E46 climate display

PMKeates said:
Funny thread.

I could have ended it instantly as I notice a significant dimming effect as I run the display on the minimum possible brightness setting. I can't understand how people like it any brighter!
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Didn't really end the thread. I knew it should dim, to end the thread tell me how to fix it ;)
 
NVP said:
I do this too. I hate bright lighting inside the car, I even have my phone (Sat Nav & Music) on very, very low brightness although this still annoys me slightly.
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It's not really that bright though, it's pretty ambient TBH, overly bright is when you shine a light at the sensor and the displays go megabright. I assume Clarkey's issue is going to be that it's stuck on this megabright mode hence the thread. A pic would have helped confirm though :p

Easy test to see if it is the photodiode though, just replace the whole panel with one from a friend's e46 and if the same happens it's something else.

Panel is removed by popping out the trim from the dash then taking out the panel and unplugging it. Should only need a Philips head screwdriver and credit card to remove the trim.
 
It's not that bright I'll give you that but it still annoys me but I do a lot of night time driving. My Dads 300C is much, much worse than my E46 as it has this massive centre screen that lights up the whole car even on it's dimmest setting.

Also, LOL at the "easy test" which involves replacing the whole panel! :p
 
It really is an easy test, the whole panel as in the whole panel, this thing:

IMAG0001.jpg


It just unplugs and you plug in a new one....simples?

One could say it actually is a 30 second job... :p
 
Surely you can just test the photodiode by subjecting it to extreme light, then extreme dark? Or have I got the wrong end of the stick?
 
Ah I see. to be honest, I've always wondered what that was in my car, I just thought it was a really tiny bulb that didn't work :o
 
Silly sensors!

*me sets whatever fixed brightness he wants for lights on or lights of conditions*

Although a sensor would be cool for the times I drive in daytime poor visibility with lights on.
 
Wow, I've never noticed that photodiode before. So it only auto dims when the wheel is on the lowest setting? I'm pretty sure I never noticed that happen before??

ps anyone else hating the snow and their E46 right now!! happens every ******* year!!
 
It dims automatically anyway as the day gets darker/brighter etc with the sun. But it dims the moment you turn the lights on if you have the dial at anything below the top position because you're telling it to dim them from the default when off!
 
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