What Is This?

[kyle_baker]

i think its an LED, but what is it for? (yes i know i'm not going 160mph, this was a pic taken during a test mode, i just took it to see if the LED would light up during the test,but it didn't, what is it for?

[bitcore]

We've had this discussion before but none of us could come to a solid conclusion.
We guesed it had something to do with dimming the interior according to the cabin's current lighting? IE: it's a photosensor?

[Live_the_Curves]

This came up about 8-9 months ago. Photosensor was the best guess.

[kyle_baker]

lol, seriously? i'm gonna test thisout then and i'll prove it true or false.

it would be neat if it were an LED cause i would wire it up as a tach light (i know its not on the tach but its in the center of the gauges, even better, it would work well there). If i do then i'll be sure and make a DIY, but i'm guessing i'd have to buy a cheap tach-light and gut it out for the clean stock look.

but seriously.........no one knows for sure what this thing is for?

[kyle_baker]

i've tried to test this "photo sensor" but i can't tell if that is what it really is. anyone know of any other possibilites or any place we can find out?

[Delmarco]

I really doubt our E36 cars are so advanced...beside why would there be an auto sensor for dimming the dash when there is a dimmer scroll switch next to the steering column.

I think it blinks when you hit 160 mphs to inform you that you need to take your foot off the pedal because the car will go no faster...

[97alpineM3]

Actually... yes it is a photosensor... adjusts the sourounding lights towards the cabin's amount of light...

I asked a tech friend of mine who pulled up the parts break down from the maker of the panel.

Photosensor it is...

Les

[Delmarco]

Originally posted by 97alpineM3@Jun 5 2005, 08:46 AM
Actually... yes it is a photosensor... adjusts the sourounding lights towards the cabin's amount of light...

I asked a tech friend of mine who pulled up the parts break down from the maker of the panel.

Photosensor it is...

Les

[snapback]350896[/snapback]

hold on! used
What exactly is it adjusting the orange dash lights or the cabin's overhead light, or both. I just don't see why BMW would include a dimmer switch if they had this in there as well.

Wow....I have another thing t o brag about in my car to the ladies....

[kyle_baker]

yes, what lights exactly does this photosensor control?

[zeaq]

I don't understand.What's the photosencor does?
and Klye baker, where do u get that pics?I mean the spedo pics that going 160Mph.Can you give me the link.

[kyle_baker]

lol, the pic i gave was a test mode pics, simply hold down your trip reset button on the gauages and turn the key to position 1 or 2 and let go of the trip reset button, your gauges will light up and all will test to see that they are working right, its simple.

[Delmarco]

Originally posted by kyle_baker@Jun 5 2005, 12:21 PM
lol, the pic i gave was a test mode pics, simply hold down your trip reset button on the gauages and turn the key to position 1 or 2 and let go of the trip reset button, your gauges will light up and all will test to see that they are working right, its simple.

[snapback]350941[/snapback]

wow... used

well I just learned two things about my car today.... :P

[frank3]

Seriously...I remember reading womewhere that this thing lights up if you've f..cked with your odometer. It's some sort of warning light that the actual mileage is not what's showing.

[kyle_baker]

Originally posted by Delmarco@Jun 5 2005, 01:23 PM
wow... used

well I just learned two things about my car today.... :P

[snapback]350955[/snapback]

don't you just love it when you find out things about your car that you never knew where there and its like why didn't i notice that? its great, bimmers always surprise me with all of the little things liek these built into them.

so........is it a photosensor or a speedometer gauge malfunction light?

[Delmarco]

I'm still lost.....but i will check my E36 manual when i get home!