[omasou]

Is the little raised dot on either the radio or heating control unit in the lower left near the knob an ambient light sensor for the dash lights?

[swagon]

Originally Posted by MINI135i

Just to reiterate what was already said: Even if you turn the headlights on and illuminate the instrument cluster the "auto dimming" kicks in immediately during daytime and shuts down any light from the speedo or tach, so there is no work around.

Definitely reporting this one, and hoping for a fix.

Originally Posted by masou

Can we just put some tape over the light sensor as a temporary fix?

Don't put the lights in AUTO. Turn the switch all the way to right. That's low beams 24/7.

[swagon]

Originally Posted by masou

Is the little raised dot on either the radio or heating control unit in the lower left near the knob an ambient light sensor for the dash lights?

That's a mounting point where the screw #5 goes.

[swagon]

#7

only works when the lights are in auto, parking lights or low beams, tho, but better than nothing. Hope y'all have tried that.

If you do not want to run low beams, just drive with parking lights on (5). Everything should be illuminated incl. tail lights which is safer than the DRL mode.

I didn't pay much attention, but did not have problems with the cluster when I was driving the car.

[omasou]

Originally Posted by swagon

That's a mounting point where the screw #5 goes.

No SE of the Auto button

[Artemis]

Also reported in this review: see 09:04 - 09:30

[pruettfan]

I am currently renting a base Dodge Challenger, car has lots of issues but it has a very clear center screen that can be configured for a digital speedometer, you can also configure to see oil temp, pressure, coolant temp, transmission temp etc. It seems that every car on the market has an LCD screen in the center of the cluster than can be configured to at least see basic information and have a digital speed readout. I don't understand why BMW isn't doing this. I don't need a dial for my speedometer at all, its a terrible way to read the speed and there is nothing mechanical any longer in the speedometer so I really hope they get this area together.

[MagnusT]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

I am currently renting a base Dodge Challenger, car has lots of issues but it has a very clear center screen that can be configured for a digital speedometer, you can also configure to see oil temp, pressure, coolant temp, transmission temp etc. It seems that every car on the market has an LCD screen in the center of the cluster than can be configured to at least see basic information and have a digital speed readout. I don't understand why BMW isn't doing this. I don't need a dial for my speedometer at all, its a terrible way to read the speed and there is nothing mechanical any longer in the speedometer so I really hope they get this area together.

You can have the speed shown digitally in the M2.

IMHO the digits are too small though.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by pruettfan

I am currently renting a base Dodge Challenger, car has lots of issues but it has a very clear center screen that can be configured for a digital speedometer, you can also configure to see oil temp, pressure, coolant temp, transmission temp etc. It seems that every car on the market has an LCD screen in the center of the cluster than can be configured to at least see basic information and have a digital speed readout. I don't understand why BMW isn't doing this. I don't need a dial for my speedometer at all, its a terrible way to read the speed and there is nothing mechanical any longer in the speedometer so I really hope they get this area together.

Having spent some time in a Porsche with a digital speedometer, you don't get as good of a sense of acceleration with just the digital readout (it had both).

[///M²]

Originally Posted by MagnusT

You can have the speed shown digitally in the M2.

IMHO the digits are too small though.

They could have made the numbers as big as the digital read out area, as with most cars that have that option.

[bobsor]

Originally Posted by blackholescion

You can code the orange backlight on all the time. But as was mentioned, it isn't an end all solution since in bright conditions, it's still hard to see.

Can you please describe how to code the backlight on all the time?

Thanks in advance!

[bobsor]

Originally Posted by MR.

Fully agree! First thing I spotted when I drove the press car in April...

Luckily you can code it so that it stays on.

MR

Can you please describe the procedure for coding the backlights so they stay on?

Thanks!

[bobsor]

Originally Posted by MINI135i

I am pretty easy going when it comes to squeaks, rattles and minor stuff in cars and rarely make a big deal of them...BUT this instrument lighting issue is a major problem and quite debilitating when wanting some quick info from the tach or speedo. When doing high speed driving, which this car is made to do, quick info is what you want! Sunglasses exacerbate the problem as mentioned. The pictures posted in this thread are pretty representative of the real life issue. If you don't have your car yet, wait to speculate, because when you get your car you will see what we are all talking about. I have owned many BMW products, R53,R56,E82,E46 M3,E90 M3, E92 M3, etc., etc. and have never experienced something like this.

Just to reiterate what was already said: Even if you turn the headlights on and illuminate the instrument cluster the "auto dimming" kicks in immediately during daytime and shuts down any light from the speedo or tach, so there is no work around.

Definitely reporting this one, and hoping for a fix.

In the US, it's easy to open a complaint with the National Highway Traffic Safety Adminstration;

https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/VehicleComplaint/

[MechEE]

Originally Posted by chris719

Having spent some time in a Porsche with a digital speedometer, you don't get as good of a sense of acceleration with just the digital readout (it had both).

I hope you don't need the speedometer to give you the sense of acceleration in the M2.

[chris719]

Originally Posted by MechEE

I hope you don't need the speedometer to give you the sense of acceleration in the M2.

It's an issue of too much rather than not enough . The needle makes you less prone to overshoot your target speed in a very fast car I thought.

[Benzima]

I have no issue with my MY2017: the dials are retro lit as soon as I go to darker environment with the headlights in Auto-mode.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Benzima

I have no issue with my MY2017: the dials are retro lit as soon as I go to darker environment with the headlights in Auto-mode.

Just a matter of time before you will experience this nuisance.

[Ex-MINI]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Just a matter of time before you will experience this nuisance.

+1

Just today I went under a large canopy of trees. Not quite dark enough for the system to turn the illumination on, but much too dark to be able to see the instrumentation, especially since it was a sunny day otherwise and I was wearing sunglasses.

[Artemis]

Originally Posted by Benzima

I have no issue with my MY2017: the dials are retro lit as soon as I go to darker environment with the headlights in Auto-mode.

Look here Benzima: a picture taken this evening (and to the human eye it looks even darker - camera 'upgraded' the light).

What do you reckon ?

[Benzima]

Originally Posted by Artemis

Look here Benzima: a picture taken this evening (and to the human eye it looks even darker - camera 'upgraded' the light).

What do you reckon ?

Attachment 1491825

Eurk! I have not experienced this behaviour so far...

[MechEE]

I'm hoping the fix becomes as simple as a coding change to keep the cluster backlighting always on.

[eugegall]

Same issue here too! This was a sunny day under shade. Impossible to read speedo whilst driving. Serious issue here, which needs sorting immediately.