[OkinaDaikon]

Hey Everyone!

First post here and I was hoping I can get some help on an issue I am having after a month of driving my iX! Recently

I have been experiencing some rippling/distortion on the center console screen. The ripples span across the entire screen and starts at the bottom toward the top. I brought my vehicle into service at my dealership but they could not reproduce the issue either and deemed it as a non-issue. Prior to the service, I shared many videos and instances that it is occurring and they told me that there are not any visible error codes appearing.

I also have not been able recreate the issue consistently, but the issue occurs consistently enough to be noticeably annoying. For reference the videos are here in my google drive:
Center Console Screen Issue - Google Drive

As a note: the visual effects you may see in the videos are not a result of any camera shutter speeds not matching the screen's refresh rate and are visible to the naked eye!

Please if anyone has been experiencing the same thing or has any insights, I would really appreciate your input!

Thanks in advance!

 

[realyc]

I have no idea what it could be, and I don't have my iX yet, but just trying to help:

I asked ChatGPT: "What problems could cause an LCD screen to show a rippling effect that goes from bottom to top, to the naked eye, as if looking through a camera whose shutter speed does not match the refresh rate?"

ChatGPT says:

The rippling effect on an LCD screen that goes from bottom to top could be caused by a few different problems, such as:

1. Interference: Electrical interference from other devices or power sources can cause disruptions in the signal sent to the LCD screen, leading to the rippling effect.
2. Overheating: If the LCD screen or its components become too hot, it can cause distortion in the display. Overheating can be caused by a faulty cooling system or excessive use of the device.
3. Connection issues: Loose or faulty cables connecting the LCD screen to the device can cause signal disruptions and result in display issues like the rippling effect.
4. Damaged components: Physical damage to the LCD screen or its components, such as the video card or motherboard, can cause display problems.
5. Outdated drivers: If the drivers that control the LCD screen's operation are outdated or malfunctioning, it can cause display problems like the rippling effect.
6. Refresh rate: If the refresh rate of the LCD screen is not set correctly or is incompatible with the device, it can cause visual disturbances like the rippling effect.

It is important to identify the root cause of the issue to determine the best course of action to fix it. If the problem persists, it may be necessary to consult a professional for repair or replacement.

Sounds to me like 1 or 3 are somewhat plausible... did the dealership try to check the cables?

 

[NomoTesla]

All iDrive 8 displays do this. I confirmed with other vehicles (new 7 Series) in the dealership. The rippling effect, which looks like old-style TV roll bars moving from bottom to top and affects both screens equally, only appears when the screen brightness is at a certain level. For example, in my garage, I can see it quite easily. When the car is outside, the screens get brighter and the artifact disappears. I am postulating that low screen brightness may be causing this. This could also gel with why service could not reproduce the issue.

If they do finally recognize it and a solution is found, please be kind enough to post a followup. Thanks!

 

[OkinaDaikon]

All iDrive 8 displays do this. I confirmed with other vehicles (new 7 Series) in the dealership. The rippling effect, which looks like old-style TV roll bars moving from bottom to top and affects both screens equally, only appears when the screen brightness is at a certain level. For example, in my garage, I can see it quite easily. When the car is outside, the screens get brighter and the artifact disappears. I am postulating that low screen brightness may be causing this. This could also gel with why service could not reproduce the issue.

If they do finally recognize it and a solution is found, please be kind enough to post a followup. Thanks!

Thanks for the reply!

It's unforuntante to hear that this is an issue thats more widespread than I thought. I believe the iX has brightness options in the car settings. I will try to fiddle with the settings later today to see if i'm able to reproduce it consistently. If it can be confirmed that brightness is the issue and the dealerships won't/can't fix it, at the very least we have a work around.

I'll circle back with my findings and when I hear back from BMW service.

 

[OkinaDaikon]

Just wanted to circle back here, I was unable to reproduce the screen issue after fiddling with the brightness settings. I found that my settings already had bightness at max and lowering it did not make the ripples go away. Similiarily, I could not make ripples appear with these settings either.

 

[Asad]

I have seen this on mine. It's intermittent, and not related to ambient light.

 

[NomoTesla]

I don't see it after STARTing the car and driving around. When I get back home and STOP the car, the screen goes into a dimmer mode and that's when I can see it.

 

[Asad]

For me it's visible before pressing the stop button.

 

[OkinaDaikon]

i'm trying to raise awareness and see how many others are having the same issue.

After posting about it, I didn't see the issue for about a week. It happened again yesterday and I've been seeing it everyday now, even when I just start the car. Turning off and on the car and holding the volume button to reset the media console doesn't reset it. But I do want to note that the issue came back the day after I charged the vehicle. I'll see if that is a contributing factor the next time the issue resolves itself.

 

[Asad]

With it being cloudy the last few days, i figure this has something to do with brightness settings and will only be visible on "intermediate" brightness levels. It must be something to do with the way the panel is dimmed.

It only effects my centre screen, not my speedo screen though.

 

[NomoTesla]

With it being cloudy the last few days, i figure this has something to do with brightness settings and will only be visible on "intermediate" brightness levels. It must be something to do with the way the panel is dimmed.

It only effects my centre screen, not my speedo screen though.

It's both screens, you have to look really close at the speedo because there is a lot of black. If you want to induce it even more, hit the parking button and sometimes the strobing goes a little wild on the camera feed.

 

[Asad]

Hmm, I double checked, and for me this only affects the centre screen...and is there constantly now.

 

[OkinaDaikon]

I'm also only seeing the issue on the centre screen.

@NomoTesla Are you able to consistently recreate the issue? I'm still unable too, the issue still just happend sporadically.

if you're able to reproduce it consistently, would it be possible to record a video or provide a write up of the steps?

Thanks!