I have a '03 M3 (May 2003 build) with SMG II. I've noticed that sometimes after taking her to redline my dash lights for the odometer area and the gear indicator area get really dim, and after a short while (like a couple seconds), they start to brighten up again. It doesn't happen all the time... it's sporadic.

Anyone else experience this? Should I have the dealership take a look?

Thanks,
Jason

I've never seen that, if it continues take it in and have it diagnosed.

My guess its due to extreme temperature fluxuation.

Temperature fluctuation of what?

I have a '03 M3 (May 2003 build) with SMG II. I've noticed that sometimes after taking her to redline my dash lights for the odometer area and the gear indicator area get really dim, and after a short while (like a couple seconds), they start to brighten up again. It doesn't happen all the time... it's sporadic.

Anyone else experience this? Should I have the dealership take a look?

Thanks,
Jason

The same thing happened to one of my friends/clients that has SMG II also, just take it to your dealer and it can be fixed in less than half an hour. You have a german car, electrical problems are as common as flies on shit.

Ok, thanks all! Taking her to the dealership on Thursday.

Ok, so I dropped the car off on Thursday morning at 7:45 am. By 1:30 they were still trying to figure out the cause of my problem. By 5pm they still don't know what's wrong. They tell me they've tried everything, e.g. check the alternator, check the battery, check the charging unit, road test, etc. All seems to be in working order. They don't see any fault codes, so they decide they must reflash my ECU and replace the charging unit. This means they've got to keep the car overnight. I figure what the heck, everything is covered under warranty anyway. All the BMW loaners are out, so they stick me in a Chevy Malibu rental (no biggie cuz I floored that thing to redline every chance I had! LOL!!)

Anyway, I got my car back around noon today. They say they haven't been able to recreate the problem and that I'm to monitor it.

Well, now my car feels like it's on steroids!! :eek: I mean the thing drives likes sport mode is always on. Throttle response is amazing! Either the flashing of the ECU gave me some added power, or I just got used to driving that frickin' slow a$$ Malibu and now my M feels even faster! LOL!!

Anyway, just wanted to share my experience. I hope my original problem doesn't resurface. :confused:

They probably cleared the adaptation values as well..
So, drive it hard so that the car adapts upward versus downward during the break in period.

Haha yeah if they cleared adaptation and then did some road testing to find a problem that you described occurs after you take the car to redline, it's safe to assume they drove it to redline enough the car probably thinks that's the way you want it to drive :D

jrlvwjet: i've just noticed that i have that problem, too. i wasn't even at the redline but was close; and mine's is an smg as well. so which dealership did you go? i go to peterpan and they always go "no problem found" blah blah...maybe i can try yours. thanks!

Paul, I take my car to Concord BMW. Let me know how it goes. Good luck!

this just happened to me today for the first time... 2003 m3 smg but i wasent even close to red line? Bope i flicked the lights on and off and it came back to normal. My dealer told me its the shift lights in the cluster the get wierd..?