hpilot

When I started the car tonight (at night), I noticed that the instrument cluster lighting was set to max brightness. I have the headlight switch set to auto. When I tried to adjust it to a lower brightness, I could not find the switch because there was no lighting of the switch icon. The first question is does this switch have back lighting? I thought it did. Also, with the headlight switch in auto, it is supposed to adjust automatically. But how does that work if you can dim the lighting manually with the switch. Does it reset to some default setting when you turn the car off? This should be simple, but I really don't understand how it works.

topsider

it does not have back lighting.

and what adjusts automatically is the screen brightness

hpilot

Well the manual says "If the light switch is set to auto, the brightness is dependent upon the brightness of the ambient light." They are referring to the instrument cluster, and not the MFD as I read it.

Also it's strange that this is the only switch in the car that does not have a back light.

ManiacGT

The switch has no light but once you know where it is you can feel it.

It controls the instrument binnacle and comand screen brightness.

You can also change the comand screen brightness in the vehicle settings to better match that of the binnacle lighting.

This auto brightness only works when it's not in full daylight mode.

hpilot

I guess that's my question. It was full bright AT NIIGHT. So it must be broken? Also if it is auto, how come you can control it manually. At what point does it go back to auto.

ManiacGT

Well it could be full brightness at night because you moved the wheel to set it that way. At night, rotate the button to see.

Do you have a smartphone? So that has brightness control and auto that work together. Same in the MB.

HorshamRebel

The manual and auto work together in that, if you don't like how the auto is working, you can override it to your own personal setting.


Same as on phones and lots of other stuff

topsider

So in order to have it in auto brightness, you have to have the wheel set just below max brightness?

topsider

bump ^^

ManiacGT

I'd suggest simply trying it to work it out as I've not had chance to sit in my car and find out for you.

topsider

then you personally didn't have to respond. Just got my car back after 5 days at dealer, so I will in fact check when I get home. Hard to tell when when its already dark out and simply turn the brightness down, because then it has nothing to adapt to - hence why I was wondering if someone actually had a definite answer

ManiacGT

I responded because you bumped the thread. I went out of my way and attempted as did someone else to describe and help before simply suggesting you may wish to try it yourself. You're right, I should be less helpful, I'll do that going forwards.

topsider

the snide comments certainly aren't helpful

hpilot

I finally did some tests tonight. Even though the manual says that the cluster back-light is adjusted automatically, I see no evidence of that. The wheel to set the brightness manually has mechanical stops for max brightness and min brightness, so an automatic function would never work with this setup. When I start the car, the brightness is at the intensity it was when I turned off the car the last time - in other words where the physical location of the manual knob is. This is fine with me, but the manual is wrong - unless I am missing something. Also, the brightness of the MFD, cluster, Comand screen, and all other back-lights are all controlled with that one knob.

jlr82

The "multifunction display" the manual mentions is automatically controlled is not the instrument cluster.

The multifunction display is the LCD screen in the middle, but it is not the rest of the instrument cluster. I've always found that wording very confusing.

topsider

thats what i initially thought, thank you

jlr82

You're welcome. I remember when I was first reading the manual to my W204 that I was very confused by the usage of terms that refer to the various "displays" in the car.

hpilot

If you are referring to my previous post, I know what the MFD is. The manual is wrong. I just tried it in my car. The manual knob directly controls the MFD as well as all the other lights.

topsider

you are both right, the switch controls the brightness of the MFD but my MFD also adjusts automatically if set to max brightness. Isn't this thread about weather the needles, gauges etc are adaptive?

jlr82

The gauges are not auto adjusting (I think), I tried to say that in my first edit of the post but I didn't think it came out right and since I don't recall that much about how that worked in the loaners I drove I didn't want to make a fool of myself.