup as Green..so cool

Originally Posted by CHarrisMedia

I didn't know about the footwells, maybe that's why they look

View post on imgur.com

rather than the traditional tungsten bulbs.

[CHarrisMedia]

Originally Posted by cxp213

I didn't think your footwell bulbs changed colors, only the ambient lighting (they don't ever turn off and are dimly lit at night). I always had mine to Sport because I don't like orange lighting. You're missing the diffuser, BTW.

Oh yeah I took the diffuser off because I intended to upgrade these lights to LED ones assuming they were tungsten bulbs but after taking the diffuser off, I noticed they were already LED.

Originally Posted by //M235ixD

Search on Amazon..you can buy these LED lights that will change color (with a magnet) to what ever you want . i have mine setup as Green..so cool

I see so does this replace the whole unit?

[//M235ixD]

it is plug n play .. take the old light fixture and pop on the new one.

[CHarrisMedia]

Originally Posted by //M235ixD

it is plug n play .. take the old light fixture and pop on the new one.

I had a look on Amazon & eBay, not sure whether it's because i'm in the UK or not using correct search terms but I only seem to find the LED and not unit?

[//M235ixD]

This is what i bought back in 2015. look for something like this.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0...?ie=UTF8&psc=1

Originally Posted by CHarrisMedia

I had a look on Amazon & eBay, not sure whether it's because i'm in the UK or not using correct search terms but I only seem to find the LED and not unit?