Backlighting on instrument cluster gauges does not meet sufficient contrast requirements. It's even worse when driving through shaded areas. Tachometer and speedometer appear completely dark and unreadable. This could be an accessibility issue where certain drivers could have difficulty reading the gauge dials due to improper contrast. *tr
2017 BMW M2 lighting problems
moderate 15 complaints filed with NHTSA · avg repair $250 · see lighting across all vehicles →
Complaints
15
Recalls
0
Avg fix
$250
When does it fail?
Of the 15 lighting complaints filed for the 2017 BMW M2, here's the actual mileage breakdown — failures cluster heaviest at 0-25,000 mi.
0-25k
25-50k
50-75k
75-100k
100-125k
125-150k
150k+
Each bar shows the share of total complaints filed at that mileage range. Peak failure window highlighted. Some owners report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 miles symptom-free. Maintenance habits and driving conditions shift the curve as much as mileage alone.
What stands out
Reported failure mileage clusters in the 0-25,000 mi band — 6 of 6 complaints with an odometer reading on file land there.
No new NHTSA lighting complaint has been filed on this vehicle in over 9 years — the issue may be aging out of the active population.
What owners are reporting 15 most recent
Poor visibility of gauge cluster in low light conditions. Makes reading the tachometer and speedometer near impossible in certain light conditions/situations. The 2018 models have a new gauge that solves this issue. I think it is a safety issue and the pre-2018 cars should be recalled to have this new cluster installed by BMW.
Instrument cluster (speedometer, tachometer) has no lighting during daylight hours. It is a dark screen much of the day and I am unable to clearly and quickly see the important gauges there, as described. BMW provides no way (back lighting, etc) to make this area visible during daylight hours. This is a safety issue.
Daytime gauge lighting is very dim. It is hard to read speedometer to tell your speed very unsafe. Have asked dealer and BMW to no avail. I have owned 8 BMW cars and never had this problem.
During certain daytime conditions, such as a cloudy day or under shade, the instrument cluster for speed, RPM, etc. , can not be read. This problem is made worse with sunglasses.
The backlighting for the tachometer and speedometer becomes completely unreadable under soft daylight situations. An example of this would be driving through a wooded area in full daylight. It appears that this issue is created be two issues. First, the color of the background and lettering on the gauges themselves do not create enough contrasting. Second, the ambient light sensor does not…
The instrument cluster gauges (speed and RPM) are very difficult to read under both bright sunny conditions, and dark shadow conditions (in a tunnel, or in shade). Wearing sunglasses? Forget seeing them at all. I find it a safety issue when I have to glance down at the gauges longer than necessary and take my eyes off the road, and squint to decipher what speed I'm going. The only way to help…
Unable to see instrument panel lighting in bright daylight conditions
The instrument panel does not have sufficient brightness and contrast. It is very difficult, sometimes impossible, to see the speedometer and tachometer readings in certain daytime lighting conditions.
When driving, the upper half of the instrument panel containing the speedometer and tachometer is completely unreadable under dark conditions such as going under a bridge or in areas with tree coverage overhead.
Had lighting trouble with your 2017 BMW M2?
File a complaint with NHTSA → It's free, official, and how every report above got here — owner filings are the federal safety record this page is built on.
Common questions
How serious is the lighting problem on the 2017 BMW M2?
It's a documented issue but not catastrophic. 15 complaints have been filed. Repairs average $250 and most owners catch it before it causes a breakdown.
At what mileage does the lighting typically fail?
Based on the 15 complaints filed, lighting issues most often appear around 6,267 miles. Some report problems earlier; some make it well past 150,000 with no symptoms. Maintenance habits matter — vehicles that received timely fluid services and were not regularly overworked tend to last longer.
What does it cost to fix?
Independent shops typically charge around $250 for lighting repairs on this vehicle. Dealer pricing tends to run 20-40% higher. The exact figure depends on the specific failure mode, parts availability, and your local labor rates. If you're outside factory warranty, an extended service contract often covers this category.
Are there any recalls related to lighting?
No active recalls currently cover lighting issues on this vehicle. The complaints filed represent owner-reported failures that haven't risen to the level of a manufacturer-issued recall — but they're still worth knowing about before you buy or budget for repairs.
Related
Complaint and recall data sourced from the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA)
public records database. Verify the raw federal record at
nhtsa.gov/vehicle/2017/BMW/M2.
Severity ratings are derived from reported crashes, fires, injuries, and fatalities. Repair cost estimates are
independent-shop national averages and may differ in your area. Some links on this page are affiliate links.