[TXDroneRacer]

These notes may be helpful for those of you wanting to adjust the Ambient Lighting colors for the 2021 M5.
If you choose to code your BMW, please be careful. I cannot assume responsibility for your result from using these notes / guide.

When I received my new M5C, I wanted to add red to the list of available Ambient Lighting colors, but to my dismay, red was not an option.
With the help of several threads on Bimmerpost, I found a way to add red to the Ambient Lighting options.

I purchased an OBDLink CX module from Amazon [~$35] and downloaded the BimmerCode app on my iPad.
Note that the BimmerCode app is free to install and use to read values. It is not free to “Code” [change] the values. I paid approximately $30 within the app to enable the “Code” button.
I recommend trying the free mode of the app first to make sure everything communicates with the vehicle control units. I purchased the full version after verifying that everything worked.

From what I have learned, the Ambient Lighting settings are adjusted in two sets of registers within the Body Domain Controller.
360A LicLciColorLibrary / LIC_LCI_COLOR_LIBRARY_DATA
360D LicLciColorProfiles / LIC_LCI_COLOR_PROFILES_DATA

The attached PDF contains notes and tables from what I have learned from others here on Bimmerpost.

• I have not figured out how to change the color of the LEDs illuminating the Bowers speakers.
• I also do not know how to change the “Color” labels shown on the iDrive menu.
• Please let me know if you have additional notes regarding Ambient Lighting for the M5.

Here is a related thread. It is for the X5. The thread has some additional information for those wanting to read more about the topic:
https://g05.bimmerpost.com/forums/sh....php?t=1738645

[///WeissBisBlau]

Cool, thanks! This is something I might actually do, at some point, although I would want to make absolute certain that I could get to a backup before I went too crazy with it! But yeah, this could be fun! Most of the stock colors I like, but I have no use for “Bronze” and “Orange”, so I would code those to something else—preferably if I could relabel them, as well. But nice work! Did you actually figure these steps out yourself, or did you find them somewhere? Also, are you in IT? Thank you for sharing!

[Belugs]

TXDroneRacer Do you know if this code will work on the M8?

[///WeissBisBlau]

Seeing as how this is basically the same car with different “skin”, I would say these same steps should work for each. The hex codes for color will definitely be the same for each, as these are sort of a universal “standard”.

On that note, here is a pretty cool site I found, where you can simply enter in any code to see what color it should be, and also look up some codes for various colors.

https://www.color-hex.com/

So for example, if you enter in FE0000 to the input box, you will wind up with a “pure” red in the example box over to the right. This way, you can put whatever color you want in. In reading through some previous posts, however, you can not change these “labels” for what the various colors are, in iDrive.

In addition to making sure there is a backup taken by BimmerCode before you do this, I would also suggest writing down the original color codes for each label in iDrive, so that you could also revert manually to the default, if necessary.

[TXDroneRacer]

Originally Posted by Belugs

TXDroneRacer Do you know if this code will work on the M8?

I don't know about the M8. I studied the X5 and M5 in detail. The order of bytes for those two are different, so I wouldn't be surprised if the M8 was different.

However, it is easy enough to identify the patterns. Perhaps the list I provided can help with M8 list of bytes.

[TXDroneRacer]

Originally Posted by ///WeissBisBlau

Cool, thanks! This is something I might actually do, at some point, although I would want to make absolute certain that I could get to a backup before I went too crazy with it! But yeah, this could be fun! Most of the stock colors I like, but I have no use for “Bronze” and “Orange”, so I would code those to something else—preferably if I could relabel them, as well. But nice work! Did you actually figure these steps out yourself, or did you find them somewhere? Also, are you in IT? Thank you for sharing!

Most of the information came from other posts here on the forum. I thought it would be helpful to organize a tutorial document. My son and I may organize a video this weekend.

I am not in IT, but I am an electrical engineer which probably explains my curiosity and willingness to mess around with the vehicle's control unit.

[Crumbs]

very nice

[adianaty]

At least the full version of BimmerCode makes this a bit easier. You can individually set the top and bottom leds to any color you like by selecting the bronze in Idrive and coding it to any color you like. I did mine blue on top and red on bottom.

[limeypride]

Originally Posted by adianaty

At least the full version of BimmerCode makes this a bit easier. You can individually set the top and bottom leds to any color you like by selecting the bronze in Idrive and coding it to any color you like. I did mine blue on top and red on bottom.

Hmmmphh. Copy cat.

[adianaty]

Originally Posted by limeypride

Hmmmphh. Copy cat.

I don't think I would consider this a copy cat move but instead a sign of genius don't you think 🤣

[limeypride]

Originally Posted by adianaty

I don't think I would consider this a copy cat move but instead a sign of genius don't you think 🤣

Ah hah. Indeed. Let's go with that!

[Aronis]

I found it easier to use photoshop.

Mike

[limeypride]

Originally Posted by Aronis

I found it easier to use photoshop.

Mike

[saurabbhatia]

Wonder if we can change the lci headlight color to match the new limit edition yellow

[M5 F90 (2018)]

Good to know this is and what I never understand is why if these options are available under coding, why don't BMW allow us to have these options from the outset!!!

[///WeissBisBlau]

Originally Posted by M5 F90 (2018)

Good to know this is and what I never understand is why if these options are available under coding, why don't BMW allow us to have these options from the outset!!!

Right. It would be super sweet if they would let you choose from a table, kind of like you can on a computer. At the very least, two or three “Custom” colors, that you can choose in this way.

[Moopai]

Does BimmerCode support these colours on 2016 750ix?

Originally Posted by adianaty

At least the full version of BimmerCode makes this a bit easier. You can individually set the top and bottom leds to any color you like by selecting the bronze in Idrive and coding it to any color you like. I did mine blue on top and red on bottom.

[Dethsupp0rt]

I did this and got it mostly working. However, when I set white + a color, it doesn't work for the driver's door. The top and bottom color are the same. The middle and passenger door look fine.

I tried a reset with Bimmercode, but I still have the same issue. As far as I can tell, the doors can't even be set independently.

Anyone else run into this?

[DaNuts]

Do you know if this works for a 2022 M5C?

[micvite]

Originally Posted by Aronis

I found it easier to use photoshop.

Mike

Imagine if our 100+k cars could do what a base model mustang can🤣🤣🤣 guess it would have been too hard to add "custom color 1 2 and 3" and let you play with a color wheel with the gesture control lol (or not considering the Ford team could figure it out)