Brightness control

WARNING: This page does not describe the selected car, but rather 7 other vehicles, including the 2017 BMW X3, 2016 BMW X3, 2015 BMW X3, 2014 BMW X3, and 2013 BMW X3. However, it is still accessible from the selected car via links, so may be relevant.

The instrument cluster is illuminated from terminal 15. The status of the vehicle lights and the ambient brightness determine the switch between daytime and night-time illumination. A phototransistor is installed in the instrument panel to calculate the necessary brightness (display, indicator and warning lights, scales, needles).

The brightness value calculated in the instrument panel is transmitted to the bus system (e.g., for the Central Information Display). Dimming can be set individually using the knurled wheel on the light switch. When the vehicle lights are switched on, these individual settings and the phototransistor are used to control the dimming. When the vehicle lights are switched off, the dimming is only controlled by the phototransistor (display brightness according to ambient brightness).