In which MY did the instrument cluster change from orange to white backlighting?

Paco II · 04-17-2021, 11:54 PM

Specifically when driving at night. My MY21 instrument cluster is always white backlit, but I've seen videos of F48s with orange backlighting. Just curious. Don't know the history of all the F48 variations. Thanks.

amancuso · 04-21-2021, 06:12 AM

My guess is with the 2020 LCI.

ZZZZ · 04-26-2021, 12:59 AM

Mine is white backlit during the day, orange at night. White backlighting is obvious when driving in a tunnel or underground parking garage.

2017

jrveron · 04-26-2021, 11:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZZZZ

Mine is white backlit during the day, orange at night. White backlighting is obvious when driving in a tunnel or underground parking garage.

2017

Same here. The backlit changes automatically depending on the outside lightning. If it's bright, then it's white. If it's low light, then orange.

I have a 2017 M-Sport 2.0i.

Paco II · 04-26-2021, 11:51 AM

Interesting that they changed how it works in newer models.

rice_rocket88 · 04-28-2021, 06:13 PM

I haven't seen the newest X1's.. but my wife's '16 X1 has both colors, but the gauge cluster is not fully digital.. now my '19 X2 the gauge cluster is just a little more digital.. and it stays white all the time. The only thing that changes to orange are my HVAC and radio controls.. wish the gauge and HUD lighting changed so it would be easier on my eyes at night...

Jorix · 04-29-2021, 01:19 AM

I would assume it changed when the instruments changed with the new ones (the full black ones). Which is MY2018 I think.

ZZZZ · 05-01-2021, 09:46 PM

Strange that it no longer changes to orange. I had an Infiniti g37 once upon a time and that always white gauge cluster with blue writing killed my eyes at night. I hated it. Also annoying on the g37 is the interior dimmer control only affected the gauge cluster but none of the other interior lights.

BMW was known for their big safety experiments in the 60s with interior lighting and concluded that orange is easiest on the eyes at night and eyes require the least amount of time to adjust to read text. During periods of low light the rods in our eyes will pickup yellow wavelengths first and they experimented with yellow but found it was still harsh to read when driving down an unlit road ski they adjusted for a bit darker and went with orange. It became a bit of a hallmark with bmw interiors. Though I know the more recent M cars often had white interior lighting.

But I guess that's the way bmw has been going lately. Fashion before function. (I.e. With the latest idrive and digital gauge cluster at the reverse tachometer).

Paco II · 05-01-2021, 11:17 PM

Just want to chime in to thank everyone for their input. Still not entirely sure when the change happened, but seems to be roughy 2018/2019.

ZZZZ · 05-05-2021, 11:07 PM

Just curious, is it just the gauge cluster or is it all the interior lights which stay white now? Do you happen to have your interior lighting set to "modern" instead of "classic"?

Paco II · 05-05-2021, 11:27 PM

I can only speak to my MY, but there’s no modern or classic anymore. There are multiple color options for the interior accent lights. Everything else is traditional orange. Only the gauge cluster is white.

Quote:

Originally Posted by ZZZZ

Just curious, is it just the gauge cluster or is it all the interior lights which stay white now? Do you happen to have your interior lighting set to "modern" instead of "classic"?

04-17-2021, 11:54 PM	#1
Paco II Private First Class 33 Rep 131 Posts Drives: BMW X1 2021 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	In which MY did the instrument cluster change from orange to white backlighting? Specifically when driving at night. My MY21 instrument cluster is always white backlit, but I've seen videos of F48s with orange backlighting. Just curious. Don't know the history of all the F48 variations. Thanks.
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04-21-2021, 06:12 AM	#2
amancuso Lieutenant Colonel 724 Rep 1,756 Posts Drives: 330it, 428ix, 430i Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Lawrenceville, GA iTrader: (1)	My guess is with the 2020 LCI. __________________ 2016 428ix, r, 2018 430iC, 2018 330it
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04-26-2021, 12:59 AM	#3
ZZZZ Captain 50 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i winterbeater Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1)	Mine is white backlit during the day, orange at night. White backlighting is obvious when driving in a tunnel or underground parking garage. 2017
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04-26-2021, 11:51 AM	#5
Paco II Private First Class 33 Rep 131 Posts Drives: BMW X1 2021 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Interesting that they changed how it works in newer models.
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04-28-2021, 06:13 PM	#6
rice_rocket88 Major 298 Rep 1,079 Posts Drives: E60 F48 F39 Join Date: Mar 2019 Location: Boston iTrader: (0)	I haven't seen the newest X1's.. but my wife's '16 X1 has both colors, but the gauge cluster is not fully digital.. now my '19 X2 the gauge cluster is just a little more digital.. and it stays white all the time. The only thing that changes to orange are my HVAC and radio controls.. wish the gauge and HUD lighting changed so it would be easier on my eyes at night...
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04-29-2021, 01:19 AM	#7
Jorix Second Lieutenant 73 Rep 293 Posts Drives: BMW 120d, BMW X1 xDrive20d Join Date: Jan 2019 Location: Bulgaria iTrader: (0)	I would assume it changed when the instruments changed with the new ones (the full black ones). Which is MY2018 I think.
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05-01-2021, 09:46 PM	#8
ZZZZ Captain 50 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i winterbeater Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1)	Strange that it no longer changes to orange. I had an Infiniti g37 once upon a time and that always white gauge cluster with blue writing killed my eyes at night. I hated it. Also annoying on the g37 is the interior dimmer control only affected the gauge cluster but none of the other interior lights. BMW was known for their big safety experiments in the 60s with interior lighting and concluded that orange is easiest on the eyes at night and eyes require the least amount of time to adjust to read text. During periods of low light the rods in our eyes will pickup yellow wavelengths first and they experimented with yellow but found it was still harsh to read when driving down an unlit road ski they adjusted for a bit darker and went with orange. It became a bit of a hallmark with bmw interiors. Though I know the more recent M cars often had white interior lighting. But I guess that's the way bmw has been going lately. Fashion before function. (I.e. With the latest idrive and digital gauge cluster at the reverse tachometer).
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05-01-2021, 11:17 PM	#9
Paco II Private First Class 33 Rep 131 Posts Drives: BMW X1 2021 Join Date: Nov 2020 Location: USA iTrader: (0)	Just want to chime in to thank everyone for their input. Still not entirely sure when the change happened, but seems to be roughy 2018/2019.
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05-05-2021, 11:07 PM	#10
ZZZZ Captain 50 Rep 753 Posts Drives: Z4 3.0i winterbeater Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: Toronto, Ontario iTrader: (1)	Just curious, is it just the gauge cluster or is it all the interior lights which stay white now? Do you happen to have your interior lighting set to "modern" instead of "classic"?
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