[paradoxical3]

Originally Posted by M3 Adjuster

Probably should take the elitist
" shouldn't happen in an M car " statement and change it to " shouldn't happen in any car".

It's an M car, not a maybach. And the backlighting is missing on all 2 series models, not just the M model

Has nothing to do with being elitist, but rather than an M series car costs more than a standard BMW, thus I am less accepting of stupid cost cutting measures. But yes - I agree it should be in all BMWs.

[gmzanatta]

Originally Posted by paradoxical3

Has nothing to do with being elitist, but rather than an M series car costs more than a standard BMW, thus I am less accepting of stupid cost cutting measures. But yes - I agree it should be in all BMWs.

If they didn't cut costs the M2 would be the price of an M4 and no one would buy it nor would it be worth developing.

[M3 Adjuster]

Originally Posted by gmzanatta

If they didn't cut costs the M2 would be the price of an M4 and no one would buy it nor would it be worth developing.

Exactly.

And one persons " stupid cost cutting measures " Whether it be lighting , carbon fiber, or whatever , is another person's added value.

[3tekcorps]

Ya'll should just have a coke and smile while the rest of us wait for our cars to be built.

[carbonSI]

Even my GT86 has backlighting during the day with my drls on

[2000Z3M]

How long until a DIY back-light kit comes out

[ajvdh]

Originally Posted by 2000Z3M

How long until a DIY back-light kit comes out

Until then...
http://www.uline.com/BL_8968/3M-Safe...Q&gclsrc=aw.ds

[TDM_macchina]

Originally Posted by Ex-MINI

I don't suppose that this is something that could be coded, to always have the dash backlight on?

Exactly. This is not a cost cutting issue. The backlights work fine at night. What's missing is a way to have them on during the day.

[IDABMW]

Somehow with this huge handicap I managed to drive today with a huge grin on my face. My burden is heavy yet I carry on.... it's so hard not to let her rip during break in..

[swilliams]

My dash doesn't light up unless I have DRL or headlights on. If I go through a tunnel or under a bridge, I can't see my tach/speedo. If this happens to be a long tunnel, I will notice the lack of gauge visibility and TURN my lights ON! I think that's the point. If it's dark enough you can't see the gauges, it's probably dark enough to turn your headlights on.

Without seeing this in person, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's a non-issue.

[Twix]

Originally Posted by swilliams

My dash doesn't light up unless I have DRL or headlights on. If I go through a tunnel or under a bridge, I can't see my tach/speedo. If this happens to be a long tunnel, I will notice the lack of gauge visibility and TURN my lights ON! I think that's the point. If it's dark enough you can't see the gauges, it's probably dark enough to turn your headlights on.

Without seeing this in person, I'm going to go out on a limb and say it's a non-issue.

Not really the issue. If you're driving during the day and facing the sun, or the sun beams in through a window, it makes the cluster disappear. I noticed it while test driving an M235i awhile back. It's just the way the cluster is made, it's kind of dumb. For reference, my E84 doesn't have this issue.

[swifty]

Originally Posted by TDM_macchina

Exactly. This is not a cost cutting issue. The backlights work fine at night. What's missing is a way to have them on during the day.

But does it work if it's set to AUTO and DRL is on?

Also there are no map lights in the front?

[D'Alex]

Clearly we should trade my wife's A3 for your M2. The A3 gauge cluster backlights are BRIGHTER during the day compared to at night!

[TDM_macchina]

Originally Posted by swifty

But does it work if it's set to AUTO and DRL is on?

Also there are no map lights in the front?

Yes, there are map lights and each visor has a light (actually in the headliner above each visor)

[TDM_macchina]

I need to find the photosensor that the car uses to turn off the speedometer/tach backlights. Then I can stick some tape on top to solve this issue. Any ideas where it might be?

[BFLY]

Anyone working on coding the cluster lights to always be on?

[ilovewagons]

Originally Posted by F87LUV

I'm having the same issue. Even on a beautiful sunny day like today. It's not ideal for the display not to light up. I also noticed that my passenger climate control doesn't allow all three vents (lower, dash and upper) to emit air no matter how many times I hit the button for that combination but my side allows it. Anyone else???

I can read those dials fine, on an iPad, at arm's length. I can't see the problem and all the people going on about it are starting to make me think that I'm the crazy one... So far, a majority of the voices tell me I'm sane.

[blackholescion]

Originally Posted by BFLY

Anyone working on coding the cluster lights to always be on?

Doesn't matter in this case. The car dims the dash lights even when full on. You can test this yourself by turning the headlight switch to on as opposed to automatic (adaptive) and driving normally during the day.

[BFLY]

Originally Posted by blackholescion

Doesn't matter in this case. The car dims the lights even when full on. You can test this yourself by turning the headlight switch to on as opposed to automatic (adaptive) and driving normally during the day.

I definitely noticed it this weekend, it was bright out with some cloud cover and found the dash dull and not easily seen. I drive with my light set to the 'on' position 100% of the time (switch turned to the right) however the light sensor turns on and off the cluster lighting automagically.
I found that it was dimly lit and would like to keep them on all the time. I called bmw and they were sure it could be surprised switched on and are getting back to me today.
I was looking for an alternative, someone who may have found a way to code the lights to be on ignoring the light sensor.

[Chuck W.]

Originally Posted by BFLY

Anyone working on coding the cluster lights to always be on?

I posted this issue on another forum's coding sub-section complete with a photo of the dash last week. So far .. nothing. When I had our M2 coded by Rob at Bimmer America LLC they had no coding fix for it.

With any luck someone will come across a fix for this. It is not a deal killer, it is just irritating. One time during some spirited driving I glanced down to see where the RPMs were. There was no way to see it at a quick glance. To me, that is an issue.

[bobsor]

It's definitely an issue, and there are already two previous threads about it. I noticed it during my very first drive in my M2, and contacted both my local dealer and a BMW Genius, but so far there's no fix. You can file a safety complaint at
https://www-odi.nhtsa.dot.gov/ivoq/Complaint.cfm as I have.

[Artemis]

Cross-reference to sister thread: http://f87.bimmerpost.com/forums/sho....php?t=1258632