What is that little lens on the light switch for?

[bmwrocks]

I'm talking about the very small itty-bitty clear lens that is on the headlight switch between the headlamp ON icon and the interior light brightness knob.

I notice it's there but it does not illuminate or anything with the headlights on, which is what I thought it might be for.

Does anyone elses illuminate with the light switch in the ON position or any other time?

This is just a little nit picky thing that I have been wondering about......

 

[mscoins]

Excellent question. I have never noticed it illuminated nor do I know its purpose.

 

[Tom]

I believe thats a light sensor.

 

[ChrisK]

i have wondered that also.. mine does not illuminate.. but what reason does it have to monitor light? is there an option that controls dash lights by how much ambient light there is?

 

[tyler]

It is an LED that lights up only when the low beam headlamp is on when the Headlights switch is set on to Automatic Control. That is the headlight symbol with and "A". It is pretty cool and I've seen it light up since I normally switch my lights to Automatic control . When I go into a tunnel the low beams would turn on and also the LED indicator would light up. One of those small details that I love about my car. There are a lot of other small things that I discover that just makes it great like the ridges on my 04 330ci side mirrors which is supposed to reduce wind noise when driving and it even warms up too. AWESOME! My car is 3 weeks old and already 1000 miles and I am still discorvering new things.

 

[Tom]

It is an LED that lights up only when the low beam headlamp is on when the Headlights switch is set on to Automatic Control. That is the headlight symbol with and "A". It is pretty cool and I've seen it light up since I normally switch my lights to Automatic control . When I go into a tunnel the low beams would turn on and also the LED indicator would light up. One of those small details that I love about my car. There are a lot of other small things that I discover that just makes it great like the ridges on my 04 330ci side mirrors which is supposed to reduce wind noise when driving and it even warms up too. AWESOME! My car is 3 weeks old and already 1000 miles and I am still discorvering new things.

hmmm, I never knew that. I've always thought it was a light sensor that will adjust your dash lights. Thanks for the info Tyler.

 

[mallards]

uhhh i think it automatically lightens/darkens that panel that controls the head light switch (depending on how much light is in the car) ....

ie - its dark outside ... its dark in the car ... it lights up that panel so you can turn the lights on easier

it may also adjust the light on other things as well

Ben

 

[tyler]

It also wondered what is was before until that thing lit up when I was driving with the switch on Automatic. So I went to the manual and it is describes whant the thing is for. Damn I think I've read the manual like 5x and I still miss a lot of stuff. Think I have to read it more.

 

[tyler]

Just read the manual again and aside from the LED steady on as I described above, if the LED flashes it means that there is a malfunction of the adaptive headlights.

 

[bmwrocks]

tyler, you are talking about the green LED that is located near the A position. I was referring to the little lens blah blah blah (see original post).

mallards response sounds likely. As I have noticed that some controls backlighting comes on automatically in low light. Great call mallards. Thanks.