What's this?? - United Bimmer Community

**Dudesky** · 05-18-2006, 06:40 PM

Can anyone tell me what this is? Looks like a light, has anyone gotten it to come on? Is that to tell you that you're going faster than 160?

Seriously, I always wondered what it was . .

**scrichy84** · 05-18-2006, 06:47 PM

Thats not the light that blinks when you have less than 9 miles left of fuel is it ?!?! Just a stab in the dark.

**doughboyea** · 05-18-2006, 06:54 PM

You know it could be telling u that ur at 160+, like you said... my E46 doesn't have it so I really don't know. But that is interesting. Has it ever gone off?

Dough

**Dudesky** · 05-18-2006, 07:00 PM

^^^Nope, not even sure it's a light. It would make sense, but that would be useless, since US spec E36's cut out at around 130-ish.

9mi left? then that would make it a "you're an idiot" light

I never let the gas go lower than 50mi. I like my fuel pump/lines/filter clean and unobstructed, thank you

**bmw4life** · 05-18-2006, 07:00 PM

I'm pretty sure it senses the amount of light to brighten/dim the instrument lights.

**xsperf** · 05-18-2006, 07:03 PM

yea what he said ^^^

**Dudesky** · 05-18-2006, 07:04 PM

Then why do I have a dimmer switch?

**doughboyea** · 05-18-2006, 07:04 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dudesky

^^^Nope, not even sure it's a light. But that would be useless, since US spec E36's cut out at around 130-ish.

Good point....so scratch that idea....

Ahhh... DIMMER Sensor... that makes more sence. That I do have. Got two (at least) on my dash. But they aren't in the cluster. If it is that, it seems kinda out of place.

I have the dimmer switch as well, but have you ever noticed that as you drive, say through a tunnel or long underpass, that the lights inside (if on, ie the radio) will brighten up?

Dough

**Dudesky** · 05-18-2006, 07:12 PM

^^^Really? I haven't noticed . . I'll have to be more observant in the next few days.

**Ralphie 22575** · 05-18-2006, 07:16 PM

I have seen the "M-Tech" badges go in that spot on some of the european dashes..............maybe they dont change it for the american models????

**tomctx** · 05-18-2006, 07:18 PM

It's a light sensor. I think it just dims the tach and speedo in conjunction with the dimmer switch.

**Ralphie 22575** · 05-18-2006, 07:20 PM

oops.....i thought the arrow was pointing to the larger square

**zeaq328i** · 05-18-2006, 07:31 PM

What's the red line in your speedo indicates?Mine dont have it..

**xsperf** · 05-18-2006, 07:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Dudesky

^^^Really? I haven't noticed . . I'll have to be more observant in the next few days.

just take a flash light, or a pen light, or somethign thats small and shine it at it, at night, and see what happens, i cant say ive tried it myself either

nick_318is · 05-18-2006, 07:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by zeaq328i

What's the red line in your speedo indicates?Mine dont have it..

Zeaq thats it at 55mph I think its there because the the national highway speed limit used to be at 55.