[GaryC128]

Hi

I recently noticed that the backlight for the headlight switch is always illuminated even when the headlight switch is in the OFF position when the car is switched on with the engine running. (see attached pic)

From what I can recall - previously the backlight for the headlight switch would only light up when the headlight switch is turned on for the park lights or headlights.

Please could any BMW F20 series drivers check if your car exhibits the same behaviour - in other words does the backlight of the headlight switch remain illuminated all the time when the car is switched on even if the headlight dial is in the off position ?

Could it be a software glitch and the car's computer needs to be reset / recoded ?

Thank you

[No one]

Hi.

Mine is the same. Don't worry. It's very difficult to notice in the daylight though, I had to double-check it in an underground parking. The rationale behind that should be, for example, entering a tunnel with the lights off. My car's software was updated about three(?) years ago. I can't say if this feature was among others (mostly annoying) introduced by that.

[GaryC128]

Originally Posted by No one

Hi.

Mine is the same. Don't worry. It's very difficult to notice in the daylight though, I had to double-check it in an underground parking. The rationale behind that should be, for example, entering a tunnel with the lights off. My car's software was updated about three(?) years ago. I can't say if this feature was among others (mostly annoying) introduced by that.

Hi

Thank you for your reply.
On my car it is very noticeable and clearly visible in daylight.
Would you mind checking the software version on your car and letting me know please.

[No one]

Originally Posted by GaryC128

Hi

Thank you for your reply.
On my car it is very noticeable and clearly visible in daylight.
Would you mind checking the software version on your car and letting me know please.

What about the rightmost "brightness" wheel? I didn't bother to touch mine though.

Regarding the software version, I am not sure I can find it out: I have the Business radio with the menu restricted to strictly necessary items only. I don't recall there's software version info available and though I can check (and the hidden system menu too), the result must be the latest available back then (at an official BMW service) and likely the last at all as the car was out of production already.

[GaryC128]

Originally Posted by No one

What about the rightmost "brightness" wheel? I didn't bother to touch mine though.

The brightness wheel adjusts the ambient lighting brightness ONLY if the headlight control dial is set to ON for the park lights or headlights.
When it's set to the OFF position the brightness slider wheel does nothing.

[No one]

Originally Posted by GaryC128

The brightness wheel adjusts the ambient lighting brightness ONLY if the headlight control dial is set to ON for the park lights or headlights.
When it's set to the OFF position the brightness slider wheel does nothing.

Mine is about the same bright as the start/stop and emergency lights buttons that are backlit by default too. If your lights control unit is brighter than the others it might be faulty (a dead resistor or something).

[GaryC128]

Originally Posted by No one

Mine is about the same bright as the start/stop and emergency lights buttons that are backlit by default too. If your lights control unit is brighter than the others it might be faulty (a dead resistor or something).

Mine is the same as you have described. As bright as the emergency warning button and the stop start button.

[No one]

Originally Posted by GaryC128

Mine is the same as you have described. As bright as the emergency warning button and the stop start button.

Then you might want to try iDrive ambient light brightness setting: see the manual, page 88. Or Bimmercode (they let you check the settings for free before you buy to code): https://bimmercode.app/cars/f20/#ambient-lighting.

[GaryC128]

Originally Posted by No one

Then you might want to try iDrive ambient light brightness setting: see the manual, page 88. Or Bimmercode (they let you check the settings for free before you buy to code): https://bimmercode.app/cars/f20/#ambient-lighting.

Thank you so much for this info and your assistance.

My car doesn't have the option to adjust ambient lighting in the iDrive settings unfortunately.


The link to the Bimmercode - available coding options is super useful. Thank you so much.
I will have to try this route.

[No one]

Originally Posted by No one

Regarding the software version, I am not sure I can find it out: I have the Business radio with the menu restricted to strictly necessary items only. I don't recall there's software version info available and though I can check (and the hidden system menu too), the result must be the latest available back then (at an official BMW service) and likely the last at all as the car was out of production already.

No, I couldn't find the software version. Yet, my restricted iDrive menu does have the interior lights brightness setting ("First things first!" ) although I did not verify if it affected the buttons . The current setting is "0", the middle of the slider.