Ambient lights changing by itself

540iSUP · 08-11-2022, 10:24 AM

My ambient lights are cycling through all the colors by itself. Is it stuck doing some kind of test? Does anyone know how to fix the issue or what is going on? It changes colors about every 5-10 seconds.

AP · 08-11-2022, 10:59 AM

No idea but I'm sure some poeple on this forum would pay to have that!

Tried changing it in idrive to something else to see if it "fixes" it?

540iSUP · 08-11-2022, 12:21 PM

It would be cool if it wasn't so distracting.

I tried rebooting the head unit by holding the power button for 30 seconds. I disconnected both batteries for a couple of hours as well. I'm going to check my fuses to see if there's anything there.

It seems like it's going through a test to make sure the LEDs work.

Antec800 · 08-12-2022, 07:25 PM

That’s super cool, mine would sometimes do a breathing effect when I get a call through CarPlay , but fixes itself after turning car off

Joe-BMW33 · 08-14-2022, 05:52 AM

Here are some things I personally would try, some I'm sure you have already. All with the goal of resetting the BCD somehow or kicking it back in.

I have ProTool which I used to customize a few ambient light choices. I think I would go back in and change one of the entries and code it with the hope that the code flash refreshed the ambient lights.

The other things I would try first would be flipping as many switches in iDrive related to the lights. Such as shutting them off and letting the car go into a deep sleep overnight and then turning them back on in the morning. Other stuff would be changing the colors to something else, flipping dim at night, playing with the brightness. Etc.

Sounds like a BMW gremlin to me that often fix themselves.

540iSUP · 08-14-2022, 06:20 AM

I tried all of those things mentioned. Used Bimmercode and Protool to even reset the BDC. Tried changing colors, turning on/off ambient lights, played with brightness settings. Nothing worked.

Washed my car the other day and I noticed that the lights didn't change. Drove the car for a few minutes and the lights stayed on the settings that I applied. Whatever happened, it fixed itself.

Joe-BMW33 · 08-14-2022, 11:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 540iSUP

I tried all of those things mentioned. Used Bimmercode and Protool to even reset the BDC. Tried changing colors, turning on/off ambient lights, played with brightness settings. Nothing worked.

Washed my car the other day and I noticed that the lights didn't change. Drove the car for a few minutes and the lights stayed on the settings that I applied. Whatever happened, it fixed itself.

I figured as much. You know what you are doing. Glad it fixed itself

FullBolton · 09-05-2022, 06:57 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 540iSUP

My ambient lights are cycling through all the colors by itself. Is it stuck doing some kind of test? Does anyone know how to fix the issue or what is going on? It changes colors about every 5-10 seconds.

I'm currently dealing with this for 6 months now unfortunately. Tried everything. Even new bdc module.

540iSUP · 09-05-2022, 10:02 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by FullBolton

Quote:

Originally Posted by 540iSUP

My ambient lights are cycling through all the colors by itself. Is it stuck doing some kind of test? Does anyone know how to fix the issue or what is going on? It changes colors about every 5-10 seconds.

I'm currently dealing with this for 6 months now unfortunately. Tried everything. Even new bdc module.

That's crazy man. Btw, love your YouTube content. Keep it coming!

FullBolton · 09-06-2022, 09:12 AM

Appreciate you bro!! If anyone has any insight on my problem please help I'm lost..

FullBolton · 09-10-2022, 03:47 PM

Dude. You'll never believe how I fixed this....... alll you have to do is press and hold 7 on the favorite button. It'll stop the cycle. This is used for testing at dealer 😑

540iSUP · 09-10-2022, 06:24 PM

Damn, I knew it was doing some kind of test! Thanks for the follow up!

540iSUP · 10-03-2022, 12:04 AM

So I was cleaning my interior the other day and I noticed there was some dried up coffee or something that may have splattered on button 1 on the Head Unit. I was cleaning it off and I noticed the Ambient Lights were changing again. I held down button 7, longer than it takes for it to set the memory, and the Ambient Lights went back to normal.

So I'm thinking that holding down button 1 will start toggling through all the color combos to make sure they are working correctly, and when you're done testing; hold button 7 to go back to normal. Holding down button 1 longer than it takes to set the memory for it will not erase or replace what you have saved for that parameter, nor will holding button 7.

08-11-2022, 10:24 AM	#1
540iSUP Captain 704 Rep 803 Posts Drives: G30, E36 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: California iTrader: (1)	Ambient lights changing by itself My ambient lights are cycling through all the colors by itself. Is it stuck doing some kind of test? Does anyone know how to fix the issue or what is going on? It changes colors about every 5-10 seconds.
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08-11-2022, 10:59 AM	#2
AP Major General 2782 Rep 5,094 Posts Drives: G30 M550 Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: UK iTrader: (0)	No idea but I'm sure some poeple on this forum would pay to have that! Tried changing it in idrive to something else to see if it "fixes" it?
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08-11-2022, 12:21 PM	#3
540iSUP Captain 704 Rep 803 Posts Drives: G30, E36 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: California iTrader: (1)	It would be cool if it wasn't so distracting. I tried rebooting the head unit by holding the power button for 30 seconds. I disconnected both batteries for a couple of hours as well. I'm going to check my fuses to see if there's anything there. It seems like it's going through a test to make sure the LEDs work.
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08-12-2022, 07:25 PM	#4
Antec800 Lieutenant 128 Rep 462 Posts Drives: 340i x drive Join Date: Apr 2017 Location: Michigan iTrader: (0)	That’s super cool, mine would sometimes do a breathing effect when I get a call through CarPlay , but fixes itself after turning car off
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08-14-2022, 05:52 AM	#5
Joe-BMW33 Major General 7338 Rep 6,749 Posts Drives: '18 M550i\|'21 X5\|'03 540i Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: Boston iTrader: (1) Garage List 2013 VW Tiguan [0.00] 2015 Infiniti QX60 [0.00] 2021 BMW X5 [0.00] 2003 BMW 540i [0.00] 2018 BMW M550 [10.00]	Here are some things I personally would try, some I'm sure you have already. All with the goal of resetting the BCD somehow or kicking it back in. I have ProTool which I used to customize a few ambient light choices. I think I would go back in and change one of the entries and code it with the hope that the code flash refreshed the ambient lights. The other things I would try first would be flipping as many switches in iDrive related to the lights. Such as shutting them off and letting the car go into a deep sleep overnight and then turning them back on in the morning. Other stuff would be changing the colors to something else, flipping dim at night, playing with the brightness. Etc. Sounds like a BMW gremlin to me that often fix themselves. __________________ 2018 M550ix\|Carbon Black\|Dinan Modifications\|2003 540i\|Jet Black\|M-Sport\|2021 X5 Mineral White Prior BMW's: 1987 325e\|1993 740i\|1998 740il\|2001 530i\|2002 745li\|2007 750li\|2006 750li\|2001 530i\|2012 535xi\|
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08-14-2022, 06:20 AM	#6
540iSUP Captain 704 Rep 803 Posts Drives: G30, E36 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: California iTrader: (1)	I tried all of those things mentioned. Used Bimmercode and Protool to even reset the BDC. Tried changing colors, turning on/off ambient lights, played with brightness settings. Nothing worked. Washed my car the other day and I noticed that the lights didn't change. Drove the car for a few minutes and the lights stayed on the settings that I applied. Whatever happened, it fixed itself.
	Appreciate 0 Quote

09-06-2022, 09:12 AM	#10
FullBolton Private 78 Rep 66 Posts Drives: BMW G30 Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: United States iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] 2017 BMW 540I [0.00]	Appreciate you bro!! If anyone has any insight on my problem please help I'm lost..
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09-10-2022, 03:47 PM	#11
FullBolton Private 78 Rep 66 Posts Drives: BMW G30 Join Date: Jul 2022 Location: United States iTrader: (0) Garage List [0.00] 2017 BMW 540I [0.00]	Dude. You'll never believe how I fixed this....... alll you have to do is press and hold 7 on the favorite button. It'll stop the cycle. This is used for testing at dealer 😑
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09-10-2022, 06:24 PM	#12
540iSUP Captain 704 Rep 803 Posts Drives: G30, E36 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: California iTrader: (1)	Damn, I knew it was doing some kind of test! Thanks for the follow up!
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10-03-2022, 12:04 AM	#13
540iSUP Captain 704 Rep 803 Posts Drives: G30, E36 Join Date: Apr 2021 Location: California iTrader: (1)	So I was cleaning my interior the other day and I noticed there was some dried up coffee or something that may have splattered on button 1 on the Head Unit. I was cleaning it off and I noticed the Ambient Lights were changing again. I held down button 7, longer than it takes for it to set the memory, and the Ambient Lights went back to normal. So I'm thinking that holding down button 1 will start toggling through all the color combos to make sure they are working correctly, and when you're done testing; hold button 7 to go back to normal. Holding down button 1 longer than it takes to set the memory for it will not erase or replace what you have saved for that parameter, nor will holding button 7.
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