F30 Ambient lighting question

MI6 · 02-07-2012, 11:46 PM

The ambient lighting I saw on the new F30's at the dealership used a soft white lighting instead of the traditional amber.

I beleive I read somewhere that you can choose between white, amber or red for ambient via I-drive but I want to make sure as I'm not a big fan of the white and prefer my traditional BMW amber.....

Anyone that can clarify this?

clarence · 02-08-2012, 04:01 AM

This feature is only standard on any of the "Line" cars.

mattmv06 · 02-08-2012, 07:10 AM

I def saw this in the I drive options when I drove it yesterday. The one I drove was a luxury line. I didn't mess with it at all but you could definitely change ambient lighting.

justinnum1 · 02-08-2012, 07:13 AM

cool

Xcution · 02-08-2012, 07:49 AM

Snap did not know this, that is badass :0) learn something every day.

Nero7 · 02-08-2012, 07:54 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mattmv06

I def saw this in the I drive options when I drove it yesterday. The one I drove was a luxury line. I didn't mess with it at all but you could definitely change ambient lighting.

Did you see any lights in the doors, like this?

wdlv · 02-08-2012, 01:59 PM

Seems as though pics for the interior "ambient" lighting are rare. I've found one on the official bmwusa site although it doesn't show what the light source is. My guess it's probably a led light source.

http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...sort=0&cat=All

justinnum1 · 02-08-2012, 02:23 PM

I asked one of the guys that just picked up his car to take some pics of the different color ambient lights.

mattmv06 · 02-08-2012, 07:03 PM

I didn't notice them on the car, though I'm sure they have them. The one's I noticed in particular were on the B pillar

DrivenByE30 · 02-10-2012, 03:57 PM

Ok so last night, at the local dealership, i checked on a 335i Sport line

this following photo shows the door trim looking up from the door arm rest:

It seems that there is a led strip underneath the door trim,
but for some reason opening the doors dont light them up...
or at least i could not find a way to lite them up...

I then tried to on on a 328i Base model, which seems to have the i-drive working
(the i-drive on the Sport line was not "On")
and i tried to find an "ambient light" option, which it does have, but no where to find activation of those LED door stripes...

Could it be because of the Base vs Line model ?
Line might have it...

if someone could find out to confirm this issue.

Thanks

Weaselboy · 02-11-2012, 02:35 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by DrivenByE30

It seems that there is a led strip underneath the door trim, but for some reason opening the doors dont light them up...
or at least i could not find a way to lite them up...

On the E92 they only light up with the headlights/parking lights on. I suspect the F30 is the same.

Nero7 · 02-11-2012, 07:52 AM

I test drived today both 335i and 328i and saw some led in the doors, but could not find any way to activate the lights. I heard from the seller that maybe it's sensor activated so that the lights only activate when its dark outside. Can somone confirm this beacuse in the broschure you can clearly see the luminated lights? Maybe we need to turn on the ambient lights, see the picture.

D041987 · 07-06-2016, 02:49 PM

2012 Sportline and I do have the Ambient lighting option on my car if I recall and I can set the brightness. Although they are not as bright as some of the newer models. Probably because of the coding they have and also the LED strips they use.

DrivenByE30 · 07-06-2016, 03:15 PM

Way to go ressurrecting such a thread from the dead... But wr have to give you credit for not creating a duplicated thread....

As indicated by Nero7's attachment, There are two ways to adjust the brightness of the ambient lighting: (so set the brightness in this order)
1) via i-Drive
2) thumbwheel for the instrument cluster, which overides the electronic setting from the i-Drive...

lortti · 09-11-2017, 04:19 PM

You can code ambient lightning to be only controlled by idrive. Then the thumbwheel controls only instrument cluster brightness. Highly recommended.

SteveInfante · 01-23-2019, 10:24 PM

My 2015 Luxury Line F31 has this feature. I have mine set to full brightness and white or Luxury instead of the orange Classic color. I found the setting by accident in the iDrive.

chowser51 · 01-23-2019, 11:00 PM

Anyone make the add on piece for F33 yet?

IAmATeaf · 01-24-2019, 06:55 AM

Old thread I know but $60 for 4 strip of plastic, what the hell !

atlguy · 01-24-2019, 07:48 AM

Not to say $60 is too much, but it's not just straight plastic. It's got a profile that lets it snap in place, really well made part.

I think the only downside is the sharp edge, and I wonder if that can be sanded down (there was another thread somewhere with discussion about this).

I love mine, and I've spent $60 on dumb stuff I didn't love as much. It really does transform the interior at night. Coupled with the LCI radio trim, it's an awesome look.

pelequero · 01-24-2019, 08:19 AM

Has anyone had success putting a blue film/filter in the plastic piece to get a blue hue when using the white light? I saw a guy on YouTube do it, but the video wasn't too detailed.

02-07-2012, 11:46 PM	#1
MI6 The World is Not Enough 166 Rep 1,088 Posts Drives: Aston DBS-R Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Skyfall iTrader: (0)	F30 Ambient lighting question The ambient lighting I saw on the new F30's at the dealership used a soft white lighting instead of the traditional amber. I beleive I read somewhere that you can choose between white, amber or red for ambient via I-drive but I want to make sure as I'm not a big fan of the white and prefer my traditional BMW amber..... Anyone that can clarify this?
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02-08-2012, 04:01 AM	#2
clarence Lieutenant Colonel 54 Rep 1,544 Posts Drives: F30 328i M-Sport Join Date: Mar 2006 Location: Hong Kong iTrader: (0)	This feature is only standard on any of the "Line" cars.
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02-08-2012, 07:10 AM	#3
mattmv06 Private 18 Rep 56 Posts Drives: Accord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I def saw this in the I drive options when I drove it yesterday. The one I drove was a luxury line. I didn't mess with it at all but you could definitely change ambient lighting.
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02-08-2012, 07:13 AM	#4
justinnum1 Major General 651 Rep 5,803 Posts Drives: 2018 330i Msport 6mt Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	cool __________________ F30 330i Alpine white/Coral red Msport 6MT
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02-08-2012, 07:49 AM	#5
Xcution Lieutenant 65 Rep 476 Posts Drives: 2011 135i mSport Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Germany iTrader: (0)	Snap did not know this, that is badass :0) learn something every day.
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02-08-2012, 01:59 PM	#7
wdlv Lieutenant 47 Rep 420 Posts Drives: 2019 X5 40i M Sport Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: Atlanta, GA iTrader: (0)	Seems as though pics for the interior "ambient" lighting are rare. I've found one on the official bmwusa site although it doesn't show what the light source is. My guess it's probably a led light source. http://www.bmwusa.com/Standard/Conte...sort=0&cat=All Last edited by wdlv; 01-02-2013 at 01:15 PM.. Reason: Still don't know how the image embedding works properly.
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02-08-2012, 02:23 PM	#8
justinnum1 Major General 651 Rep 5,803 Posts Drives: 2018 330i Msport 6mt Join Date: Nov 2006 Location: South Florida iTrader: (0)	I asked one of the guys that just picked up his car to take some pics of the different color ambient lights. __________________ F30 330i Alpine white/Coral red Msport 6MT
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02-08-2012, 07:03 PM	#9
mattmv06 Private 18 Rep 56 Posts Drives: Accord Join Date: Jan 2012 Location: NJ iTrader: (0)	I didn't notice them on the car, though I'm sure they have them. The one's I noticed in particular were on the B pillar
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02-10-2012, 03:57 PM	#10
DrivenByE30 Brigadier General 592 Rep 3,870 Posts Drives: '12 F30 Lux 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: OC - SoCal iTrader: (0)	Ok so last night, at the local dealership, i checked on a 335i Sport line this following photo shows the door trim looking up from the door arm rest: It seems that there is a led strip underneath the door trim, but for some reason opening the doors dont light them up... or at least i could not find a way to lite them up... I then tried to on on a 328i Base model, which seems to have the i-drive working (the i-drive on the Sport line was not "On") and i tried to find an "ambient light" option, which it does have, but no where to find activation of those LED door stripes... Could it be because of the Base vs Line model ? Line might have it... if someone could find out to confirm this issue. Thanks __________________ all 3 are MT > F30 Luxury 335i 6MT- The dream driven... _..._4/12/12 ED trip MASSIVE photo thread here <<< Last edited by DrivenByE30; 02-10-2012 at 04:01 PM.. Reason: wrong model id'
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02-11-2012, 07:52 AM	#12
Nero7 Second Lieutenant 53 Rep 258 Posts Drives: F30 M-Sport 328i Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Sweden iTrader: (0)	I test drived today both 335i and 328i and saw some led in the doors, but could not find any way to activate the lights. I heard from the seller that maybe it's sensor activated so that the lights only activate when its dark outside. Can somone confirm this beacuse in the broschure you can clearly see the luminated lights? Maybe we need to turn on the ambient lights, see the picture. Attached Images __________________ /// M-Sport 328i // Packages -- Adaptive Drive-- Drive Comfort -- Function -- Visibility // 19" 403M // M-Sport Brakes // Harman Kardon // Head Up Display /// Last edited by Nero7; 02-11-2012 at 08:41 AM..
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07-06-2016, 02:49 PM	#13
D041987 Big Turbo Boys N Girls 327 Rep 579 Posts Drives: 2012 328I 6speed Join Date: Apr 2016 Location: Lynnwood, WA iTrader: (0)	2012 Sportline and I do have the Ambient lighting option on my car if I recall and I can set the brightness. Although they are not as bright as some of the newer models. Probably because of the coding they have and also the LED strips they use.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

07-06-2016, 03:15 PM	#14
DrivenByE30 Brigadier General 592 Rep 3,870 Posts Drives: '12 F30 Lux 335i 6MT Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: OC - SoCal iTrader: (0)	Way to go ressurrecting such a thread from the dead... But wr have to give you credit for not creating a duplicated thread.... As indicated by Nero7's attachment, There are two ways to adjust the brightness of the ambient lighting: (so set the brightness in this order) 1) via i-Drive 2) thumbwheel for the instrument cluster, which overides the electronic setting from the i-Drive... Last edited by DrivenByE30; 07-06-2016 at 03:23 PM..
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09-11-2017, 04:19 PM	#15
lortti New Member 0 Rep 6 Posts Drives: 428 GC Join Date: Sep 2017 Location: EU iTrader: (0)	You can code ambient lightning to be only controlled by idrive. Then the thumbwheel controls only instrument cluster brightness. Highly recommended.
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01-23-2019, 10:24 PM	#16
SteveInfante NewFinishColumbia/detailer 604 Rep 2,096 Posts Drives: 2015 F31 xDrive Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: Columbia, SC iTrader: (0)	My 2015 Luxury Line F31 has this feature. I have mine set to full brightness and white or Luxury instead of the orange Classic color. I found the setting by accident in the iDrive. __________________ 328 F31 xDrive/OSM/Venetian Luxury Line/Cold Weather/Premium/Driving Assist/Nav/Tech "Golden Goose" 78' Honda CB400A project http://www.instagram.com/steve_inf31
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01-23-2019, 11:00 PM	#17
chowser51 Colonel 2025 Rep 2,808 Posts Drives: F33 430 and F39 M35i Join Date: Feb 2009 Location: Cleveland, OH iTrader: (3) Garage List 2018 BMW 430i xDrive [0.00]	Anyone make the add on piece for F33 yet?
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01-24-2019, 06:55 AM	#18
IAmATeaf Captain 238 Rep 878 Posts Drives: 2015 F30 335i Join Date: Nov 2017 Location: UK iTrader: (0) Garage List 2015 BMW 335i [0.00]	Old thread I know but $60 for 4 strip of plastic, what the hell !
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01-24-2019, 07:48 AM	#19
atlguy Private 26 Rep 66 Posts Drives: 2014 335I MPPK Join Date: Oct 2018 Location: Georgia iTrader: (0)	Not to say $60 is too much, but it's not just straight plastic. It's got a profile that lets it snap in place, really well made part. I think the only downside is the sharp edge, and I wonder if that can be sanded down (there was another thread somewhere with discussion about this). I love mine, and I've spent $60 on dumb stuff I didn't love as much. It really does transform the interior at night. Coupled with the LCI radio trim, it's an awesome look.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

01-24-2019, 08:19 AM	#20
pelequero New Member 6 Rep 8 Posts Drives: 2015 335i GT Join Date: Dec 2016 Location: NY iTrader: (0)	Has anyone had success putting a blue film/filter in the plastic piece to get a blue hue when using the white light? I saw a guy on YouTube do it, but the video wasn't too detailed.
	Appreciate 0 Quote