does the black portion of your gauge cluster glow?

2704 Views 40 Replies 17 Participants Last post by xspeedy, Feb 13, 2004

31st330i

Discussion Starter · Apr 3, 2002

at night and with the dimmer knob set to full brightness, it seems that the black backing glows slightly orange almost as if the black portion of the gauge back is too thin and letting light through. I drove a 323 service loaner and did NOT notice the same anomaly on that car. in fact, I have to back the dimmer off quite a bit to get the glowing effect to subside. this just doesn't seem correct to me. anybody else noticing the same thing?

1 - 20 of 41 Posts

alee

· #2 · Apr 3, 2002

Happens with mine too. I don't like it that bright anyway, so I keep it pretty low.

Alex Baumann

· #3 · Apr 3, 2002

Same here. turning the bimmer a bit low helps.

31st330i

Discussion Starter · #4 · Apr 3, 2002

I wonder if there was a change 'cause I don't think the 323/328 cars do this.

webguy330i

· #5 · Apr 3, 2002

Mine do it also, but so did the 2 325i loaners I had.

Kaz

· #6 · Apr 3, 2002

Yep. I run mine cranked full low, though, and its still a bit too bright for me.

31st330i

Discussion Starter · #7 · Apr 3, 2002

webguy330i said:
Mine do it also, but so did the 2 325i loaners I had.

I don't remember the 323 loaner being that way.

so who has a 323 or 328 with glowing gauges?

Alex Baumann

· #8 · Apr 3, 2002

31st330i said:
I don't remember the 323 loaner being that way.

so who has a 323 or 328 with glowing gauges?

Me

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31st330i

Discussion Starter · #9 · Apr 3, 2002

Alex Baumann said:
Me

thanks!

nate

· #10 · Apr 3, 2002

31st330i said:
I don't remember the 323 loaner being that way.

so who has a 323 or 328 with glowing gauges?

I'll check and take a pic later...

I have never noticed though :dunno:

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Nick325xiT 5spd

· #11 · Apr 4, 2002

Mine does it, I turn it all the way down. I tried it bright and I was having trouble paying attention to the road.

nate

· #12 · Apr 4, 2002

no, it does not :thumb:

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31st330i

Discussion Starter · #13 · Apr 4, 2002

looks like they glow to me.

thanks for the pic.

nate

· #14 · Apr 4, 2002

31st330i said:
looks like they glow to me.

thanks for the pic.

What do you mean by "glow"? Do you mean the back of the gauges or the rest of the instrument cluster?

31st330i

Discussion Starter · #15 · Apr 4, 2002

the black backing. it seems to glow as if the black plastic is too thin (only a description) and you can see the orange behid the black.

so anyway, your pic answers my question. this is normal and all E46s "glow."

fuz

· #16 · Apr 4, 2002

I actually like how it glows through. It brings a pre-defined edge to the numbers so that they don't look like they are floating in mid space.

I actually have to turn my guages all the way up so that I can see them over the xenons, which just totaly ruin your night vision. @[email protected]

nate

· #17 · Apr 4, 2002

31st330i said:
the black backing. it seems to glow as if the black plastic is too thin (only a description) and you can see the orange behid the black.

so anyway, your pic answers my question. this is normal and all E46s "glow."

Nothing outside the actual gauges "glows"

31st330i

Discussion Starter · #18 · Apr 4, 2002

the black backing of the gauges is what I'm talking about. the piece that the honda boyz replace with timex indiglo.

webguy330i

· #19 · Apr 4, 2002

Is it possible that the light coming through the clear portions of the backing is illuminating the surface of the backing itself? That's what I always assumed. It doesn't seem to be very even across the backing itself.

31st330i

Discussion Starter · #20 · Apr 4, 2002

I suppose but it seems to me that the light is bleeding through the black. I'm not curious enough to take it apart.

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