2023 X5 45e camera image dim

doniel · 10-23-2022, 12:23 AM

Hi all, I picked up a 2023 45e just two weeks and am loving the car. However, one thing that I find quite annoying is that its backup camera's image is much dimmer than I'm used to (a '22 Accord Hybrid). The image brightness is fine during the day. However, at night, on streets that are not well lit, I have trouble seeing clearly what's behind the car beyond a few feet. At the exact street locations, the Accord's images are much brighter. The 45e's camera image settings don't help at all. I don't observe much difference even with the brightness cranked all the way up. I was wondering if other 45e owners have the same issue. Thanks!

Chas8283 · 10-23-2022, 06:29 AM

Yeah, not a 45e specific issue but common across G05. I personally haven't noticed this - just backed down our driveway in the woods two nights ago - but I remember reading others sharing this same complaint. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1824434

RJC · 10-23-2022, 08:08 AM

I recently noticed this as well. I thought maybe my night vision was getting worse.

Did anyone find a solution?

ScaldedDog · 10-23-2022, 08:43 AM

Is the issue the camera, or the reverse lights? The latter seem fairly worthless.

Mark

e61it · 10-23-2022, 10:27 AM

Backing up at night the camera image is abysmal. Don't believe any known cure has appeared on the forum yet.

doniel · 10-23-2022, 10:46 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e61it

Backing up at night the camera image is abysmal. Don't believe any known cure has appeared on the forum yet.

Really? That's disappointing. I was hoping this was just an issue of a defective component or some sort (something that the warranty can easily cover).

Flying Ace · 10-23-2022, 11:02 AM

Yep, the quality is very poor. I'm also referencing the surround cameras, which makes street parking at night difficult.

The E70 and F06 cameras were much better

jad03060 · 10-23-2022, 05:37 PM

If you have the trailer hitch, there are a bunch of backup light assemblies that will clamp around it, but it has some implications about other automated systems that will think you have a trailer installed.

You can play with the brightness and contrast some in iDrive, and that will help at least a little.

quad_drive · 10-23-2022, 06:13 PM

Yep.. I noticed the same thing on my 23... A little disappointed given my 5 year Q7 has better night time image quality. Daytime it's none issue.

But, the one feature on the Q7 where the camera image switch from rear to front when you shift to 'D' is the one I missed the most. I also don't like the automatic top down view on the front where it has gray out area, seems silly when pulling into a tight parking spot.

Good thing BMW has such a good drivetrain and driving dynamics..

e61it · 07-14-2023, 04:06 PM

There was a bimmercode fix for poor instrument cluster lighting that may also address the night time backup image issue. Before doing the Bimmercode fix on my 2021 45e I had a booklight aimed at the sensor in the instrument cluster that vastly improved the night backup image. The instrument cluster lighting is much better after the fix but I haven't taken the car out at night since to test the backup lighting.

RickObe · 07-14-2023, 04:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by e61it

There was a bimmercode fix for poor instrument cluster lighting that may also address the night time backup image issue. Before doing the Bimmercode fix on my 2021 45e I had a booklight aimed at the sensor in the instrument cluster that vastly improved the night backup image. The instrument cluster lighting is much better after the fix but I haven't taken the car out at night since to test the backup lighting.

Do you have any more specifics on what the Bimmercode fix is? Is it a standard-mode option or advanced coding?

How do you identify the location of the sensor in the instrument cluster?

TurtleBoy · 07-14-2023, 06:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RickObe

Do you have any more specifics on what the Bimmercode fix is? Is it a standard-mode option or advanced coding?

How do you identify the location of the sensor in the instrument cluster?

You need to make the changes in Expert mode. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh...2&postcount=53

The sensor is on the left hand side of the IC.

e61it · 07-14-2023, 10:16 PM

The sensor is to the left (maybe an eight inch or so) of of the fuel gauge about at the 3/4 full mark. Try illuminating this area at night and you should notice a substantial difference in the quality of the back up image.

goatranced · 11-03-2023, 06:17 PM

I just purchased a 2023 45e and can't believe how bad the cameras are at night. In my situation it's all cameras at night or when I pull in the garage at anytime. Some folks I've seen reference having the same problem with tinted windows stating that it's the sensor on the instrument cluster that causes the issue. I believe this is actually the culprit. It's the onscreen display that is too dim not the camera it-self. During daylight (not in garage) the display seems to be fine. I'm going to try the Bimmercode solution to see if it helps.

10-23-2022, 12:23 AM	#1
doniel New Member 9 Rep 15 Posts Drives: BMW X5 45e Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	2023 X5 45e camera image dim Hi all, I picked up a 2023 45e just two weeks and am loving the car. However, one thing that I find quite annoying is that its backup camera's image is much dimmer than I'm used to (a '22 Accord Hybrid). The image brightness is fine during the day. However, at night, on streets that are not well lit, I have trouble seeing clearly what's behind the car beyond a few feet. At the exact street locations, the Accord's images are much brighter. The 45e's camera image settings don't help at all. I don't observe much difference even with the brightness cranked all the way up. I was wondering if other 45e owners have the same issue. Thanks!
	Appreciate 1 RickObe93.00 Tweet Quote

10-23-2022, 06:29 AM	#2
Chas8283 Lieutenant 355 Rep 443 Posts Drives: BMW X5M Join Date: Sep 2021 Location: NYC iTrader: (0)	Yeah, not a 45e specific issue but common across G05. I personally haven't noticed this - just backed down our driveway in the woods two nights ago - but I remember reading others sharing this same complaint. https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1824434
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10-23-2022, 08:08 AM	#3
RJC First Lieutenant 180 Rep 301 Posts Drives: X5 xDrive45e Join Date: Dec 2018 Location: DC Metro iTrader: (0)	I recently noticed this as well. I thought maybe my night vision was getting worse. Did anyone find a solution?
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10-23-2022, 08:43 AM	#4
ScaldedDog Lieutenant 341 Rep 418 Posts Drives: 2022 X5 45e Join Date: Apr 2022 Location: Colorado/Florida iTrader: (0)	Is the issue the camera, or the reverse lights? The latter seem fairly worthless. Mark __________________ 2022 X5 45e - Wife's daily driver 2023 GX460 - My daily driver 2017 JKU Sahara - Beach jeep 1988 4Runner on 40's - Off-road trailer queen 2001 PSD Excursion - The slave that drags the queen
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10-23-2022, 10:27 AM	#5
e61it Private First Class 85 Rep 181 Posts Drives: bmw 545it Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: pnw iTrader: (0)	Backing up at night the camera image is abysmal. Don't believe any known cure has appeared on the forum yet.
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10-23-2022, 11:02 AM	#7
Flying Ace Lieutenant General 4992 Rep 11,891 Posts Drives: G05 45e, 997.1 & 991.1 GT3s Join Date: Jul 2014 Location: SF, CA iTrader: (5)	Yep, the quality is very poor. I'm also referencing the surround cameras, which makes street parking at night difficult. The E70 and F06 cameras were much better
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10-23-2022, 05:37 PM	#8
jad03060 Major General 3245 Rep 6,946 Posts Drives: X5 45e Join Date: Aug 2018 Location: NH iTrader: (0)	If you have the trailer hitch, there are a bunch of backup light assemblies that will clamp around it, but it has some implications about other automated systems that will think you have a trailer installed. You can play with the brightness and contrast some in iDrive, and that will help at least a little.
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10-23-2022, 06:13 PM	#9
quad_drive Second Lieutenant 228 Rep 291 Posts Drives: 23 X5 45e; 20 Cayenne S; 17 Q7 Join Date: Jul 2016 Location: No.VA iTrader: (0)	Yep.. I noticed the same thing on my 23... A little disappointed given my 5 year Q7 has better night time image quality. Daytime it's none issue. But, the one feature on the Q7 where the camera image switch from rear to front when you shift to 'D' is the one I missed the most. I also don't like the automatic top down view on the front where it has gray out area, seems silly when pulling into a tight parking spot. Good thing BMW has such a good drivetrain and driving dynamics..
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-14-2023, 04:06 PM	#10
e61it Private First Class 85 Rep 181 Posts Drives: bmw 545it Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: pnw iTrader: (0)	There was a bimmercode fix for poor instrument cluster lighting that may also address the night time backup image issue. Before doing the Bimmercode fix on my 2021 45e I had a booklight aimed at the sensor in the instrument cluster that vastly improved the night backup image. The instrument cluster lighting is much better after the fix but I haven't taken the car out at night since to test the backup lighting.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-14-2023, 10:16 PM	#13
e61it Private First Class 85 Rep 181 Posts Drives: bmw 545it Join Date: Jan 2021 Location: pnw iTrader: (0)	The sensor is to the left (maybe an eight inch or so) of of the fuel gauge about at the 3/4 full mark. Try illuminating this area at night and you should notice a substantial difference in the quality of the back up image.
	Appreciate 1 RickObe93.00 Quote

11-03-2023, 06:17 PM	#14
goatranced Registered 0 Rep 2 Posts Drives: BMW X5 45e Join Date: Oct 2023 Location: Virginia iTrader: (0)	I just purchased a 2023 45e and can't believe how bad the cameras are at night. In my situation it's all cameras at night or when I pull in the garage at anytime. Some folks I've seen reference having the same problem with tinted windows stating that it's the sensor on the instrument cluster that causes the issue. I believe this is actually the culprit. It's the onscreen display that is too dim not the camera it-self. During daylight (not in garage) the display seems to be fine. I'm going to try the Bimmercode solution to see if it helps.
	Appreciate 0 Quote