Dashboard lighting going dim intermittently?

RyanB88 · Post by **RyanB88** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:36 pm

Hi

2006 facelift e85

Once a week my dashboard (where the mileage/MPG is) goes very dim when driving. There doesn't seem to be any signs or patterns to it

It's done it when the lights are on and when they're off, again no patterns

Anyone had anything similar and know where to start?

vester86 · Post by **vester86** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:38 pm

mine does that too sometimes, never figured out why

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:41 pm

RyanB88 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:36 pm Hi

2006 facelift e85

Once a week my dashboard (where the mileage/MPG is) goes very dim when driving. There doesn't seem to be any signs or patterns to it

It's done it when the lights are on and when they're off, again no patterns

Anyone had anything similar and know where to start?

Hi, it's probably the internal light sensor by the light switch becoming shaded enough for the light module to think it's night & dimming the instrument lights-my si did the same occasionally

Rob

RyanB88 · Post by **RyanB88** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:45 pm

Smartbear wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:41 pm
RyanB88 wrote: ↑Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:36 pm Hi

2006 facelift e85

Once a week my dashboard (where the mileage/MPG is) goes very dim when driving. There doesn't seem to be any signs or patterns to it

It's done it when the lights are on and when they're off, again no patterns

Anyone had anything similar and know where to start?
Hi, it's probably the internal light sensor by the light switch becoming shaded enough for the light module to think it's night & dimming the instrument lights-my si did the same occasionally
Rob

Hmm makes sense - even when the lights are off though? Is there an easy fix for it to turn down the sensitivity?

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Mon Jun 12, 2017 10:52 pm

Yes, it still works when the lights are off-it's not adjustable as far as I know?
Rob

Steve84N · Post by **Steve84N** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:51 am

It's not that.

Mine does this also and it goes a lot dimmer than night time brightness, to the point where it's almost invisible. I also notice it sometimes counts down numbers from 400, which I think is related to the mpg calculation.

My old e46 used to have the same dimming problem but it tended to last longer than a few seconds. I dare say it's something on the early end of failing but until it does I'd just ignore it as it never totally stopped on my e46.

markplant · Post by **markplant** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:05 am

The counting down is related to say nav, as it thinks your going somewhere, also had the dimming issue on mine

Smartbear · Post by **Smartbear** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:10 am

Steve84N wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:51 am It's not that.

Mine does this also and it goes a lot dimmer than night time brightness, to the point where it's almost invisible. I also notice it sometimes counts down numbers from 400, which I think is related to the mpg calculation.

My old e46 used to have the same dimming problem but it tended to last longer than a few seconds. I dare say it's something on the early end of failing but until it does I'd just ignore it as it never totally stopped on my e46.

It sounds as though you have a different issue, mine just dimmed the instrument display the same as the others on this thread.
Rob

scott202 · Post by **scott202** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:49 am

Mine does the same thing! I wasn't sure if it was a faulty bulb?

kis · Post by **kis** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:02 am

Mine does this too. Only for a second or two then 'back to normal'. Never associated it with anything but I remember someone saying could be related to 'flooring it'

pvr · Post by **pvr** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 10:14 am

My old X5 did that as well, never found out why but it never failed.

Steve84N · Post by **Steve84N** » Tue Jun 13, 2017 12:52 pm

Smartbear wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2017 7:10 am
Steve84N wrote: ↑Tue Jun 13, 2017 6:51 am It's not that.

Mine does this also and it goes a lot dimmer than night time brightness, to the point where it's almost invisible. I also notice it sometimes counts down numbers from 400, which I think is related to the mpg calculation.

My old e46 used to have the same dimming problem but it tended to last longer than a few seconds. I dare say it's something on the early end of failing but until it does I'd just ignore it as it never totally stopped on my e46.
It sounds as though you have a different issue, mine just dimmed the instrument display the same as the others on this thread.
Rob

Sounds like the same thing to me when the OP said the mileage/OBD readout dims, not the instrument lighting...

vester86 · Post by **vester86** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 1:01 am

I think i found out... think it has something to do with the light sensor on the windscreen. had my cluster burst into light When ran onder an LED spotlight at my home, but noticed it does the other way around When getting into shadows sometimes. Think the computer can't figure out If the light cluster is supossed to be on daylight or nightlight mode

Post by **srhutch** » Sun Jun 25, 2017 7:37 am

Def the light sensor. Both my E46's did it as well.

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