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Thread: 2000 Z3M : What is it?

  1. #1
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    2000 Z3M : What is it?

    Hi guys. Every once in a while, I like to torture myself. Lately, I got to sit in a 2000 Z3M. The car is for sale and I can't afford it, but I couldn't help myself...
    I sat in the driver's seat, closed the door, closed my eyes and started dreaming. When I came back to my senses, I took a good look at everything, and I noticed what could be a warning light in the speedo gauge, at around 165 MPH. What is that light for? My Bentley manual does not say. Thanks

  2. #2
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    Do you mean the rectangle between the speedometer and the tachometer? That is the DSC light. If you mean the dark spot inside the speedometer below the 165 mark, I'm not sure. Could it be the tamper light?


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  3. #3
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    Its not the tamper light, though what it is is a great question. I always assumed it came on if you topped out the speedometer. But probably not

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  4. #4
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    I'm pretty sure it's an ambient light sensor, not a light.
    I like the unicorns.
    '99 Z3 Coupe - Jet Black/Black (1-of-114)
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  5. #5
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    Yes, I'm talking about the dark spot. It does kind of look like a light sensor, but for what light? The dome light dims itself out on a timer and the instrument lights are dimmed through the main light switch. A signal to turn your lights on when it's dark out?

  6. #6
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    I just put a light on it with the headlights on and off and with the engine running and not. It didn't seem to change anything.
    2002 M Roadster, Steel Gray Metailic, Gray Nappa Leather, Black Soft Top, Steel Gray Metailic Hard Top, TC Kline Double Adj Shocks with H&R Springs, Stromung Exhaust, SSR Type C Wheels. Looking for a new home.

    2022 Z4 M40i, Misano Blue Metallic, Prem Pkg, Driver Assistance Pkg

    2023 X5 M50, Phytonic Blue, Black Extended Merion Leather, Driving Asst Pro Pkg, Park Asst Pkg, Exec Pkg, Climate Comfort Pkg.

  7. #7
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    It should have something to do with the odometer area or something.


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    I like the unicorns.
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    '99 M Coupe - Estoril Blue/Black (1-of-82)
    '03 540iT - Sterling Gray/Black (1-of-24)
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  8. #8
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    I just looked it up and per my sources it is the Turbo Encabulator Indicator (TEI) and it lights up to indicate a malfunction within that system. The encabulators on our cars are pretty reliable though so I can't say I've ever heard of the light being illuminated

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  9. #9
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    I thought they started using Retro Encabulators in the early '90s?
    I like the unicorns.
    '99 Z3 Coupe - Jet Black/Black (1-of-114)
    '99 M Coupe - Estoril Blue/Black (1-of-82)
    '03 540iT - Sterling Gray/Black (1-of-24)
    '16 Z4 sDrive35i - Estoril Blue/Walnut (1-of-8)

  10. #10
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    Maybe it's because your Turbo Encabulator is clogged. I hear it can be made working again using alcohol. The more the better.

  11. #11
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    The little light just below the 170 mph but above the odometer section is the mileage tamper indicator. The cars store actual mileage in the I/C cluster and the ECU when there is a mismatch that light will come on.

  12. #12
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    No it isn't. The tamper dot is in the odometer section, right next to the odometer.
    I like the unicorns.
    '99 Z3 Coupe - Jet Black/Black (1-of-114)
    '99 M Coupe - Estoril Blue/Black (1-of-82)
    '03 540iT - Sterling Gray/Black (1-of-24)
    '16 Z4 sDrive35i - Estoril Blue/Walnut (1-of-8)

  13. #13
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    Quote Originally Posted by BimmerBreaker View Post
    I just looked it up and per my sources it is the Turbo Encabulator Indicator (TEI) and it lights up to indicate a malfunction within that system. The encabulators on our cars are pretty reliable though so I can't say I've ever heard of the light being illuminated
    Nope. S54s had a turbo encabulator. This is a 2000, which still had the older style Flugle Valve Reciprocator (FVR).

  14. #14
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    The Flugle Valve Reciprocator was banned from the Canadian market in 1996. For obvious reason. But then again, I did not pop the hood to look at the engine. It could have been retrofitted. The Canadian Z3M I saw had that same dark spot. So either for the Turbo Encabulator, or for some other options. There's got to be someone here with the true meaning of that dot/light/sensor.

  15. #15
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    Quote Originally Posted by JoshS View Post
    No it isn't. The tamper dot is in the odometer section, right next to the odometer.
    Correct. Interestingly, I found the below image after googling it, with these markings already labelled...


    Quote Originally Posted by BMWBergy View Post
    Nope. S54s had a turbo encabulator. This is a 2000, which still had the older style Flugle Valve Reciprocator (FVR).
    Oh good point, the first picture posted was an S54 cluster so I assumed it was an 01+. I don't know what they used in Canada if it wasn't an FVR. Maybe a BCD or a TLK? Could have been a DLET but that'd sure be weird... though BMW has certainly done stranger things in the past

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  16. #16
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    If you pin the speedo, that will light up to indicate that you have been "leveled up" to a brand new M2. Just stop by your local BMW dealer to pick it up.

  17. #17
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    This thread has been a lot of fun, but it hasnt been awnsered yet. I hope it doesn't die like that. There has got to be at least one M guy that knows!!!

  18. #18
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    Actually, it already has been answered. It's an ambient light sensor

    So much for fun, sheesh!

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  19. #19
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    More info on the Encabularor from someone who knows everything about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag

  20. #20
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    Ambient light sensor? What does it do? Dim the inside light? Instrument panel light? Isn't that done when turning the main light switch?

  21. #21
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    Quote Originally Posted by sportedge View Post
    Ambient light sensor? What does it do? Dim the inside light? Instrument panel light? Isn't that done when turning the main light switch?
    I'm bumping this because I just had to look up the answer to this question after a friend asked what that thing was. I knew it was the sensor - but to his next question "why is it there?" I had no idea

    It ends up it will dim the console illumination slightly. Not a huge change, but if you shine a flashlight right at the sensor you should notice the gauges brighten up a hair. I imagine this was designed so that if you drive from a dark country road to a well-lit city your gauges will still illuminate at the same relative light intensity, and that way you aren't manually adjusting brightness every time outside lighting conditions change. Makes a lot of sense in a convertible, maybe less so in coupes/E36s.

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  22. #22
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    Mine lights up every time I reach 180 MPH. Then remains lit until I cycle the key.

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  23. #23
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    I haven't been aware of the gauges getting a little brighter. but I have noticed that the interior light turns on at night when I shut the car off, whether or not the headlight switch is on.
    Last edited by rasmuw; 06-02-2017 at 10:32 AM.
    Wayne

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  24. #24
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    Quote Originally Posted by gtwhimself View Post
    More info on the Encabularor from someone who knows everything about it. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ac7G7xOG2Ag
    I like this version...

    https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXJKdh1KZ0w

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    Quote Originally Posted by cngizbleevng View Post
    I have one in my garage.

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