[Tsuyoi]

So today was a very sunny day and I was driving early on in the day headed East, and sun was right in my eyes, so I decided to put on my Ray Ban shades. Everything was fine, until I looked at my HUD to check my speed, and it wasn't there! I panicked for a second, thinking it broke, but then when I looked really hard I could barely see the outline of the words. I took off my shades, and voila everything was back to normal.

I wondered if it was just shades overall, so I tried on my wife's Gucci shades, and I could see the HUD perfectly fine through them.

Now, I'm pretty sure that my sunglasses are polarized while hers are not, and that this is probably what's causing the problem. However, before going out and dumping another 100-200 on a new pair of shades, I'd like to confirm this first. For those of you with the HUD and shades, can you see if you can CLEARLY see the HUD with shades on? If you can/can't, are your shades polarized, just mirrored, a certain shade, or what?

Thanks!

[tojo_m]

My shades are polarized and although the HUD gets much dimmer with the shades they are not gone. If you tilt your head slightly to either left or right (a slight angle) you should be able to view the brightness of the HUD change as seen through your shades.

[SamS]

Polarized are the problem. However, I have polarized Oakleys, and I can see my HUD perfectly.

[shivaswrath]

I stopped using polarized glass when I drive because most of the dash or LCD elements get phased out (as expected from polarization).

[Joshhleee]

i have polarized ray bans too and I can hardly see my HUD so i drive without my sunglasses.

[Frogman]

I tried several technique to avoid replacing my prescription polarized sunglasses and they all failed.

I ended up getting a new pair with non-polarized glass just for my F30 and have never looked back.

The place I went asked if I was a pilot as they run into the same issue with the aircraft displays too. It's a very common issue.

[metrathon]

Like someone already said, I tilt my head. Usually I look at the HUD only for nav instructions so it doesnt bother me so much. I dont want to give up the glare free vision just to stare at the current speed all day long

[Frogman]

Originally Posted by metrathon

Like someone already said, I tilt my head. Usually I look at the HUD only for nav instructions so it doesnt bother me so much. I dont want to give up the glare free vision just to stare at the current speed all day long

I tried that technique, it got old really fast. Tried the transparency film on the screen, that didn't help either.

I never look at the cluster speedo anymore, I only use the HUD, so I now just quickly glance down to read it. It's amazing how fast you get used to it. I really miss it when I drive our other car.

[KellerKiller]

Originally Posted by Tsuyoi

So today was a very sunny day and I was driving early on in the day headed East, and sun was right in my eyes, so I decided to put on my Ray Ban shades. Everything was fine, until I looked at my HUD to check my speed, and it wasn't there! I panicked for a second, thinking it broke, but then when I looked really hard I could barely see the outline of the words. I took off my shades, and voila everything was back to normal.

I wondered if it was just shades overall, so I tried on my wife's Gucci shades, and I could see the HUD perfectly fine through them.

Now, I'm pretty sure that my sunglasses are polarized while hers are not, and that this is probably what's causing the problem. However, before going out and dumping another 100-200 on a new pair of shades, I'd like to confirm this first. For those of you with the HUD and shades, can you see if you can CLEARLY see the HUD with shades on? If you can/can't, are your shades polarized, just mirrored, a certain shade, or what?

Thanks!

Turn the brightness on the HUD all the way up. It'll still disappear a bit if the road is wet ahead of you, but at least you won't be blinded. Or go with non-polarized. Although, I was actually pleased that the Navi screen doesn't give me any problems with my polarized glasses.

[happyman29]

I've got polarized Maui Jims and I cannot see the hud with them on.

[OC40]

I have polarized prescription sunglasses (with every upgrade possible - non glare, etc) and I can see the HUD perfectly.

[Tsuyoi]

So it seems like some people ( a very few) with polarized can see HUD, but most can't. Guessing it's probably something about if its horizontal vs vertical polarization. I think I'm just going to pick up a pair of non-polarized shades for driving (pretty much only time I wear sunglasses anyway)

[Jbrock22]

I have a polarized & non polarized. Easy.

[reedo302]

I suspect that polarization is not the same between brands. I have a set of Rx Oakleys that are polarized and I can see HUD displays clearly. I've worn RayBan and Maui Jim (non Rx) and they've filtered differently than my Oakleys (never tested them on a HUD though).

There may be a factor related to individual physiological differences, but I'm not a doctor so I don't know.

[1bad335]

I picked up my car yesterday and my SA actually told me that if you go to the HUD menu the last option on the menu is ROTATION, if you slide that scale up slowly it does make the HUD visible with polarized sunglasses. I tried it and while not perfect it does work.

[KellerKiller]

Originally Posted by happyman29

I've got polarized Maui Jims and I cannot see the hud with them on.

Funny, I have polarized Maui Jims also, and while the HUD is fainter, I can definitely see it. I just turn up the brightness and I'm good.

[JohnVidale]

I think polarized glasses are built to block light reflected at a high angle off glass, like the HUD, or the Sun coming off the hood or pavement or bodies of water. So the better your polarized glasses are doing their job, the dimmer the HUD will be.

[Tsuyoi]

Well guess my Ray Bans are amazing at doing their job LOL.

Went out and picked up a pair of Versace non polarized ones. Will be my dedicated driving glasses.

[einlanzer]

Originally Posted by Jbrock22

I have a polarized & non polarized. Easy.

+1

[techwhiz]

Depends on polarization.
The orientation of the lens will matter a huge amount.
I tilting your head doesn't, then the lens could be a circular polarized like some camera filters.

YMMV.

[JohnVidale]

My quick read suggests circular polarization effectively scrambles polarization, which is useful for sending light onto a camera lens, and lacks the benefit of linear polarization. Circular polarization has little relevance for sunglasses.

So sunglasses are either linearly polarized or not, those are the two choices.

[claykin]

My Maui Jim's also mess with my HUD. HUD brightness/tilt does nothing to improve. Thanks BMW.

E90 Business Pro stereo suffered from same. At least pre-LCI did. However same type of display in A/C control was unaffected. Seems BMW can do better if they tried.