Dimming The Driver Information Display

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Andrew-W
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:21 pm

Post by Andrew-W »

Hi Everyone. When I drive at night I find the light given off by the Centre Display and Driver Information Display far too bright - I find the intense light causes poor road vision. I can turn off the Centre Display which help a lot. However I haven't discovered a way to dim the Driver Information Display (DID). Is there a way to dim the DID? The headlights come on automatically in dim exterior light ... I would have thought it easy to automatically dim the DID in the same conditions. Maybe I am missing a setting somewhere? I am hoping there is a simple solution to this problem. [apologies if this has been the subject of an earlier post]

StephenA
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2024 7:57 pm

Post by StephenA »

Good morning Andrew

You can adjust the brightness of the screens, including the setting of night time light levels, from within the central screen. I'm not near my car at present, so can't just be certain where, but you could look at the System settings (there might be a Comfort settings tab), or look for a Display settings tab somewhere in General. The online handbook, available via the app, might give you some clearer guidance.
Andrew-W
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:21 pm

Post by Andrew-W »

Thanks StephenA. I will take a look tomorrow in the comfort settings. I did have a good search in the user manual a few days ago but couldn't spot anything helpful. I live in a rural location - there are no streetlights in the area and the roads are very dark at night and I find the glare from the Driver Information Display quite distracting (might be an age thing, insert sad emoji here)! As an interim measure I have sadly taken to covering the DID with a tea towel at night.
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Milligoon
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2023 5:52 pm
Location: Dorset

Post by Milligoon »

I take it that at night it does switch to the darker night time colour scheme?
Andrew-W
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:21 pm

Post by Andrew-W »

Hi Milligoon: No it doesn't. Both screens stay at exactly the same intensity and colour daytime and night time. I don't know what setting I have inadvertently changed (?) however something doesn't seem correct and I am having trouble solving this problem. Normally (as in with the ICE Volvo I owned prior to my Smart #1) when headlights come on the screen intensity is dimmed. With a Smart #1 I would have thought that when the light sensor automatically switches on the headlights due to low exterior light intensity it would simultaneously dim (or somehow reduce the intensity of the screens with a darker night time colour screen) the interior screens. It doesn't happen in mine ... what happens in yours? If I am unable to solve the problem with this Forum I will contact Smart.
Andrew-W
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:21 pm

Post by Andrew-W »

Breakthrough! I found this on Page 149 of the Smart #1 User Manual referring to the Central Display "General" function selection:

"Display. Day/night mode: tap Auto Brightness, Day, or Night to select the day/night mode. Instrument and key backlight: drag the display bar to adjust the brightness of instruments and key backlight"

I gave it a go tonight - Night mode does the trick. Although I don't understand why Auto Brightness doesn't automatically select Day or Night mode depending on exterior light intensity (it didn't seem to work for me).
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Milligoon
Posts: 97
Joined: Sat Dec 02, 2023 5:52 pm
Location: Dorset

Post by Milligoon »

I'd imagine that somehow those settings must have gotten set in your profile, have you had any trouble with over the air updates?

Mine switches automatically between the 2 modes.
Andrew-W
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:21 pm

Post by Andrew-W »

Apologies for my slow reply, I haven't looked at the forum for a few days.

Thanks again Milligoon. I don't think I have had any problems with updates ... but I need to become a bit more aware of updates in terms of ensuring they are effectively installed.

Something is definitely not quite correct with my car with respect to dimming the screens. I have to manually switch between day and night screen modes, it does not happen automatically based on exterior light intensity (even when I select the automatic option). In my mind it would be reasonable to expect the screens to automatically dim when the headlights automatically come on.
StephenA
Posts: 65
Joined: Fri Jan 12, 2024 7:57 pm

Post by StephenA »

PXL_20240920_094920964.jpg

This is what my settings look like and my displays change to night mode automatically. I suspect that this is through a different sensor to that used by the auto headlights.
Andrew-W
Posts: 10
Joined: Mon Apr 22, 2024 8:21 pm

Post by Andrew-W »

Thanks for the image - that's exactly what I see too. However when I select "Automatic" the day / night changeover doesn't happen in practice. I have double checked my software and I definitely have the most up - to - date version installed. I can only conclude the sensor is faulty so I will need to follow up as a warranty claim with Smart. Thanks to you and other commentators.
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