Bright lights, bright lights!
 

Can anyone explain how the instrument illumination works on a D2?

At night with the lights on everything is fine, it lights up a treat. During the day everything is visible too - no problems with the multi-function display being dim etc.

However, sometimes during daylight driving I notice the dials & dash have the backlights on yet other times they don't. Is there some sort of auto-sensor for ambient light, or could it simply be a loose connection?

It's designed to do that on FL D2's, I think as a reminder to turn the lights on. Hate it. :mad:
After nearly 50 years of driving I don't need nagging when to turn my bloody lights on! :angry2:

I guess there's an option to disable the function somehow but I've never thought to find out when I'm in "VCDS Mode" - always something more important to do. :tuttut:

I thought mine was faulty, as there never seems to be any consistency as to when the lights are on or off. As with Phil303, they work fine at night. Is this like the auto lights switch for the main lights on some cars, where they would come on if you drove into a tunnel or under a line of trees?

D3 does the same.. when it gets darker outside, the lights dim.

That's what I thought but I intentionally kept an eye on them when driving through the Dartford tunnel on Sunday and they stayed unlit. I can't work out what triggers them on and off.

I still reckon mine are dodgy (well, the entire cluster). The computer shows average mpg of 200 (I wish!), and has intermittent connection with the nav unit. My cluster lights can go on and off literally seconds apart, with no reasonable outside (light) influence. Will keep an eye here anyway, to see your outcome.