[335i101]

Originally Posted by JimKW

Which one should I get? There is one that is $34 and one that is only $10. If the one that is $10 will do the job I'll get it, but I don't mind spending the $34 if there is a reason to go that route.

Wanna get rid of the extra???

[1QuikWS6]

Originally Posted by JimKW

Which one should I get? There is one that is $34 and one that is only $10. If the one that is $10 will do the job I'll get it, but I don't mind spending the $34 if there is a reason to go that route.

One good reason not to get the $10 film

1. http://www.3dlens.com/shop/polarizer-200x250mm.php
Title: Transmissive Polarizer 200 x 250mm
Price: $ 9.99

Is that it states 'Currently No Longer Available' on their site...

Great info - ordered the $34 film - be great to be able to view the display again

[Brent13]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

One good reason not to get the $10 film

1. http://www.3dlens.com/shop/polarizer-200x250mm.php
Title: Transmissive Polarizer 200 x 250mm
Price: $ 9.99

Is that it states 'Currently No Longer Available' on their site...

Great info - ordered the $34 film - be great to be able to view the display again

The 3dlens site does show a similar product, No: P210
Polarizer 210x300mm for $10.00 USD.

They also show a page for LCD polarizing lens . . . since I believe the radio display is LCD does anyone know if the LCD film would be a better choice?

[Magic Man]

I HAVE ONE EXTRA PRE-CUT STRIP OF FILM LEFT... I will be more than happy to sell it for $5 (delivered by mail). Believe me, it will be the best five dollars you ever spend on your BMW.

If anyone is interested, just PM me.

Originally Posted by Magic Man

OK... this is the fix. Here is everything you need to do this yourself and fix this stupid problem once and for all:

This is the film that you need to buy (WFLA-OG2 Half-wave plate retarder film):

Here is where you buy it: http://www.polarization.com/polarsho...products_id=44

Download this template to size your piece: http://www.zumodrive.com/share/ceIiNzgwYj

Cut your piece of film at a 45 degree angle (6-1/8" x 5/8") using the template. Easy-peasy.

Slip the piece of film into your radio display. Super easy-peasy.

Shoot me a thank you when you're done.

P.S. I have a bit of film left, so if you want to buy a piece from me I will sell it to you to help defray my cost. Shoot me a private message.

[1QuikWS6]

PM'd you shortly after your post - I'll take it...

-Jay-

[335i101]

Originally Posted by 1QuikWS6

PM'd you shortly after your post - I'll take it...

-Jay-

I will pay more than this guy

[1QuikWS6]

Originally Posted by 335i101

I will pay more than this guy

Nice

Received the film from MagicMan - took all of 5 secs to install and Bam! now I can see the display perfectly normal with polarized glasses!

Easiest mod yet

[fun2drive]

Printed the template and I have the polarized film planning to do this tomorrow.

[2Hip]

Originally Posted by fun2drive

Printed the template and I have the polarized film planning to do this tomorrow.

Want to cut an extra one and sell it to me...please?

[tilua]

Hey I need a piece, PM me your PayPal , thanks

[cdgatti]

Looking for a piece if anyone has an extra one cut? Will pay going rate - $5-$10?

[Griffi]

I could also use a strip if somebody has extra. Please PM or email.

[335iJetBlack]

Wow, I thought i was just crazy, i'm glad i'm not the only person that had this problem haha

[Griffi]

I found an old sheet of overhead transparency. Held it up to the radio display and it worked! Problem solved for $0!

[fun2drive]

I found the template isn't exact for the best transmissivity. It is not 45 degrees but maybe more like 55 degrees.

To those of you who asked me for a piece of this material if you can be patient I can see what I can do to cut some oversize pieces at the best transmission angle and send them out.

I am not back in town until the 30th of Nov so if you can wait I will go get this out of the drawer I have it in. I think two pieces of thin cardboard will be fine in an envelope since the film has protective plastic covering (peel off) on each side. It is not clear, repeat it is not clear but slightly smoked color. It works terrific by the way. No more head tilting for me.

[Surly73]

I am looking for some film, mailed to Canada.

I intend to install it by disassembling the head unit so there's no way you could see the edges or ever peel it off so a teensy bit larger than exact fit would be perfect.

PM me if there's any out there.

[Mech_Man]

Originally Posted by Surly73

I intend to install it by disassembling the head unit so there's no way you could see the edges or ever peel it off so a teensy bit larger than exact fit would be perfect.

There really isn't any need to disassemble the head unit. There is plenty of space around the edges of the unit to the frame/cover/face whatever. If the film is cut about 1/8" larger on all sides, it will easily slip in and stay in place. (And be easily removable if you want).

I put one in that was an exact cut and it had a bit of trouble staying in, but I had noticed how easily it installed so I cut another that was just a bit larger and it installed in seconds and stayed in place. I later took it back out as I decided I'd rather have the polarization-conflict sometimes, rather than the always half-bright as you look through the film.

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by Mech_Man

There really isn't any need to disassemble the head unit. There is plenty of space around the edges of the unit to the frame/cover/face whatever. If the film is cut about 1/8" larger on all sides, it will easily slip in and stay in place. (And be easily removable if you want).

I put one in that was an exact cut and it had a bit of trouble staying in, but I had noticed how easily it installed so I cut another that was just a bit larger and it installed in seconds and stayed in place. I later took it back out as I decided I'd rather have the polarization-conflict sometimes, rather than the always half-bright as you look through the film.

Good to know - thanks!

Now to find the right film for decent money... Ideally I'd like some quarter-wave plate to circular polarize the output light and that's about it.

[DAKn2]

Originally Posted by Surly73

I am looking for some film, mailed to Canada.

I intend to install it by disassembling the head unit so there's no way you could see the edges or ever peel it off so a teensy bit larger than exact fit would be perfect.

PM me if there's any out there.

I am also interested in anyone has some material available.

[Djg21]

There also is a wide angle lcd polarizer available. Would this work?

[Surly73]

Originally Posted by Djg21

There also is a wide angle lcd polarizer available. Would this work?

Having the output circularly polarized would work the best. The "wide angle" business sounds like a laptop display polarizing screen. If it doesn't have a quarter-wave plate as part of it it won't do anything for you.

LCDs require polarization to function, otherwise they just appear to a solid colour the same as the backlight. The construction of the panel determines the orientation of polarization required at the output. So the radio head unit is polarized unfavourably for sunglasses, which is really, really stupid for an automotive application.

A half-wave plate will rotate the polarization 90 degress. A quarter-wave plate will result in circularly polarized output (which will pass through polarized eyewear at any angle suffering only a partial reduction in brightness) but the plate must be properly oriented at 45 degrees to the current polarization.

I really wish we didn't need to fix OPTEX/BMW engineering problems ourselves.

[Djg21]

You sound like you are an engineer with experience with optics. Your post is informative. Thanks.

Do you think you could look at the links in this thread and offer a suggestion as to the available polarizer that you would recommend for this precise application?