[AndDown]

Just picked up my 2019 230i (M pack) last evening and on the drive home, noticed that the "virtual analog" instrument gauge cluster is now white...what happened BMW to the classic amber lights for the gauge cluster??? Configuring the lighting in IDrive to "Classic" did not change those gauge lights, just the ambient cabin lights. I recall reading some time back that the new LCI models will have the new virtual gauges but don't recall that the white lit gauges would replace the traditional amber lighting. Appears that even the Hoffmeister kink is not in the new design of the X1, granted it was heavily camouflaged. Oh well, I'm enjoying driving the 230i, just miss the classic BMW amber-lit gauges.

[MarkDemma]

I think it's just white now. Going from a E46 to a M240 I also noticed it went from amber to bright white. At night, the needle color changes from white to red but the numbers are still brilliant white. You'd think in this day and age where we know bright white / blue light is bad for you at night and devices go into a red shifted night mode that BMW would have retained amber lighting at night

[Ron Jeffries]

Yeah. That's the closest thing to something I hate about my 2.

[tiwahu]

One of my "driving at night" complaints, too. Glad the needle at least changes but miss the classic orange amber.

[AndDown]

Thanks guys for the confirmation, not what I wanted to hear but I guess BMW is trying to "keep up with the Jones'". It was one of the unique features of BMW that I thought made a lot of sense about amber lights being better for vision at night. I recall my very first Bimmer, a 1977 325i that had the amber gauge lights and how cool it was to be different from the other manufacturers.

[ScottAndrew]

Originally Posted by tiwahu

One of my "driving at night" complaints, too. Glad the needle at least changes but miss the classic orange amber.

I also miss the amber and I don’t know why they changed it, except for changes’ sake. Especially as the rest of the instrumentation, which is looked at far less, is amber. It would have been better the other way around.

Perhaps someone will come up with an electronic mod. But for now, given that the black panel design is prone to scratches in a way that no instrument binnacle was before, is it possible for someone effectively to “tint” the binnacle with an orange protective film?

[tiwahu]

Found this article when I was searching for whether my instrument panel was broken:

...
BMW has also conducted further research that's found less difference between white and orange-red light at night than previously thought, so these newer cars will maintain neutral white dial illumination even at night (at somewhat reduced intensity), with orange-red displayed less prominently. ...

https://www.autoblog.com/2017/02/28/...-illumination/

[CE750Jockey]

Originally Posted by tiwahu

One of my "driving at night" complaints, too. Glad the needle at least changes but miss the classic orange amber.

Me too. The amber was cool. BUT, other than that, this car is fantastic.

[230iZTR]

Originally Posted by ScottAndrew

But for now, given that the black panel design is prone to scratches in a way that no instrument binnacle was before

This is the truth right there. I managed to scratch mine with a cotton cloth. Is anyone aware of a way to effectively recondition it and fill in the scratches, or is an upgrade to the M2 cluster the only way forward from here?

[AndDown]

Originally Posted by tiwahu

Found this article when I was searching for whether my instrument panel was broken:



https://www.autoblog.com/2017/02/28/...-illumination/

Interesting article...as I thought so, BMW is "trying" to become more like Toyota and it's also interesting that Toyota is copying BMW to provide a more sporty feel for their enthusiastic-oriented offerings:

"The secondary color Toyota uses is an amber with a bit of red in it, making it more conspicuous to the driver and also (presumably) providing many of the same benefits that led BMW to the hue. The company mainly uses it in its enthusiast-oriented offerings to convey "a sporty feel," but the trade-off is there's a potential for emotional response and also possible confusion with warning lights."

Also interesting that the new 5 and 7 series cars give drivers more control of the light options; presumably this will eventually filter down to the 2 series cars.

[ressac]

Any photos of the car, AndDown?

[skeeedunt]

Originally Posted by AndDown

"[...] potential for emotional response and also possible confusion [...]".

Sounds like there's an emotional response regardless

I like the white!

[AndDown]

Originally Posted by ressac

Any photos of the car, AndDown?

Nah, it's just your generic Alpine White with the M Sport Pack. All my current and former Bimmers have been AW except for my 2003 E46 which is Oriental Blue. The AW is less upkeep as it doesn't show dirt/smudges, etc as much as the dark colors do, BUT that Oriental Blue sure looks great after a wash & wax session!!!

[kz1000]

I miss the orange gauges.

[Miata13]

Originally Posted by kz1000

I miss the orange gauges.

Yep..I agree. Reminds me of that first BMW (a 1978 BMW 320i) I experienced many years ago....