BMW 1-Series Forum (F20) 135i - 1Addicts.com > Second Generation 1 Series Forum > 2012 BMW 1-Series Sporthatch (F20) Discussion > Is the black panel display worth it?
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      07-06-2012, 11:31 AM   #23
Brenyaman
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
I don't have the blue thingy that suggests how much throttle I should use, but I would not care about it anyway.
It's definitely a very helpful visual fuel-saving aid
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      07-06-2012, 11:50 AM   #24
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But the car does not know what will happen the next few seconds ahead of the road. I do. I tend to disagree with these suggestions. Accelerating slowly is not a good way of saving fuel. It is better to get rather briskly up to speed by accelerating hard on low RPM to get up to a consumption friendly speed in the top gear.
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      07-06-2012, 12:36 PM   #25
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If the main goal by aquiring a BMW is the driving per se, then you need only a basic cockpit and simple instrumentation. However a lot of BMW buyers are interested in technology and more or less useful gadgets. Stuff that might be taken for granted in a couple of years - or maybe it will flop instead.
The good thing is that you can make your own choice, hence the large option list. There is no correct answer to how to equip you BMW. Or rather: All answers are correct.
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      07-06-2012, 12:54 PM   #26
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There is no correct answers, but we can discuss opinions. The instrumentation was better in the eighties. Then there were dials for water and oil temperature, and sometimes voltage and current. I am a slightly disappointed by the lack of info about engine temperature in the F20. I don't want to push the engine before the oil is warm. How can I know when it is okay?
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      07-06-2012, 02:47 PM   #27
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
There is no correct answers, but we can discuss opinions. The instrumentation was better in the eighties. Then there were dials for water and oil temperature, and sometimes voltage and current. I am a slightly disappointed by the lack of info about engine temperature in the F20. I don't want to push the engine before the oil is warm. How can I know when it is okay?
I do agree in that. At least you should be able to choose displaying oil or water temperature instead of - or in addition to - the rather useless (however entertaining) sport displays on the iDrive screen.
Voltage and current are not important information on a modern car, a warning symbol can very well replace the dials. But then again - the actual information is floating around in the computer anyway, so it should be fairly easy to display even this as virtual dials on the LCD screen or the black panel.
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Last edited by Superspeed; 07-06-2012 at 02:53 PM..
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      07-06-2012, 03:03 PM   #28
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Maybe they can be found on the OBD2 connection and viewed by a bluetooth transmitter to a smartphone app?
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      07-06-2012, 11:13 PM   #29
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I would recommend that you opt for the black screen display, it is a low cost option.

It will allow you to have any software upgaded in the future.

That may include the likes of Oil / Voltage or a new view to be displayed.

If you don't, it will cost you a lot to upgrade it later, as you would have to replace the entire instrument cluster and I suspect the display control board as well.
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      07-09-2012, 03:21 AM   #30
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
I am a slightly disappointed by the lack of info about engine temperature in the F20. I don't want to push the engine before the oil is warm. How can I know when it is okay?
I totally agree, that the lack of water and oil temperature guages is frustrating and disappointing.

What I did (and sometimes do) is I checked at different time the coolant and oil temperature through the BMW hidden menu. Then, I noted how long and under what driving conditions and outside temperature it takes for the engine to reach optimum operating temperatures. So, now I roughly know how long I have to wait (usually I wait a bit longer to be on the safe side), before I can floor the gas pedal!! Last weekend I took a 300 kilometer trip and all the way I had activated the hidden menu to check the temepratures...it was interesting.
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      07-09-2012, 03:32 AM   #31
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Could you show the shortcut to the hidden menu, please?
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      07-09-2012, 03:34 AM   #32
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I haven't managed to access the hidden menu. I think I need a more detailed instruction of how to do it. Can somebody make a "Hidden menu for dummies"-thread? :-)
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      07-09-2012, 04:43 AM   #33
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Quote:
Originally Posted by ovekvam View Post
I haven't managed to access the hidden menu. I think I need a more detailed instruction of how to do it. Can somebody make a "Hidden menu for dummies"-thread? :-)
Your attention please shoppers, iBeech required in aisle 5!
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      07-09-2012, 07:46 AM   #34
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Here is a guide I just posted...hope it is clear enough.
http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=715852
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      07-09-2012, 08:17 AM   #35
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It was a must for me, just love toys in car!!

Best £125.00 I've spent on options!!
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      07-09-2012, 09:12 AM   #36
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Fanis View Post
Here is a guide I just posted...hope it is clear enough.
http://f20.1addicts.com/forums/showthread.php?t=715852
Thanks, it worked for me. Did not need to start the engine.
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      07-16-2012, 07:55 PM   #37
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does any have the part no.? thinking of retro-fitting..

TIA!
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      07-17-2012, 12:29 AM   #38
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Retrofitting that means completely replacing your instrument cluster. And even after replacing that I'm not sure that alone does the job and no reprogramming/unlocking is neccessary. F.e. the various details like the hints for eco pro mode need to come from somewhere, but how would the car know to send these signals to the new speedo.
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      07-17-2012, 01:21 AM   #39
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Quote:
Originally Posted by 1thomas View Post
Retrofitting that means completely replacing your instrument cluster. And even after replacing that I'm not sure that alone does the job and no reprogramming/unlocking is neccessary. F.e. the various details like the hints for eco pro mode need to come from somewhere, but how would the car know to send these signals to the new speedo.
thanks Thomas for the feedback. That was what my dealer told me here and unfortunately all the F20 brought in by them are without.. sad.. looks like it either gonna take awhile when someone actually does it or just forget it and enjoy the ride..
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      07-17-2012, 02:14 AM   #40
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Originally Posted by vf47 View Post
just forget it and enjoy the ride..
I'd strongly recommend that!

Its no feature that makes the experience any worse or that you will seriously miss. Its a shame you don't have it, but you not having a M5 is also a shame but you can live without missing it every day .
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      07-17-2012, 03:35 AM   #41
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I totally agree with 1thomas
It is the driving dyanmics you desire above all. You can live without the dials. The 1 series drives exceptionally well. It is a fact, on all new cars the computer is now the master and we have to trust it works. I also would like a M5, but the 125i M sport will do me for now. To brighten this up, the guy who buys an M5 looses the value of two 125i MSport in the first year. Bang for bucks the 1 series is it.
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      07-17-2012, 04:44 AM   #42
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I regretted not having initially but since receiving the car had forgotten all about. So by all means order if still can, but need not fret otherwise.
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      12-04-2012, 04:12 PM   #43
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am gutted myself i didnt add it, i ask the dealer what it was an he told me just a black background an car arrivies thursday, any ideas how much it will cost to get it put on, (U.K) ?
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      12-04-2012, 09:10 PM   #44
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BMW sales suck. Ok, if the sales person doesn't know every last option/feature of every model it should be in BMW's interest to have one person in the dealership thats trained to knows absolutely everything about every option on every model.
You don't walk into an apple store and ask about Siri for the guy to hum and make something up. For me buying a BMW is a much bigger deal/expense than buying a mac.

As for the black panel display, my dealer gave me the old 'don't bother' talk as he avoided telling me what it consisted of because he didn't know. (Along with every other option i asked about) Now that he has seen it on my car, he recommends it to all new customers...
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