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      11-14-2010, 12:15 PM   #1
dbs600
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Dome Light

Does anyone know if there is a way to increase the brightness of or reposition the interior dome light; not the light that you can turn on / off, but the light that remains lit when you are driving and it is dark out. Thanks.
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      11-14-2010, 05:12 PM   #2
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Are you asking bout the orange LEDs ?
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      11-14-2010, 09:09 PM   #3
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Yes, I believe so. There one small light that shines down on the shifter when it is dark out and while driving. But, problem being that the light should be a little brighter and should be positioned to where the cup holders are, not the shifter, as the shifter is already itself 'lit up' - backlit - and easily found.
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      11-15-2010, 12:00 AM   #4
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AFAIK you can not adjust the direction of these lights (LEDs). They may be shining directly down towards the shifter, but they the light is sufficiently wide at the bottom to reach the cup holders too. The brightness is controlled via the dimmer in the dashboard that controls the brightness of all ambient and instrumentation lights.
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      11-15-2010, 01:59 AM   #5
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Thank you for your insight on how to increase the brightness. But, while I believe mine was on the brightest possible setting, it was not strong / wide angled enough for light to hit / flood the cup holder area. My car has not yet returned from European Delivery shipping, but I will check again upon its return...
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      11-15-2010, 10:40 AM   #6
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These lights are intended as ambient lighting so the light output is fairly low but more than enough to let you see what's there. Remember that these are NOT spot lights!
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      11-15-2010, 01:14 PM   #7
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I totally understand that, and hence my question. When in Europe a month ago for European Delivery, I noticed that the cup holder area does not catch any of the lighting what-so-ever, which is frustrating, as I used and probably will continue to use the area for my cell phone - I had to fish around for it a bit, instead of being able to see it and grab it, while driving...
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      11-15-2010, 03:14 PM   #8
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Why would you be using your cell phone while driving?!?

That's what you have the bluetooth interface for!

You can use the iDrive controller, voice commands or the steering wheel controls to select who you want to call or answer an in coming call.

You shouldn't also be texting while you are driving for safety reasons (if the cops see you on the phone where I live, they will pull you over and write you a nice ticket! Even when you are stopped at a red light!).

I always keep my phone in my pocket or in my jacket. And since I always charge it at home I don't have to plug it into the car either.

I have to double check when I drive my car when it's dark again to see how much light gets to where the cup holders are, but if memory serves me right, the area (between the gear shifter and the dashboard) is also somewhat lit by the orange LEDs...

I'll let you know...
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      11-15-2010, 05:10 PM   #9
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Haha. Thanks for the input, but no worries. And, I don't text while driving anyway. The car is so limited on storage space that regardless of what's in the cupholder area, it's annoying that the area doesn't catch any ambient light, and that the wood trim panel flips towards you, blocking easy view of what's in the cupholder area, instead of away from you...

Last edited by dbs600; 11-15-2010 at 10:48 PM..
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      11-16-2010, 11:07 AM   #10
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I checked last night. Most of the light from the two orange LEDs is directed to right in front of the gear shifter (actually the area right between the gear shifter and the beginning of the upholstered arm rest). There is some but very little light shinning on the cup holder area. The cover that swings toward you almost completely vanishes inside the center console and does not block the view (unless you are only a foot tall ). Hope this helps.
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      11-19-2010, 08:34 PM   #11
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Ha. Thanks. I'm 6 feet tall - ha - but the wood trim does block my view of what resting inside the cup holders. ??? Either way, somehow, I wish the light was angled in a way that would make it effective. Focused on the wood trim of the center console is useless...
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      11-20-2010, 04:57 PM   #12
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Personally, I think it's actually the right place it's shinning right now. Consider this: You put a stainless steel or aluminum mug or some other shinny cup or device into the cup holder, this could reflect the amber/orange light from those two LEDs and would become not only annoying after a while but potentially also dangerous during night time driving!?!

Everyone has different ideas and opinions. I think they made the right choice/compromise. It's just bright enough when it's dark to see what's there but not too bright to get to the point where it might distract you while driving in the dark!
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