What is the reason for the sudden disappearance of the BMW X5 head-up display?
2 Answers
BMW X5 head-up display suddenly disappears due to sensor line problems. Replacing the sensor can solve the problem. The role of the head-up display: The head-up display can project important information onto the holographic half-mirror on the windshield, allowing the driver to see important information without lowering their head. Application of the head-up display: The HUD head-up display is also known as a flat-panel display. It is widely used in military aircraft as a flight aid. As the name suggests, "flat-panel"—through the principle of optical reflection, important information is projected onto the glass, eliminating the need for the driver to lower their head to observe. The head-up display originated from the optical sight of fighter jets, first appearing in World War I and becoming widely used by World War II.
Last year, while driving my BMW X5, I also encountered the issue of the HUD suddenly disappearing. After struggling for a while, I realized it was a bug caused by the system software update, which made it stop working. Upon further inspection, I found that if the in-car settings were switched to power-saving mode or turned off, it could also easily trigger the issue by mistake. I usually rely on the HUD for navigation and speed display while driving, so it felt really inconvenient when it disappeared, especially on the highway—it was quite alarming. My suggestion is to pull over immediately and check the user manual or restart the vehicle's system, trying a button combination reset. If that doesn’t work, it might be a hardware issue, such as loose wiring in the display unit, and it’s best to have it diagnosed at a professional shop rather than tinkering with it yourself to avoid damaging more components. Safety first—I later developed a habit of regularly checking for software updates, which helped prevent the problem from recurring.
