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Full black panel display

9K views 31 replies 15 participants last post by  CSJH 
#1 ·
Many of you seem to have this option but I'm trying to keep my options under control due to initial cost and no residual value.

So is it worth it and what does it do?

(About to order 116i m sport)
 
#2 ·
I've ordered it on mine - it comes with the advanced Nav and is required on some options such as speed limit display.

Essentially it turns the bottom 3rd of the cluster to a full colour LCD display to give additional information for mode etc. On the M135i it says M Performance when you switch on which is enough for me :p not sure about what it says on other models.
 
#3 ·
YES YES YES

it's worth every penny mate.

It digitizes half of the dash pod with full colour graphics.
Doesn't sound like much, but considering The Rev Counter / Speedometer is something that's always being looked at whilst driving, think you would regret not getting it if you saw one with.
 
#9 ·
I had a good look at a car fitted with black panel display and a car without before I ordered as was sceptical about the benefit of this option, needless to say the black panel display does look much better IMO.
The standard display just looked a little bit boring and not unlike my E46, where as the black panel display turns the whole bottom section of the instrument cluster into an LCD screen. I didn't even see any nav elements displayed there when I looked, so the comment about only being of benefit if you spec Nav is debatable.
 
#11 ·
Some pictures (not the best sorry!)







What you can't see really, is that the whole bottom right dash is all LED like a phone screen, specifically to put images on for your Sat Nav. It also shows track choices and scroll function for music.

The dials glow white on standard dash too - Black Panel they are M orange :)
 
#12 ·
Thanks for the pictures.

Does anyone have a side by side picture of a car with and without the black panel? As this will be my first beemer I don't know what they look like as standard inside. Both cars we drove had similar to the above although with disposing the nav instructions.

I know its only a £125 option but if I don't need it then I won't bother however I don't want to get the car and be kicking myself for missing it out.

Thanks again
Mark
 
#13 ·
It would basically look like the middle section of the bottom picture, and not much else.
Everything will be analogue in or around the dials.

It's what i had on my E90, maybe even my E46 too, so quite old skool.

Black Panel is just SO much nicer to look at than the old display. So much more modern, and bloody useful too.
Worth noting that when you change driving modes to ECO, the part under the rev counter changes to blue.

Just tell your dealer you'll order here and now if he throws it in - he/she probably will
 
#14 ·
I have black panel on my car however, I have had a loan car without. If you do not have Nav the standard display can do everything that the black panel can except give you the eco pro readout below the rev counter.

The standard display as per the black panel changes from white during the day to orange at night.

You can also access music / radio / phone information on the standard display as per the black panel.

THe black panel makes the dash a little more interesting. however, if you do not have Nav it has little useful further functionality over the standard display which is still colour.
 
#15 ·
#21 ·
Just me or does the central display in the standard version not give more information, and with better colour differentiation? Central display in the full panel looks more like my E87. Could somebody post a pic of the uk version of the standard panel, at night?
 
#22 ·
lukas said:
Just me or does the central display in the standard version not give more information, and with better colour differentiation? Central display in the full panel looks more like my E87. Could somebody post a pic of the uk version of the standard panel, at night?
It has got more information in the middle display, because the Eco Pro information on ours sits on the right in the MPG gauge - that is blue LED on black panel. We also have the 'gear shift monitor' arrows disabled, (pictured on the std screen as the arrows) again these are different to the Std screen on black panel..
 
#25 ·
Completely agree on the back panel, makes a lot of difference visually.

Quick question. Is there a button on the steering wheel to change tracks up / down (not the scroller which lets you select a track). I usually have my ipod on random and if I want to skip a track or go to the next one I have to use the iDrive controller or the buttons below the cd drive.
 
#26 ·
UAEBMW said:
Completely agree on the back panel, makes a lot of difference visually.

Quick question. Is there a button on the steering wheel to change tracks up / down (not the scroller which lets you select a track). I usually have my ipod on random and if I want to skip a track or go to the next one I have to use the iDrive controller or the buttons below the cd drive.
Not that I've found. It's just the scroller wheel that you've mentioned. If anyone can tell us any different I'd be quite happy!
 
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