Ceramic iDrive controller LEDs

[NPickles]

Originally Posted by NPickles

I don't have the ceramic controls in mine and it doesn't light up as you describe.
Was the courtesy an F15 or something else, maybe it didn't have the touchpad on top of the iDrive control which makes the difference?

I take it all back, mine does light up when the exterior lights are on, I just never noticed it before. Mine is non ceramic and has the touchpad on top.

[NPickles]

Originally Posted by hyde

Now find a way to turn it off so others can follow it in reverse order.
Is it possible different ambient light causes it to turn off? Like Blue?

I have the blue interior ambient lighting and get the orange light on the iDrive control.

[hyde]

The 50i that I test drove today was 2014 and had ceramic controls. I turned on the headlamps and I couldn't see the orange ring light up on it either. I did hate how super sensitive the ceramic controls were, though.. I couldn't use center to push the button after I adjusted settings, I had to hold the ring and push it down.

[Kzang]

So what is the verdict on this.. why do some non ceramic controls don't light up and some do?

[wwanthony]

2015 x35i, xline, no ceramics. I have the LED ring ....

[Vino4u]

I was told by the salesman that if you have ceramic controls you do not get the lighted iDrive controls.

[Taran.J]

Originally Posted by Vino4u

I was told by the salesman that if you have ceramic controls you do not get the lighted iDrive controls.

In my 750li I had the ceramic controls and as much as they get used they tend to look beat up upon after daily use and do not have the leds which are cool for the night

That's why I didn't opt for them in my F15 this time around

[Ashot12]

My ceramic control does not light .

[ergoyo]

Reviving an old thread. Anyone with a ceramic idrive controller which either lights up the orange ring at the top or lights up the 4 arrows?

[RED_Y_]

I was under impression that ceramic once do not lit up, period, it was only for regular controllers?

[TommyC123]

My 2017 530i xDrive has ceramic control and it doesn't light up.

[XxBBVTMxX]

Originally Posted by ramsal

I recently drove a courtesy BMW with non-ceramic iDrive controller and noticed that the top of the knob has an LED outline which lights up nicely at night. Once I got in my own vehicle I noticed that my knob does not seem to have this and I'm wondering if the light is not working or just not there with these ceramic variants. Just to be clear i'm not talking about the lighting which outlines the knob at the base but a circular light on top of the knob.

Same here, no ring. 2014 F15 M Sport with Ceramic Controls. No light.

[1230vani]

Originally Posted by ergoyo

Reviving an old thread. Anyone with a ceramic idrive controller which either lights up the orange ring at the top or lights up the 4 arrows?

I had a 2014 ceramic - dont light up
Have 2017 cermaic - dont light up, in addition B&O door speakers (not tweeters) dont light up for 2017 and no lights behind front seats.

[sdthex]

I have a 205 non ceramic - it lights up.

[-c-]

Because of the way the parts are tooled the ceramic parts are different than that of the thin plastic parts they replaced, they do not have the led light function.

Your car is normal.

[-c-]

Because of the way the parts are tooled the ceramic parts are different than that of the thin plastic parts they replaced, they do not have the led light function.

Your car is normal.

[maDjzo]

Appears the ceramic iDrive is lacking LEDs and lighting array, present here on plastic iDrive module.

[OC11PUC]

Sorry a bit offtopic- I just got a slightly newer F16- 2018, which has every option i wanted apart of ceramic controls.
I have ceramic on my old F16, which is 2014.
Did someone had any experience swapping iDrive, Gearshift and climate control modules?
Are they compatible or need coding?
The multimedia is Professional on both.
Would appreciate any advise as cannot find any info on web.
Thanks

[RED_Y_]

If I remember correctly it should be direct swap, but some users reported issues with shifter, need to search forum, pretty sure it was a thread on this.

Here:
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1589526
But it looks like people buying shifter off Ebay, so probably plug&play no coding needed.
UPD:
Yes, plug&play:
https://f15.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1799943

[OC11PUC]

Thank you RED_Y_, very helpful.