X5 iDrive Display off not really off?!

stim141 · #1 01-05-2009, 01:20 PM

Just picked up my X5 3.0 last Friday and was experimenting. When you select DISPLAY OFF it turns off the info on the iDrive but the display's backlight is still on - so I'm assuming the display is still on. Is this normal or is there a fix that they can upload to really turn it off.

I don't have the NAV system and driving at night the display is sortof a distraction and I'd really like it to be totally off.

Anyone find a fix? Thanks.

70Sixter · #2 01-12-2009, 03:55 PM

No fix. Next nite trip I'm taking a piece of cardboard to cover it. It is really irritating to me, especially on dark roads. My wife, who owns the X5, is not bothered by it.

stim141 · #3 01-12-2009, 09:47 PM

Thanks, didn't think there was a fix but the next time I'm at the dealer I'll ask the service manager and see if there is anything open about it. I guess its because the radio and info center still needs to be on to scroll info at the bottom. Off should be off and it should be an option and could easily be put into the software.

Not such a big deal driving locally just on really long trips at night. I pretty much turn everything off or at least way down - reduces eye strain.

Stroy · #4 01-13-2009, 02:40 AM

In the idrive menu, there's also an option to lower the brightness of the screen. By default, it's at the halfway point. If you bring it all the way down, it will lessen the brightness of the backlight when the display is off.

rh71 · #5 01-12-2009, 04:09 PM

I thought it would bother me at night but it has not... you can also adjust the brightness with the dashboard brightness control knob right next to your headlamp controls. Don't know how to turn the backlight completely off though.