[Aimster82]

I don't have front tinted windows and it is dark for me at times. I wish it would stay at max brightness all the time.

[floridaman100]

Originally Posted by jimbg

Makes sense to me!

As the daylight fades then I would expect the instrument panel to dim, if you tint the windows then it is not unreasonable to expect the dimming to take place.

Now are the threshold levels used correct, that is a different question.

I would chalk this up to a major design flaw by BMW. Whoever came up with this idea should be fired. Seriously a 70K plus car shouldn't have this issue. I decided to leave the tint on my windows and to live with the issue. BMW needs a fix for this. It would seem that you could add another setting that doesn't dim both displays during the day. Based on the current design of dimming it would take a Rocket Scientist over at BMW to accomplish this.

[x5legend24]

I have front tinted windows so I always assumed this was the issue for it being dim for me.

But when I open the sunroof shade that helps almost instantly. Might help for those without front tinted windows too.

[2020g20]

Hi all, jumping across from the G20 forum where we have been discussing this issue for months in this thread.

It is not model specific and affects ALL newer BMWs with digital instrument clusters. Tinting does exacerbate it, but the actual cause is the ambient light sensor in the digital dash being set far too aggressively. I have personally driven several 3-series, an X3, and an X5 that all exhibit the issue without any tinting on the front windows. Also a factor is where you live and how much sunlight your state gets, what season you're in, etc. Those in less sunny locales are going to notice it more. While BMW acknowledges the issue by blaming it on aftermarket tint, they refuse to admit the issue is also present without any tint. So no official fix is expected as far as I can tell. As such there have been a few DIY solutions put forth, including a small variable 'un-dimming' device I designed and have been using in my own G20 for the last 5 months. Pics and video in this thread.

My coworker got a brand new X5 a couple months ago, and his dealer offered him 35% ceramic tint, which in theory is the worst offender since it blocks the most IR. He asked them if they were aware that tinting can cause screen dimming issues and they were shockingly clueless about it. Based on my advice he declined, and it's a good thing he did. His screens are already prone to being unacceptably dim, even without any tint applied to his front windows. I shot a video of my undimming unit applied to his dash. Check out how washed out his instrument cluster is at the beginning and the end (brightness takes about 10 seconds to ramp all the way back down)...

Hope this info helps some folks.

[nosnoop]

With HUD, do you even need to look at the instrument panel that much?

I don't notice any dimming issue, maybe I haven't looked the instrument panel much in the first place.

[floridaman100]

Originally Posted by nosnoop

With HUD, do you even need to look at the instrument panel that much?

I don't notice any dimming issue, maybe I haven't looked the instrument panel much in the first place.

It isn't just the instrument cluster. The navigation screen is affected as well.

[floridaman100]

Originally Posted by 2020g20

Hi all, jumping across from the G20 forum where we have been discussing this issue for months in this thread.

It is not model specific and affects ALL newer BMWs with digital instrument clusters. Tinting does exacerbate it, but the actual cause is the ambient light sensor in the digital dash being set far too aggressively. I have personally driven several 3-series, an X3, and an X5 that all exhibit the issue without any tinting on the front windows. Also a factor is where you live and how much sunlight your state gets, what season you're in, etc. Those in less sunny locales are going to notice it more. While BMW acknowledges the issue by blaming it on aftermarket tint, they refuse to admit the issue is also present without any tint. So no official fix is expected as far as I can tell. As such there have been a few DIY solutions put forth, including a small variable 'un-dimming' device I designed and have been using in my own G20 for the last 5 months. Pics and video in this thread.

My coworker got a brand new X5 a couple months ago, and his dealer offered him 35% ceramic tint, which in theory is the worst offender since it blocks the most IR. He asked them if they were aware that tinting can cause screen dimming issues and they were shockingly clueless about it. Based on my advice he declined, and it's a good thing he did. His screens are already prone to being unacceptably dim, even without any tint applied to his front windows. I shot a video of my undimming unit applied to his dash. Check out how washed out his instrument cluster is at the beginning and the end (brightness takes about 10 seconds to ramp all the way back down)...

Hope this info helps some folks.

Thanks for sharing this information. BMW always gets away with something and tries to blame the issue on anything but the car. This dimming issue is simply a huge mistake on their end and as you said there will probably be no fix for it. Very sad when you spend over 70K and have to come up with a DIY fix.

[TestnDoc]

Major major problem and a pita. What I hate the most about this dimming fiasco, is when I need to see the cameras for parking or backing up, and if you happed to be in shade or it’s not bright outside, the screen is ridiculously dim/worthless. Fix this BMW. My Mercedes doesn’t have this issue at all!!!

[UltraDave]

My last car was a corvette and they were smart enough to put the light sensor in the top center of the dash by the windshield.

How many BMW engineers does it take to screw in a light bulb 😂

[2020g20]

Originally Posted by UltraDave

My last car was a corvette and they were smart enough to put the light sensor in the top center of the dash by the windshield.

How many BMW engineers does it take to screw in a light bulb 😂

Agreed, the placement of the sensor alone often puts it in the shade even when it's sunny out. The overly aggressive threshold setting exacerbates it. And the inability to disable daytime auto-dimming in iDrive and take manual control is inexcusable. Multiple design failures at work here.

[Game]

Bumping this up to see if anyone's found a resolution to this. Can't believe they're getting something so simple wrong in 2020.

[2020g20]

Originally Posted by Game

Bumping this up to see if anyone's found a resolution to this. Can't believe they're getting something so simple wrong in 2020.

None that I'm aware of, other than tricking the sensor with an artificial source of light. I've just shipped another of my IR blaster units to a 840i owner who says he has friends/family somewhat high up the food chain at BMW NA, and plans to fully document for them the issue and the ridiculous solution we've resorted to. Best case scenario someone listens and they convince BMW to add in the option to disable the daytime auto-dimming. I really don't think that's asking for a lot.

[Spencer518]

Is this a bigger problem with black and coffee interiors?

[2020g20]

Originally Posted by Spencer518

Is this a bigger problem with black and coffee interiors?

In theory I suppose the darker interiors would absorb more ambient light and exacerbate the problem further, but no one has done a controlled comparison to my knowledge. I think far more impactful variables are tint type and level of darkness, and how sunny of a locale you live in.

[Game]

Originally Posted by 2020g20

None that I'm aware of, other than tricking the sensor with an artificial source of light. I've just shipped another of my IR blaster units to a 840i owner who says he has friends/family somewhat high up the food chain at BMW NA, and plans to fully document for them the issue and the ridiculous solution we've resorted to. Best case scenario someone listens and they convince BMW to add in the option to disable the daytime auto-dimming. I really don't think that's asking for a lot.

More info on your units?

[kkratochvil]

Originally Posted by Spencer518

Is this a bigger problem with black and coffee interiors?

I have coffee in my G06, but haven't done any additional tinting. I've never noticed this issue and the brightness has seemed just fine for me in any lighting conditions.

[UpstateCP]

Couldn't they do what Apple does with MacBooks (or probably any laptop manufacturer) and have two settings, one for auto-brightness that adjusts accordingly and a manual setting that allows the user to select their preferred brightness full time? This would seem to be an easy enough fix and have both camps be happy.

[Game]

Originally Posted by UpstateCP

Couldn't they do what Apple does with MacBooks (or probably any laptop manufacturer) and have two settings, one for auto-brightness that adjusts accordingly and a manual setting that allows the user to select their preferred brightness full time? This would seem to be an easy enough fix and have both camps be happy.

That'd be ideal but as of right now only the car can determine your desired brightness.

[adamcb]

I’ve noticed this as well. Big time. Such a simple thing you would have thought would have been vetted in testing. Thankfully, this seems like a perfect candidate for an OTA software update.

Fingers crossed,

Adam

[2020g20]

Originally Posted by Game

More info on your units?

Device to eliminate daytime dimming issues due to tinting...
https://www.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1674698

[atlas]

Hmmm strange I haven't noticed this in my car, and I just got tint applied as well. Seems bright as.

[pragueX5]

I must agree this is an issue I noticed the first day on my brand new G05. Now way to andjust the instrument cluster. its too dimm. very sad