[DrGP]

Just did a mod to fix it today. Got a piece of overhead projector transparency and cut it to size. Stays in place by static attraction. Cost: FREE. My daughter brought me a piece from her school. (She's a teacher). The real question is why did I have to do it in the first place. This should never have been designed in this manner . Additonally, it should have been fixed in March 07 production changes and with the 08 models. So much for German engineering on this issue. Fixed by American ingenuity.

[Bimmer335i07]

I have no problems with mine. I can see perfectly fine with my polarized sunglases on the Nav and on the radio display.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by DrGP

Just did a mod to fix it today. Got a piece of overhead projector transparency and cut it to size. Stays in place by static attraction. Cost: FREE. My daughter brought me a piece from her school. (She's a teacher). The real question is why did I have to do it in the first place. This should never have been designed in this manner . Additonally, it should have been fixed in March 07 production changes and with the 08 models. So much for German engineering on this issue. Fixed by American ingenuity.

Haha! That's funny because I thought I was the only one that noticed this.
If you lean towards the center console then you'll be able to see.
It's weird because i can see the temperature display fine but the radio looks dark.

EDIT

Wow. I just read your whole post and that's a great idea.
Overhead projector transparancy huh? where do you get something like that?
Staples?

[DrGP]

Originally Posted by Bimmer335i07

I have no problems with mine. I can see perfectly fine with my polarized sunglases on the Nav and on the radio display.

This is a well known problem. Is it possible that your glasses are not really polarized. I don't believe I have ever read any previous post that said they DID NOT have a problem with polarized glasses. Anyway, I fixed mine simply and economically. But it was a PIA.

[DrGP]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

Haha! That's funny because I thought I was the only one that noticed this.
If you lean towards the center console then you'll be able to see.
It's weird because i can see the temperature display fine but the radio looks dark.

EDIT

Wow. I just read your whole post and that's a great idea.
Overhead projector transparancy huh? where do you get something like that?
Staples?

Go to any office supply store or Kinkos. Unfortunately , you may need to buy WAY more than you need . If the store has a copy center, they may sell you one sheet, which is 10x more than you need.

[Mr. 5]

Originally Posted by DrGP

Go to any office supply store or Kinkos. Unfortunately , you may need to buy WAY more than you need . If the store has a copy center, they may sell you one sheet, which is 10x more than you need.

Please explain why this works. I'd love to learn.

[mrvuml]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

Please explain why this works. I'd love to learn.

Do you know the polarized sunglasses test of holding one pair facing the other? You can see through the lenses until you rotate one pair through 90 degrees. It sounds like the radio, etc. display in the BMW (and also in the Audi A3 & A4) is not horizontally polarized. You can probably see it just fine if you tilt your head to the side by up to 90 degrees.

[XS4]

That's correct, the trick is to find lenses that are polarized at the correct angle so as to not block the screen readings - then you will be able to see the display just fine without tilting your head. Some sunglasses are polarized vertically, some horizontally, and some at a 45 degree angle.

[DrGP]

Originally Posted by Mr. 5

Please explain why this works. I'd love to learn.

Apparently the film redirects the light and converts it to a non polarized form.

[MikeCCrutchfield]

Originally Posted by DrGP

Apparently the film redirects the light and converts it to a non polarized form.

Yeah, that would be my guess....diffraction can be a useful tool to combat polarization.