why red dash lights?

[CTBMW]

I'm guessing it's for night vision.
When did BMW start this? (History is always nice)
Comments-Pro/Con?
Also-and probably wrong site. Any Mods to light up interior like the 2000 has?
-Mel

 

[BigEarl325is]

BMW originally built engines for air planes. Every air plane is built with orange glowing dash lights. Hence why BMW used it. I love it personally, I hate American car's green and white ugliness. But I am fond of VW's blue.

 

[Big Daddy]

The major reason is for night driving as you suspected. It is easier on the eyes. They have done it in cars at least since 84, my 733i had red lighting.

 

[andreyiv]

BMW originally built engines for air planes. Every air plane is built with orange glowing dash lights. Hence why BMW used it. I love it personally, I hate American car's green and white ugliness. But I am fond of VW's blue.

WOW, I had no idea.
I also hate the white and green lights except for the ones where only the digits glow and not absolutely everything.

 

[epj3]

Red is not a color that will not distract you like yellow, but its easier to see than blue/green/etc.

 

[Pink_Floyd]

I think the amber colour BMW uses is the best colour I have ever seen for a car's dash and interior. It just has such a beautiful glow that is unique to BMW. Both my parents Asian and American cars use the indiglo-style green which I can't stand. Looks like one big watch face. I must say that I'm not too crazy about the blue, but I do like it better than the Green. Even the bright cherry red I don't really like. I don't think you can beat Amber.

 

[carcus]

Kinda off topic....but Pontiac uses red lights for the interior as well. I like the red lights of the BMW.....just does not really match my Kenwood deck. Wish my head unit would match.....but happy with the MP3 player. Just blithering.

 

[BigEarl325is]

yeah, my whole shpeal there about the airplanes is just suspect. I know airplanes use orange, every cockpit I've ever been in has orange (only like 3 or 4) and since I knew BMW was into planes I just kinda put 2 and 2 together.

 

[CTBMW]

Thanks for info.
Any ideas on a modification to get the interior lights above mirror like the E46? It is a very nice touch!!!
-M

 

[Wadula]

i saw that once. the guy just bought a E46 light module and installed with the necessary modifications.

another plan i have in mind to do something similar, is to buy the two LEDs that dip the center console in the light amber glow, drill two holes in the existing light module and install them there. that way i stay with my original interiour lights but get that nice look, too.

 

[Kenny2g]

it's different. I love them. However, pontiac sunfires now got the red. That pisses me the Fuc* off. you know the rest.

 

[xLibelle]

i agree, the green hurts the eyes, amber is easy to see.

 

[drako]

BMW originally built engines for air planes. Every air plane is built with orange glowing dash lights. Hence why BMW used it. I love it personally, I hate American car's green and white ugliness. But I am fond of VW's blue.

<<<~~~~ i have the Blue reverse gauges lik the VW in my BMW check them out om my page

http://www.cardomain.com/member_pages/view_page.pl?page_id=430245

 

[carcus]

I like the car except for the wing....

Gauges look nice but I kinda like the stock red glow....just something I remember from my 316i I had in Italy. Nice exhaust look.

 

[CTBMW]

It looks like the lights near the mirror are in a seperate panel- haven't pulled it down to look inside, wonder if you can "cob up " a newer models lighting?

 

[jcblaschke]

A little bit of info on the BMW relation to planes, that's where the blue and white BMW logo came from, it represents airplane proplellors.