[HootisTigglebits]

I've seen where some BMW models can be coded in expert mode so that the instrument cluster gauges and display are white at night instead of orange, but have had no luck figuring out how to do it on my 2016 M235i. Anyone know if we can do this on our models?

[icekxd]

I'm guessing you have the pre-LCI cluster. As far as I know, it does not light up during the day and is only orange at nighttime.

I've found this code at another forum sometime ago, I never tried it so I can't tell whether it will work: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/d...-night.662851/

Though, I'm guessing its the same as with the IHKA panel (HVAC) where pre-LCI versions only had orange display color and LCI versions have both white (during the day) and orange (at night) which works together with the LCI cluster (needles turn dark orange at nighttime and stay white during the day).

Nevertheless, if you have the pre-LCI cluster I strongly suggest retrofitting the LCI 6WA. If you need anymore info regarding this, hit me up on PM and I'll be glad to help, having done this retrofit last month myself.

Regards

[Mogki]

Originally Posted by icekxd

I'm guessing you have the pre-LCI cluster. As far as I know, it does not light up during the day and is only orange at nighttime.

I've found this code at another forum sometime ago, I never tried it so I can't tell whether it will work: https://www.bimmerfest.com/threads/d...-night.662851/

Though, I'm guessing its the same as with the IHKA panel (HVAC) where pre-LCI versions only had orange display color and LCI versions have both white (during the day) and orange (at night) which works together with the LCI cluster (needles turn dark orange at nighttime and stay white during the day).

Nevertheless, if you have the pre-LCI cluster I strongly suggest retrofitting the LCI 6WA. If you need anymore info regarding this, hit me up on PM and I'll be glad to help, having done this retrofit last month myself.

Regards

I looked at the retrofit but bimmertech want like $1,300+ for the whole thing. How did you go about doing it yourself?

I know the mileage has to be matched or it'll throw a tamper warning

[icekxd]

Originally Posted by Mogki

I looked at the retrofit but bimmertech want like $1,300+ for the whole thing. How did you go about doing it yourself?

I know the mileage has to be matched or it'll throw a tamper warning

For the LCI 6WA retrofit, you will first have to check for pre-requisites such as:
1.) whether your car has a basic instrument cluster (the one with the display in the middle bottom), you have to take off the climate control panel and then pull out the head unit to see if it has MOST optic connection - I'll attach a photo at the end so you can see what it looks like. If it is there, then you can go ahead and do the retrofit
2.) if your car has an extended instrument cluster (the one with the display in the middle bottom to right edge) you can go ahead and do the retrofit

The only circumstance when you cannot do this retrofit is when your car has a basic instrument cluster and no MOST connection in the head unit. In this case, you would have to retrofit the head unit as well.

To start, you will need to find a cluster. I personally bought a used cluster and had the VIN changed to the one of my car. Make sure you find a person who has an idea at what they're doing, as the specialist I took mine to ended up frying the electronics. He was forced to purchase a brand new one for me.

The critical part with buying a used cluster is that it needs to have a mileage LOWER than the one in your car. If you code the cluster to your car with higher mileage, it will irreversibly update it in all ECUs to the highest value available in the car - in this case the one read from the cluster. So if you decide to buy a used cluster, make sure to bench-test it to see the mileage before putting it inside your car.

You will also have to buy a MOST optic cable to connect the head unit with the cluster and vice versa.
- If you have option 1, you will need to buy this cable (male to male): https://www.ebay.com/itm/23303399100...sAAOSwtExVgSxG
- For option 2, you will need this cable (x2 male and female): https://www.ebay.com/itm/2Male-to-Fe...-/312898369009

Make sure the cables are long enough. 50cm/20 inches will be enough.

Once you have all of the above ready, plug the MOST cable into the head unit and push the other side through behind the cluster and connect the new cluster. If you're option 2, remove the black/green optic cable from the head unit and plug it into the female port of the extension, then one male end into the cluster and the other into the head unit. Now you just have to connect E-Sys, add 6WA FA, write it to the car and VO code the new KOMBI. Once the process completes, the cluster should display the correct mileage of your vehicle and should not display any faults. You might have to inject new CAFD if it displays as 255_255.

Sometimes the new KOMBI might not be coming up in the SVT list when reading from ECU, in this case you will have to manually remove the old KOMBI from the SVT and write it to the car. New KOMBI should then be detected when reading from ECU.

And that's the retrofit done. Overall it cost me approximately $350 in Europe, although not expensive, it was very time-consuming.

Image of the MOST slot at the back of the head unit. It will look like a red laser if you shine a light into it.