Interior / Exterior Lighting grayed out on MMI?

[Bankerbry]

Can anyone tell my why certain functions are grayed out on my MMI on my 650i GC? And how can I fix this?
I was trying to adjust things today and accidentally went into a previous owners profile and now it seems that everything is screwed up, and I'm not sure how to reset things.
All of my presets & preferences are gone, and many of the functions I can't even get into.
This system is driving me crazy!
Thank you

[Opie55]

First thing to do is erase all the prior profiles. Just reset it all to factory settings and go from there. The reset is in one of the menus when you press the controller to the right. Some things are grayed out because you cannot change them. But you don't say what you are talking about. Let me know if you cannot find the reset menu.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Bankerbry

Can anyone tell my why certain functions are grayed out on my MMI on my 650i GC?

Okay...somebody help me out...what in the heck is the MMI?

Since its something being looked at is it the instrument cluster, the HVAC/radio controls, or the iDrive screen?

BTW, a pic is worth a 1000 words.

[Opie55]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Okay...somebody help me out...what in the heck is the MMI?

Since its something being looked at is it the instrument cluster, the HVAC/radio controls, or the iDrive screen?

BTW, a pic is worth a 1000 words.

He's using Audi terminology to describe iDrive.

[Bankerbry]

Yes, sorry I was using the Audi terminology to describe the Idrive.
I think I figured it out, and the answer is that you can't adjust the interior lighting. Really a $107k msrp, and you are unable to adjust the interior lighting that is virtually non existent? The only option under interior lighting on my vehicle is "Bang & Olefson"
Careful some of you may live up to the BMW owner reputation.
Thanks to those that attempted to help, I appreciate it. Just trying to figure everything out. Take care

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Bankerbry

Careful some of you may live up to the BMW owner reputation.

I haven't commented on this thread but just saw your recent post and found it highly inappropriate. Everyone here has been trying to help you. Qsilver has an impeccable reputation for helping people. I think your threat is really unwarranted and you may find yourself not receiving much help from us anymore. Maybe you are starting to live up to the Audi reputation?

[Opie55]

Originally Posted by thebmw

I haven't commented on this thread but just saw your recent post and found it highly inappropriate. Everyone here has been trying to help you. Qsilver has an impeccable reputation for helping people. I think your threat is really unwarranted and you may find yourself not receiving much help from us anymore. Maybe you are starting to live up to the Audi reputation?

Yeah, I thought his response was a bit goofy considering I was one trying to help him. But I let it slide.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Okay...somebody help me out...what in the heck is the MMI?

Ah...it was "Audi-speak"...thanks...I actually had no clue what it was...thanks for the clarification.

In regards to interior light adjustment...there are the reading lamps in the headliner that can turn the interior light on/off. But if you're referring to the interior reddish ambient lighting option...on the early versions of this feature (pre LCI/facelift)...it was designed to be subtle (very subtle). On the newer/later versions BMW upped the ante and now the interiors can look like stripper lounges if the owner wants it to be.

If you have a dark interior...it is even more difficult to see the ambient lighting unless you hold something light (like white paper) below the areas where the light shines. Or if you stick your hand near, under, or into one of the areas that is illuminated...you can see the light. But again, it was designed (initially) to be subtle lighting.

I'm not sure if it would work for the ambient lighting or not...but you can try adjusting the dial on the headlight switch. It adjusts the dash/instrument cluster lighting...and it may also adjust the ambient lighting, too. But again, on a 2014 model year...ambient lighting was designed to be subtle.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by thebmw

I haven't commented on this thread but just saw your recent post and found it highly inappropriate. Everyone here has been trying to help you. Qsilver has an impeccable reputation for helping people. I think your threat is really unwarranted and you may find yourself not receiving much help from us anymore. Maybe you are starting to live up to the Audi reputation?

Originally Posted by Opie55

Yeah, I thought his response was a bit goofy considering I was one trying to help him. But I let it slide.

That comment was probably directed at me...but seeing it was a noob...I'm sure they didn't understand that my question was real and not an attack (at least that's how I perceived it). Give them a chance to figure out the tone of the forum before the batons come out.

[Opie55]

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

That comment was probably directed at me...but seeing it was a noob...I'm sure they didn't understand that my question was real and not an attack (at least that's how I perceived it). Give them a chance to figure out the tone of the forum before the batons come out.

If you are going to be this nice, someone will actually show up to your house and confiscate your BMW.

[Qsilver7]

Confiscate my Bimmer! Now, those are fighting words.

[NorthCountryGuy]

Deftly mitigated.
Well done Q.

[Luftpost]

Q, always in good taste.

L

[Bankerbry]

Hey guys. My apologies if I came across a little aggressive, that was not my intention and sometimes my attempts at humor can be a bit too dry.
Go easy on a fellow car enthusiast who is just trying to get used to being a newer bmw owner. I'm obviously not completely familiar with all of the options and how everything works. Thanks

[Qsilver7]

[thebmw]

Originally Posted by Bankerbry

Hey guys. My apologies if I came across a little aggressive, that was not my intention and sometimes my attempts at humor can be a bit too dry.
Go easy on a fellow car enthusiast who is just trying to get used to being a newer bmw owner. I'm obviously not completely familiar with all of the options and how everything works. Thanks

Good reply and apology. I think you will find that BMW owners are actually some of the most involved and passionate of any brand owners. The people on these forums are enthusiasts. There are some jerks on the forums, but I haven't really seen too many of them in the 6 forum. Glad you made the jump to the 6...way better car and forum than on the Audi side

[FinalRenegade]

I've always thought the subtle lighting was very cool! In naval ships and the military, amber light seems to be the way to go : easier on the eyes and less distracting.

I've always felt some urge to try and transform the interior lighting to the multi color LED found in new models, the only thing that comes kinda close is having 3D printed strips that you affix to the ambient lighting, which will amplify the light.

Here is a video of that effect on the 3 series, I'm not sure if there are people online (ebay or other sites) that sell these for the 6 series, but it might be worth a try looking for and then linking it here haha.

Link to 3 Series thread : https://f30.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1460193


Video:

[Ort2020]

Been playing around with my new pre-LCI 2015 and the dial on the headlight switch does change the ambient strips too... agreed that’s it’s VERY subtle however; coming from a 2015 4-series, the ambient lighting range was much brighter at max setting...

Originally Posted by Qsilver7

Ah...it was "Audi-speak"...thanks...I actually had no clue what it was...thanks for the clarification.

In regards to interior light adjustment...there are the reading lamps in the headliner that can turn the interior light on/off. But if you're referring to the interior reddish ambient lighting option...on the early versions of this feature (pre LCI/facelift)...it was designed to be subtle (very subtle). On the newer/later versions BMW upped the ante and now the interiors can look like stripper lounges if the owner wants it to be.

If you have a dark interior...it is even more difficult to see the ambient lighting unless you hold something light (like white paper) below the areas where the light shines. Or if you stick your hand near, under, or into one of the areas that is illuminated...you can see the light. But again, it was designed (initially) to be subtle lighting.

I'm not sure if it would work for the ambient lighting or not...but you can try adjusting the dial on the headlight switch. It adjusts the dash/instrument cluster lighting...and it may also adjust the ambient lighting, too. But again, on a 2014 model year...ambient lighting was designed to be subtle.

[Qsilver7]

Originally Posted by Ort2020

Been playing around with my new pre-LCI 2015 and the dial on the headlight switch does change the ambient strips too... agreed that’s it’s VERY subtle however; coming from a 2015 4-series, the ambient lighting range was much brighter at max setting...

Thanks for testing if the dimmer switch affected the ambient lighting, too. Several times since this thread...I'd get in the car and remembered I was supposed to check something...but couldn't remember what it was.

Just another comment about the early ambient lighting's "subtleness"...it does become more obvious when driving in dark unlit locations. If you're on a long highway trip and you're in areas where there's no road illumination (no overhead lights every 25ft-50ft) or dark 2-lane rural roads with no street illumination...the interior ambient lighting is way more obvious than when you're driving around in an illuminated urban area at night.

It's similar to starry nights...if you're in the city, you only see a few or none at all. But if you go out into the country...away from the city lights...you can see way more stars just twinkling away in the night's sky.

[Ort2020]

Completely agree re the external light levels - but as I’m mostly urban or lit motorways at night, I don’t get to see the benefit... however, I’m totally going to remember the starry night scenario next time I wish it was brighter, makes it feel much better haha!

[maron]

I added an interior light setting and made new wiring from FRM to switch ambient lights.

[DaveS86]

That sir is cool!