Dash lights - not dimming temperatue display when cold

[jsfbmw]

Here's a curiosity. This winter (in NJ) as the cold weather arrived, my dash lights exhibit an issue that's not huge, but is not the way they're supposed to work.

When I start the car early AM or at night, the dash lights and radio are dimmed, but the temperature display is brighter. When I use the dimmer dial, the dash and radio lights adjust, but the temperature lighting does not.

Later, when the car is warmed up (maybe 20 minutes), the temperature display dims and responds when I use the dimmer dial. This behavior only started recently - last winter there was no issue.

Any ideas? Is it a dirty sensor?

[Oli77]

When you mean the temperature display, you mean the console display (between speed and tach)?

[jsfbmw]

When you mean the temperature display, you mean the console display (between speed and tach)?

Not that one, the temperature setting display in the console near the shifter.

[spoonerDee]

If its one thing I have learned about electronics and cold weather, especially BMW electronics and cold weather, the strangest things can happen and never be explained.

I have seen all kinds of odd things happen when its been really cold out that once the temps go back up, even 10 degrees, they disappear.

[jsfbmw]

Yes, this seems to be the case here. Thought to add a bit more description: it's only the small panel that shows what the temperature is set for and what the fan speed is set at. All other lights in that module dim appropriately (as do all other lights that are supposed to be controlled by the dimmer dial).

Today, for example, the outside temp was around 20 degrees and that small panel did not respond to dimming. After about a half hour into my commute, the panel then dimmed and responded as expected. Seems like a contact is not being made when components cold, and when warmed up, something expands to make contact. Guess I'll have my mechanic take a look at some point.

[subieworx]

At least yours dims when warm. Mine always stays bright.