Ambiance Lighting in 2011 X5
 

Included in the Premium Package for the 2011 X5, is what BMW calls "Ambiance Lighting". What is this? In my 2010 750i, the entire cabin at night was bathed in really soothing amber/orange lighting....on the doors, rear seats, storage comparments, footwells, etc...

The first time I drove home in my new '11 X5 at night, I was kind of shocked that the interior cabin is so dark at night. Is "Ambiance Lighting" something that has to be activated, or turned on?

Thanks a lot!

I also noticed that my 2011 X5 seemed to be darker at night than my 2007 335i was, both with ambient lighting. In the X5 there are two lights on the ceiling console that illuminate the center console area, but the others are less obvious. I took a few pictures that show the ceiling console lights as well as the lights that are on the underside of the door armrests, above the storage compartments. On my 335i these were on the lower edge of a door trim strip and they seemed to illuminate the door area a bit better.

The "problem" in the X5 is that the panorama roof doesn't allow for a rear ceiling console, which is where BMW might have put the ambient lights. That being said, it seems that they might have been able to put some near the rear interior/map lights, or perhaps near the vents or controls in the rear center console.

All this being said, I like the panorama roof better than I'd like slightly better ambient lighting!

If Audi can put overhead lights in the A5/S5 convertible top (!) there's no reason the panarama sunroof can't be overcome too!

I agree with all -- my black interior at night is like a hole in the universe! Impossible to see anything!

The X5 has light strips on the underside of the arm rests, above the storage units? I must check mein, since I did not notice that. I wunder if that is just for the 2010, und not 2011.

There isn't a lot of ambience lighting in the X5. I will admit, that it's clever how the amber LEDs are angled such that they not only illuminate the centre console, but also the storage underneath the centre armrest when one opens it up so the passengers can see a bit without turning on the interior lights.

Upgrades available?
 

I see plenty of kits for upgrading the main interior lights with leds, but nothing for upgrading the ambiance light output for the lower door and overhead console... Is there an upgrade option for increasing light output? My black interior X5 is DARK!!

It may have changed since '08, but mine has lights that illuminate the inside door handles as well as the storage bins in all 4 doors. This is in addition to the overhead dash lights.

Yeah, the newer "light package" (Ambient lighting) includes LEDs near the moonroof switch and the storage bins in the doors. There is also footroom lighting, puddle lights, lights underneath the outside door handles, and reading lights front/rear.

I find the interior ambiance lighting sufficient in my '11. I do have the beige interior. Maybe that helps.

I do have some dim orange lights in the storage bins in all 4 doors, as well as the dash overhead lights (2 orange lights that shine on the center console). I hope mine are not broken, but my door handles (interior) are not illuminated with a dim orange glow. I could have sworn my 2008 4.8i had this. My 2010 750i had amazing interior ambiance lighting. The whole cabin just glowed, warm orange at night.