Any1 know how to turn off the interior lights while driving at night?

J. Dub · 01-20-2016, 05:55 PM

I understand I can dim them very low. But on my previous vehicle I could turn them off completely aiding in outward visibility.

Is there a way to do this via coding?

If no, is there a fuse that controls lights for:
-gauges, center console dash, door buttons, & headliner red ambient light?

I have a 335i if that helps. I presumed I could attach a relay to a switch and when I feel like turning off the lights I will hit the switch.

Please note: I would like the gauges to still function along with the ac/heat, etc... I only want the lights to be off. Not to cut power to the interior.

Rialas · 01-20-2016, 05:58 PM

Not sure it's a great idea not being able to see the gauges, hence probably not possible.

J. Dub · 01-20-2016, 05:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rialas

Not sure it's a great idea not being able to see the gauges, hence probably not possible.

The idea is fine. There are many cars that allow this as standard for those very sensitive to light. U can judge your speed by the traffic around you

J. Dub · 01-21-2016, 01:49 PM

Still can't find the fuse that controls the dash lights.

TBN54 · 01-25-2016, 01:06 PM

Punch the cluster as many times are you can.

J. Dub · 01-25-2016, 03:10 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by TBN54

Punch the cluster as many times are you can.

Tried that. I am not very strong and got tired. The lights are still on at night.

OzCoE92 · 01-25-2016, 03:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Dub

The idea is fine. There are many cars that allow this as standard for those very sensitive to light. U can judge your speed by the traffic around you

Name one car that does this? This is not going to be possible in the US, the DOT wouldn't allow automakers to produce a car that did this. Plus, it's just terribly unsafe.

J. Dub · 01-25-2016, 03:50 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by OzCoE92

Name one car that does this? This is not going to be possible in the US, the DOT wouldn't allow automakers to produce a car that did this. Plus, it's just terribly unsafe.

You're shitting me about safety comment right?

Nissan 350z
Nissan 350z HR
Lexus IS-250
Lexus IS-350

Should I keep going? All those vehicles I've driven and owned above... All bought in the USA.

maddmatth · 01-28-2016, 07:52 PM

There is a brightness setting for the dash, accessed either from iDrive or the button on the indicator stalk.
Not sure it goes fully off though, haven't tried, that seems like it would be a rather... daft thing to do, to be blunt.

VTECaddict · 01-28-2016, 10:02 PM

Turn off your headlights. #stealthmode

FamilyManTrackSedan · 01-28-2016, 10:16 PM

This is some crazy shit yo.

mojobmw_e90 · 01-28-2016, 10:27 PM

The is250 and is250 lexus can not do this. I owned both cars. They just get very very dim were it's barely visable, but it's still not completely off

jbenson4 · 01-31-2016, 12:44 AM

96 Impreza, stalk dimmer could shut every dash light off completely. It was perfect for the highway.

FamilyManTrackSedan · 01-31-2016, 09:06 AM

Why is this perfect? There's probably 4 lumens coming from the dash cluster on full dimness? This seems eccentric. I want my dash cluster to show dancing baby elephants. I remember there was a car that did that once.

J. Dub · 01-31-2016, 11:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

The is250 and is250 lexus can not do this. I owned both cars. They just get very very dim were it's barely visable, but it's still not completely off

Would you like a video?

J. Dub · 01-31-2016, 11:59 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by maddmatth

There is a brightness setting for the dash, accessed either from iDrive or the button on the indicator stalk.
Not sure it goes fully off though, haven't tried, that seems like it would be a rather... daft thing to do, to be blunt.

It doesn't turn off fully.

OzCoE92 · 02-01-2016, 01:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Dub

You're shitting me about safety comment right?

Nissan 350z
Nissan 350z HR
Lexus IS-250
Lexus IS-350

Should I keep going? All those vehicles I've driven and owned above... All bought in the USA.

All of these cars don't do this?
1992 Acura Integra
1993 Saab 9000
2000 Honda Civic
2004 Honda Accord V6
1998 Mercedes-Benz CL500
2010 BMW 335i
Since the majority of the other replies you have gotten have been saying this is a bad idea, I think you can tell the general consensus here. Good luck.

mojobmw_e90 · 02-01-2016, 06:41 PM

I see the pattern. The cars he posted all have a screen that uses lights during the day and night to power the numbers on. If the car is turned off the cluster goes completely black as if no numbers are on them at all. Bmw uses a standard backface

J. Dub · 02-01-2016, 10:11 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

I see the pattern. The cars he posted all have a screen that uses lights during the day and night to power the numbers on. If the car is turned off the cluster goes completely black as if no numbers are on them at all. Bmw uses a standard backface

You're thinking of the 3IS (third gen IS) I had a 2006 IS250 then a 2008 IS350. Both you could turn the interior lights off completely at night.

J. Dub · 02-03-2016, 11:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mojobmw_e90

The is250 and is250 lexus can not do this. I owned both cars. They just get very very dim were it's barely visable, but it's still not completely off

mojobmw_e90 which generation is yours? Mine is the 2IS

Here is a shot of the interior lights off with car on and headlights on.

mojobmw_e90 · 02-03-2016, 12:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by J. Dub

mojobmw_e90 which generation is yours? Mine is the 2IS

Here is a shot of the interior lights off with car on and headlights on.

I had a 2010 is250 and a 2012 is350..

Darkfox2002 · 02-05-2016, 10:29 AM

Honestly if the lights are distracting to you and you think they'd be better off then it would be safer to have them off if the driver is more comfortable when driving then they are safer. Maybe its something that can be coded? Or you might need to look into the headlight switch since the dash lights being on seems to be connected to the headlights being on.

01-20-2016, 05:55 PM	#1
J. Dub Bob Saget 355 Rep 2,230 Posts Drives: 2010 335i e92 N54 A/T Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: AR - 501 iTrader: (15)	Any1 know how to turn off the interior lights while driving at night? I understand I can dim them very low. But on my previous vehicle I could turn them off completely aiding in outward visibility. Is there a way to do this via coding? If no, is there a fuse that controls lights for: -gauges, center console dash, door buttons, & headliner red ambient light? I have a 335i if that helps. I presumed I could attach a relay to a switch and when I feel like turning off the lights I will hit the switch. Please note: I would like the gauges to still function along with the ac/heat, etc... I only want the lights to be off. Not to cut power to the interior. __________________ In memory of Robert E. Flynn (AR)
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01-20-2016, 05:58 PM	#2
Rialas Second Lieutenant 15 Rep 231 Posts Drives: 335i N55 Join Date: Oct 2015 Location: Hertfordshire iTrader: (0)	Not sure it's a great idea not being able to see the gauges, hence probably not possible.
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01-21-2016, 01:49 PM	#4
J. Dub Bob Saget 355 Rep 2,230 Posts Drives: 2010 335i e92 N54 A/T Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: AR - 501 iTrader: (15)	Still can't find the fuse that controls the dash lights. __________________ In memory of Robert E. Flynn (AR)
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01-25-2016, 01:06 PM	#5
TBN54 Captain 427 Rep 793 Posts Drives: 08' E92 335 -> 17' F30 340i Join Date: Dec 2015 Location: Upstate NY iTrader: (0)	Punch the cluster as many times are you can.
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01-28-2016, 07:52 PM	#9
maddmatth Major 555 Rep 922 Posts Drives: F82 M4, E92 335i Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: New Zealand iTrader: (0)	There is a brightness setting for the dash, accessed either from iDrive or the button on the indicator stalk. Not sure it goes fully off though, haven't tried, that seems like it would be a rather... daft thing to do, to be blunt.
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01-28-2016, 10:02 PM	#10
VTECaddict Where'd my VTEC go? 479 Rep 6,067 Posts Drives: 06 330i 6MT Join Date: Mar 2009 Location: Seattle, WA iTrader: (4)	Turn off your headlights. #stealthmode __________________ AW/Terra \| ZSP \| ZPP \| ZCW \| iDrive \| CA Mods: BC BR coilovers \| Blacklines \| M-tech rear \| dual exhaust \| M3 steering wheel \| BMW SSK \| ZHP shift knob \| High-kick CF spoiler \| NBT Retrofit M3 front control arms \| M3 rear guide rods \| Manzo rear toe and camber links \| Monroe rear shock mounts \| Varrstoen ES1 19x9.5+20 Front, 19x11+25 rear
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01-28-2016, 10:16 PM	#11
FamilyManTrackSedan Lieutenant 111 Rep 408 Posts Drives: 2008 pre-lci 335xi 6mt sedan Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (6)	This is some crazy shit yo.
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01-28-2016, 10:27 PM	#12
mojobmw_e90 Major 380 Rep 1,496 Posts Drives: 2014 E63S Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (3)	The is250 and is250 lexus can not do this. I owned both cars. They just get very very dim were it's barely visable, but it's still not completely off
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01-31-2016, 12:44 AM	#13
jbenson4 New Member 0 Rep 26 Posts Drives: 2011 335d Join Date: Sep 2015 Location: Canada iTrader: (0) Garage List 2011 BMW 335d [0.00]	96 Impreza, stalk dimmer could shut every dash light off completely. It was perfect for the highway.
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01-31-2016, 09:06 AM	#14
FamilyManTrackSedan Lieutenant 111 Rep 408 Posts Drives: 2008 pre-lci 335xi 6mt sedan Join Date: Apr 2015 Location: NJ iTrader: (6)	Why is this perfect? There's probably 4 lumens coming from the dash cluster on full dimness? This seems eccentric. I want my dash cluster to show dancing baby elephants. I remember there was a car that did that once.
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02-01-2016, 06:41 PM	#18
mojobmw_e90 Major 380 Rep 1,496 Posts Drives: 2014 E63S Join Date: Oct 2014 Location: Chicago IL iTrader: (3)	I see the pattern. The cars he posted all have a screen that uses lights during the day and night to power the numbers on. If the car is turned off the cluster goes completely black as if no numbers are on them at all. Bmw uses a standard backface
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02-05-2016, 10:29 AM	#22
Darkfox2002 yummy 12 Rep 69 Posts Drives: Sparkling Graphite 328i Join Date: Jun 2011 Location: Irvine, CA iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW 328i [0.00] 2014 328I [0.00]	Honestly if the lights are distracting to you and you think they'd be better off then it would be safer to have them off if the driver is more comfortable when driving then they are safer. Maybe its something that can be coded? Or you might need to look into the headlight switch since the dash lights being on seems to be connected to the headlights being on.
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