Dim dials/instrument panel in daylight driving

[huntingbob]

I know I am getting on (my eyes are dim, I cannot see....) but are there any workarounds for the apparent fact that under normal driving conditions, I find it difficult to see the speedo. This is particularly bad in bright outside conditions. Then, I am normally wearing sunglasses, so that makes it worse. I tried looking for a way to turn on some back-lighting, unsuccessfully. I mentioned my problem to the local dealer (Doncaster BMW in Melbourne Australia), and they said that was the way it was, implying I would need to put up with it. The central screen is also not very bright. I have turned up the brightness to the max, but would like it brighter. Seems like I need to become a nocturnal driver with lights on, when there is a satisfactory illumination of relevant dials, screens etc. Am I the only one who has this issue?

[huntingbob]

After consulting with my next-door neighbour, who has had a 1-Series 125i Manual for three years, the answer is:
1. Run car with light switch on Running or Low beam NOT Auto. Then, it is possible to amp up the backlighting to maximum (at least it is adjustable).
2. Wear regular sunshades NOT polarising ones. That helps.

As the song goes: "Money for nothing, chicks for free".

[Rekraps]

Remember, certain shades of sunglasses cancel out similar colors...

[nachob]

Originally Posted by Rekraps

Remember, certain shades of sunglasses cancel out similar colors...

Yes, Polorized glasses obscure the digital menu. I keep a set of unpolarized Serengettis in the 1M but non polarized are hard to find. To add to the stupidity of it all BMW sells BMW sunglasses that are also polarized and would dim the display unless they actually tuned the slats to work with the digital display.