[jmg]

EDIT 01/12/2023 - ID7 has been updated and I believe this method is outdated. I will update as soon as my IDrive has updated and I can test this again.


I thought I would post my method for coding ambient lighting since a lot of these instructions are spread out over the bimmercode thread. Here it is, all of it in once place, my step by step instructions. Please, if you find any discrepancies, let me know and I will update it.


You can use expert mode in bimmercode to code any hexadecimal color, almost 16777216 different colors.

What is described in this thread is changing the colors that will display in the three sectors of the interior when you select a color in the iDrive menu. These three sectors are:
1. DOOR and DASH
2. FOOTWELL
3. MAP LIGHT

I've done it to my G82, but it's the same process in pretty much all the G-series BMWs.

Disclaimer: Do this at your own risk. While changing colors will not likely brick your car, if you poke around enough and don't follow these directions, you might change something inadvertently with unforeseen consequences.

I HIGHLY recommend getting a ENET cable for any EXPERT coding simply because it's FASTER and more stable. Trust me, the cable is 10 times faster than any OBDII wifi or bluetooth dongle. I got mine here and it works perfectly. You just need a ethernet to lightning adapter for the iPhone or whatever smartphone you are using.


Here's how to do it.

In bimmercode:
Go into expert mode
Select BDC_BODY3 ECU
Select 360A/LIC_LCI_COLOR_LIBRARY_DATA
Select 360D/LIC_LCI_COLOR_PROFILES_DATA
Then choose G20G21G26G28G80_Lichpacket_code1 - this is your car, the G20, G21, G26, G28, and G80 generations)

Then you need to find the 9 bites by number that represent the menu item you want to choose. Here are the BRONZE bites:

Bronze bytes:
18,19,20 - (These three represent the color in the DOORS and DASH)
23,24,25 - (These three represent the color in the FOOTWELL)
28,29,30 - (These three represent the color in the MAP LIGHT)

For instance, let's say you want your ambient lighting to be RED instead of BRONZE when you select BRONZE in the menu. Replace these bites with the hexadecimal color code for RED. You can look up the codes here.

The hexadecimal code for RED is #FF 00 00

IMPORTANT: there is a bug that the system does not code any FF correctly. Instead use, FE, which is only one value off true full RGB red. It's close enough and you can't tell with the naked eye. So, for any hexadecimal color that uses FF, always replace it with FE! If you use FF at all, the MAP LIGHT will not work. Nothing serious, and the fix easy–just recode, but save yourself the headache and never use FF.

So the RED code we will use instead of FF 00 00 is FE 00 00

You need to change the 1st set of bites - 18, 19, and 20 to make the DOORS AND DASH red like this:
Go to the 18 bite and replace it with FE
Then the 19 bite and replace it with 00
Then the 20 bite and replace it with 00

Do the same with the 2nd set - 23,24,25 to replace the FOOTWELL light

Then the 3rd set - 28,29,30 to replace the MAP LIGHT

You can use different hexadecimal color codes to put whatever color you want in each set. So you can have a different color for the DOOR AND DASH, the FOOTWELL, and the MAP LIGHT.

You can do this to all the menu color options:

Lilac bytes:
78,79, 80
83,84,85
88,89,90

Blue bytes:
48,49,50
53,54,55
58,59,60

White bytes
3,4,5,
8,9,10,
13,14,15

Orange
33, 34, 35
38, 39, 40
43, 44, 45

Green bytes
63, 64, 65
68, 69, 70
73, 74, 75

IMPORTANT: You have to code all of your menu items at once. If you go back to change or add anything, all the other menu color options go back to default.

So, once you change all your bites and you are ready to code:
Hit BACK
Hit BACK again and the CODE option should appear.
Hit CODE

I've coded my BRONZE to be pure RED, which is nice against my Fiona Red interior. I've also changed my BLUE to a CYAN color, and my LILAC to a CYAN and PURPLE combination.



Please excuse the poor quality iPhone night photos:

[jmg]

Reserving this spot for updates.

[nearwater4me]

Thank you very much for putting this together.

I think I read somewhere that the ethernet to lightning adapter is NOT just plug and play... that you have to setup the phone to recogize it as an ethernet communication. Is this true?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

Thank you very much for putting this together.

I think I read somewhere that the ethernet to lightning adapter is NOT just plug and play... that you have to setup the phone to recogize it as an ethernet communication. Is this true?

Yes. Once you plug it in you just go to settings. It takes a few seconds.

[beachBmmr]

Ill add in to this. If you want to do two color and mix the door colors, recode white to something else. In my car its green to give me "The Joker" interior combo with lilac and white(green).

I also recoded lilac a darker purple.

[nearwater4me]

Originally Posted by jmg

Yes. Once you plug it in you just go to settings. It takes a few seconds.

I appreciate the feedback. So it recognizes itself, or do I have to change certain settings?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by nearwater4me

I appreciate the feedback. So it recognizes itself, or do I have to change certain settings?

I honestly don't remember because it was so easy and a non-issue. You do have to change an isolated setting that doesn't affect anything else other than the connection itself.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by beachBmmr

Ill add in to this. If you want to do two color and mix the door colors, recode white to something else. In my car its green to give me "The Joker" interior combo with lilac and white(green).

I also recoded lilac a darker purple.

Yeh that's a good tip! IIRC whatever you change white to will be universal. So if you turn white into green, selecting the Blue and White menoption will give your green and blue or whatever you coded blue to. Basically, all white assignments will now be green for all menu color selections.

[beachBmmr]

Originally Posted by jmg

Yeh that's a good tip! IIRC whatever you change white to will be universal. So if you turn white into green, selecting the Blue and White menoption will give your green and blue or whatever you coded blue to. Basically, all white assignments will now be green for all menu color selections.

Yep, you got it

https://www.instagram.com/reel/CYPM3...d=YmMyMTA2M2Y=

[playswcars]

Keep in mind the early cars (such as mine) don't have a color-changing LED in the center cubby hole in front of the shifter. There's just an amber LED off a base G20.+

[MMM.PWR]

This is a great guide. Last night I changed the map light to a purple color and it wouldn't turn on unless I selected bronze from the menu. So for now I am using one of the defaults. Could this be similar to the issue the red with FF?

now that I look at the color I was using, it was 7C00FF, I should have used 7C00FE huh?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by MMM.PWR

This is a great guide. Last night I changed the map light to a purple color and it wouldn't turn on unless I selected bronze from the menu. So for now I am using one of the defaults. Could this be similar to the issue the red with FF?

now that I look at the color I was using, it was 7C00FF, I should have used 7C00FE huh?

Yes use FE instead of FF

[LivinLrge]

Followed the guide, worked great..
Went with all red to match the red interior. Ty for the write up!

[Alvinggg]

When I went into expert mode, I did found the two options in 360A and 360D.
However it only allow me to choose different options such as G20G20…..code1, but I couldn’t make any changes to them. All I can do it choose or setup a custom value.
When I choose custom value, it ask me to set up to around 110 different values🤣
What it my problem…..

[LivinLrge]

Has anyone replaced the front cubby hole led? Kind of a sore spot being white on my g82...wish it was red to match the rest of the interior.

[jmg]

Originally Posted by Alvinggg

When I choose custom value, it ask me to set up to around 110 different values��
What it my problem…..

The bytes you have to change are among those 110 values. Each menu item in iDrive is assigned 3 sets of 3 bytes to tell the system what color to display.

In the case of changing what colors show up when you choose BRONZE in iDrive, you have to change the values at these numbered bytes:

18,19,20 - (These three represent the color in the DOORS and DASH)
23,24,25 - (These three represent the color in the FOOTWELL)
28,29,30 - (These three represent the color in the MAP LIGHT)

[backslashv]

For some reason, I don't see G20G21G26G28G80_Lichpacket_code1 in the list.

• 360A/LIC_LCI_COLOR_LIBRARY_DATA:

  View post on imgur.com

• 360D/LIC_LCI_COLOR_PROFILES_DATA:

  View post on imgur.com

Any ideas which ones from these I need to modify?

[jmg]

Originally Posted by backslashv

For some reason, I don't see G20G21G26G28G80_Lichpacket_code1 in the list.

• 360A/LIC_LCI_COLOR_LIBRARY_DATA:

  View post on imgur.com

• 360D/LIC_LCI_COLOR_PROFILES_DATA:

  View post on imgur.com

Any ideas which ones from these I need to modify?

I don't have my car right now to double check, but I'll let you know when I do!

[backslashv]

Originally Posted by jmg

I don't have my car right now to double check, but I'll let you know when I do!

Apparently, the settings are changed in update 07/2022.40 which is what I'm on. BimmerCode needs to be updated to support this version.

[nottoday]

I like the ambient lighting but, I do not like footwell lighting. I wonder if there's a way you could cancel the footwell lighting?

[MMnut]

Originally Posted by nottoday

I like the ambient lighting but, I do not like footwell lighting. I wonder if there's a way you could cancel the footwell lighting?

Easy fix with black tape.

[MMnut]

Originally Posted by jmg

I thought I would post my method for coding ambient lighting since a lot of these instructions are spread out over the bimmercode thread. Here it is, all of it in once place, my step by step instructions. Please, if you find any discrepancies, let me know and I will update it.

You have done the different color the upper and lower sections. Now I would challenge you to do different color between driver side and passenger side !