How to Turn Off the Ambient Lighting in a BMW While Inside the Car?
3 Answers
First, press the unlock button on the BMW car key remote to open the door, then press the one-touch start button. Then, press the MENU button on the iDrive system. Next, rotate the knob to select the owner's vehicle and press the knob. Continue by selecting the vehicle settings for the BMW, then press the knob. Select the lighting options for the BMW, press the knob. Then choose the interior lighting for the BMW, press the knob. Continue by selecting ambient lighting, press the knob. Rotate the BMW's knob to select 'Off' and press the knob to complete the process.
When I used to drive a BMW, if I needed to turn off the ambient lighting in the car, I would immediately access the iDrive system. The specific steps were quite simple: first, sit properly and rotate the control knob on the center console to move the cursor to the settings icon on the screen. After clicking in, select vehicle settings, then go to the lighting section. There, you'll find the ambient lighting option—just slide to turn it off. Different driving modes like Comfort or Sport automatically adjust the lighting brightness, but manual control offers more flexibility. Personally, I turn off the lights during nighttime highway driving to reduce visual distractions and help maintain focus, which is particularly effective for long journeys. BMW's ambient lighting design is thoughtful, though sometimes having it too bright can drain the battery, so periodically checking the settings helps maintain a comfortable driving experience.
I've been using my BMW for several years, and turning off the ambient lighting is mainly done through the iDrive menu. After starting the car, press the button on the main console to enter the interface; scroll to the settings option and click on vehicle settings. Then look for the external/internal lighting section, where the ambient lighting is located—you can adjust the brightness or turn it off directly. The iDrive system has clear logic and not too many steps, so beginners can get the hang of it after a few tries. By the way, if the car is a newer model with iDrive 7 or 8, using the touchscreen might be quicker—just swipe to turn it off. Turning off the lights doesn’t affect other functions, like navigation or music, which continue to run normally—pretty convenient. I recommend exploring the vehicle settings more to save power and avoid distractions while driving.
