Malfunctioning dashboard lights?
 

While driving earlier today, the lights of the dash (ALL the lights) went out for approx. 5 seconds, then came back on. It hasn't happened since. Has anyone had this problem? If so, what was the fix, and is this trivial, or should I be worried? What makes this even worse is that I'm going on a business trip tomorrow and will be gone for a week, so I won't be able to have the stealer check this out until I get back. So, I'm basically seeking assurance that my car will function appropriately when I get back into town in a week! Help!

i had the same thing happen in my 2005 X3 two days ago. all the dash lights went dim for about 20 seconds. i was trying to see if my headlights went on causing the dash to dim, but my switch was in the off position.

weird stuff....

I can only hope that the car will function as it should when I get back to town on Saturday! Once I have the dealer look into the problem, I'll post whatever solution I'm given.

I've had this happen to my 05 X3 about 4 or 5 times now. The lights go completely out for a few seconds then mysteriously come back on. I notice that when this happens the dimmer control light doesn't function either. Will get it checked out on the first maintenance coming up soon.

Fill me in on what your dealer has to say. Thanks!

it happens to me too once 05 X3 3.0

Well, after 2 trips to the dealer, they couldn't replicate the problem, and were apparently unable to find any error codes, etc. Yeah, that was a big surprise! :rolleyes: Anyway, it hasn't happened since, so I'm keeping my fingers crossed that it was a transient issue that will not recur!

I had the exact same thing happen to me but they went out for almost a minute. The dealership couldn't figure out why that happened but it never happened again. Hmmm.....

:dunno: :confused:

HI,, had the same issue with my x3, happened about 5 times in the last year, the dealer never found the fault , as it is intermintanite fault cant help me... basically you waste ya time going back to the dealer....:mad:

I experienced this as well. 2x the past 3 months.

Same thing happened to me, 2 times in the past 2 weeks. Mine stop for like 5 seconds then come back on. I don't remember seeing that before. 2005 X3.

It happened twice to me last year, about 2 months apart. However it hasn't happened since, and I don't even wanna bother asking the dealer.

If we're talking the interior dash lights, it never happened in my '04 X3 and has yet to happen in my '06 X3, but it happened several times in my '05 325i . . . a few times I thought my mind or reflcetions were playing tricks on me. It goes out and then suddenly comes back on before I have a chance to do anything about it. Still, it has never happened to me at night - just when it was dark enough to have the lights come on but not enough to need them to see :dunno: (I always leave the switch in the automatic position). One more thing, my '04 X3 and my '05 325i are not the Xenons - I don't know if that has anything to do with it or not.

If it is all background lit lights like gauges, led displays in the bottom etc. it might be the automatic gauge brightness control. I noticed my E46 seemed to change these sometimes rapidly and without a reason but haven't yet in my X3. I think it even adjusted the business radio display at the same time.

In the light switch unit there is that small clear / greyish dot (photo cell?) that is measuring the amount of light. If you cover that during daytime with your finger you can see the brightness starts to change slowly. You might need to have your lights turned on or in automatic mode, not sure. If they are manually turned off I think this feature is disabled and brightness can be only adjusted manually using the roll knob. This could be playing tricks.

For example on a bright sunny day if you drive under a birdge or something like that you can see it adjust them and when you come out there it may take a while to adjust them again. Usually it is stepless but sometimes jumps from bright to dim and back. Now it could also happen if you lean on your left elbow towards the door and your hand creates a shade on top of the measurement unit.

If you loose some other lights like high beam or warning lights that is a different story.

- p

:wtf:

I have never heard of this before and I don't think I have this sensor in my X3.

:confused:

Phuksi-

I think what we're talking about, is ALL the interior lighting goes blank for a period of time, not the auto-dimming the pixel displays do when you go into a tunnel or whatever. Literally, everything goes out, the gear display goes blank, etc at a random time.

I wondered the same thing first time last weekend. I tried to adjust the brighthness from the knob, but nothing.. Then after about 15 seconds dash-lights came back.

Also one other thing that wonders me is the navi-monitor. Sometimes it stucks at the middle, sometimes it does not go up at all. Sometimes I have to force it open... I told this problem in last service, and they said that there was some firmware problem and its fixed now.. but no. Anyone else having this?

This just happened to me this weekend. I looked down to see the temp and there was nothing there. Then it came back on and is fine.

This just happened to me yesterday. I *may* mention this to the service rep next visit for Inspection I (along with a grocery list of other items I'm picky on). Just 2300mi to go........

Followup:

I took the X3 in for first scheduled maintanence and asked them to check the instrument cluster lights, squeeky brakes, creaky door, and wanted them to program the X3 so doors lock automatically when first taking off.

So I leave the SAV there all day and pick it up in the evening. They told me they think the dimmer switch is faulty; causing havoc with the electrical because they could NOT get the car to program the automatic lock code.

Can a faulty dimmer switch cause the instrument cluster lights to go out periodically, and prevent them from programming the auto lock code??!!

They are ordering a new dimmer switch and door seal.

Out of curiosity - I turned the lights on and checked the dimmer switch out when I drove home. The dimmer switch works fine :rolleyes:

Resurrecting this old thread to help anyone that may be still experiencing this.

There is a service bulletin out for this issue, covered under warranty. Here is the pertinent info:

SI B 62 10 06 Instruments
February 2007
Technical Service

SUBJECT
Instrument Cluster Back Lighting Fails Sporadically
MODEL
E46 (3 Series)
E83 (X3)
E85 (Z4)
Vehicles produced from August 31, 2003 to July 27, 2006.
SITUATION
The customer may experience brief failure of the instrument cluster back lighting, air condition control or radio. The failure will last between 10-15 seconds.
CAUSE
Light Switching Center (LSZ)
CORRECTION
Replace the LSZ with updated parts as listed below. Please compare with EPC before carrying out the replacement.

I get an issue where my air con display goes black for a second or so randomly. No other lights go out and even the button LED's on the air con panel stay lit.

Dealer has had the car 5 times now, each coming back no fault found. Even though the car is under warranty, they now tell me that to do any further more in-depth investigations may lead to me having to pay if they can't find anything.

Is it likely that this is the same issue or is mine a faulty Climate Controller panel? Is the SIB North America only or Worldwide? Last one I took them about the transmission update they dismissed as NA only, but after several rants, 'found' one applicable to Europe. BMW customer service gets more like Ford every year :rolleyes:

You issue does not appear to be related to the SIB I posted, which replaces the instrument cluster. It is probably as you mentioned, a faulty climate control module, since that is the only unit affected.

There is a clear disclaimer on the BMW TIS site that the SIBs are only effective for NA vehicles. So therefore, I cannot say if the same bulletin exists in Europe.

I had the odometer digital display fade in and out about four times. Took it into the dealer and they replaced the light module. The paperwork listed an internal malfunction of LSZ had a fault. Hasn’t done it since but it’s only been a week. Good luck

05 X3

I know this is an old thread, but, I recently got an X3 cluster in for repair for non-functioning ambient temp sensor. I was shocked when I found the problem. The soldering on these clusters is HORRIBLE. The people that made the printed circuit board royally screwed up and I'm surprised I don't see more complaints of intermittent or solid cluster problems. Maybe the cluster I am looking at is a fluke and the problem was corrected. I hope it correct. I'm interested to know if you've had your instrument cluster replaced and what problem you experienced.