DIY: How to see your radio screen w/Polarized Sunglasses

[0002s]

OK..this not being able to see my screen when I was driving was driving me nuts. I would have to tilt my head left or right and that's dangerous. Why the Germans couldn't have thought this one through is beyond me. The other orange LED readouts are set to be read through Polarized sunglasses...just not the RADIO....:iono:

Here is my fix (I'm not the 1st to come up with this either)

get some of this. It's expensive in a box, but OFFICE MAX/STAPLES will sell it by the sheet. I suggest you get 3 sheets incase you screw up. Put on your sun glasses, turn the radio on and hold the film up to the radio. Turn until you can see the radio the best through the glasses. Mark the film with and up arrow for reference to lay your template on latter. Be careful with the film as it will scratch easily.



Then take a one of these and measure out the dimensions. You can also just cut a piece of paper until you get the proper fit to trace to the film. BMW has seen fit to not make this a perfect rectangle. The center is higher than the ends. You can be over a few hundredths of an inch because there is room for the film to slip behind the cover. I left my width "a few thousandths shorter so I could bend the film to drop in place.



Next draw a template on paper and cut with an X-Acto knife. Test fit (measure twice and cut once). Once you have the fit that's right you will need to trace the template on the film. They use a metal straight ruler to hold your line while you slice with a razor blade. I suggest you use a soft wood base you cut on. Make sure your film is lined with your reference mark up.

Test fit and cut again until perfect fit. Clean the film with some microfiber and fit it in place. It will not come out if fit right.

-ENJOY

[1er junkie]

I just got i-drive. It solved all my problems

[1er junkie]

Good DIY btw, I know I read alot of threads about this driving people crazy!!

[larryn]

Great! This is exactly what I did about a month ago. Great write up, and adding to the DIY Index post.

Thanks!

[0002s]

Originally Posted by larryn

Great! This is exactly what I did about a month ago. Great write up, and adding to the DIY Index post.

Thanks!

This drove me NUTS.....hope it helps others...:roundel:

[Buckeye]

Thanks - drivin me crazy too - I'm gonna try it.

[Jumpman]

Thanks for the DIY! I just did this and it worked great. I can SEE! :-)

[1Ronnie]

Another happy customer ... thanks !! The only problem is who has Overhead Transparencies any more ???

One other note for those considering this, the Transparency is very reflective, so you may get a different problem with sun in the wrong place, I especially noticed this when sitting in the passenger side (don't worry I was just trying it out for size !!)

[SV Concepts]

Very clever solution. Love to see guys innovating fearlessly, even on a new car

[BCieslak]

Thanks, 0002s. I did this over the weekend. So simple it's scary, so ridiculous that it needs a fix it's scary.

[mhx]

great! find, i just got my car monday and this wasnt something I noticed on my test drive as it was cloudy out. I wish they would of done what they did with the by the dash and speedo/tach.. It changes to a white color. BMW should of done this for the dam radio too.

[richmondmike]

I've driven BMWs for years, never even knew this could be done. THANK YOU

[DubSport]

Nice. I had this problem and my workaround to read the radio was to tilt my head sideways, then it was readible, but then I look like a rtard driving down the street. Your solution is much more graceful.

[richmondmike]

Finally did this to both our cars. Cost $1. Awesome.

[Itanius]

This scenario must depend on the sunglasses? I have 2 pairs of polarized sunglasses and can see the radio display just fine... until I tilt my head to the right.

[ChrisK]

Maui Jim sunglasses work fine. (all Maui Jim sunglasses are polarized)

[busyguy8]

Driving me nuts.. will try this!

[Nitroxide]

I did this when I first got my car about a year ago. Works great. Used the same measurement tool from work and left some room to slip under the plastic. Never moves, never falls out. Perfect.

[SiN55]

I can't see nothing with my ray bans but I don't care much.

[dbchun]

Originally Posted by ChrisK

Maui Jim sunglasses work fine. (all Maui Jim sunglasses are polarized)

can't read mine with my mauis on gotta try this out myself...

[KeithLM]

I've been dealing with mine ok for the past few years as I was typically able to peer underneath my glass frames if need by. However my newest sunglasses don't allow that, and this became a problem. I went to a CopyMax, which is attached to OfficeMax, and bought a single sheet of transparency film for $0.44. It took me a couple of attempts to get it right, but it seems to be working great. I'll try it out in the sun tomorrow to see if that changes anything. Thanks for the tips guys.

[Nathan_h]

Originally Posted by 1er junkie

I just got i-drive. It solved all my problems

Interesting. My dealer says it's not possible to upgrade from the professional head unit to the idrive system except as a factory option.

In any event, I did a slight variation of this mod, cutting out a piece of an iPad screen protector and slipping it in there. Great results.