Quick answer: when a BMW head-up display disappears, the cause is usually a setting: the HUD switched off (by its button or in the iDrive menu), set too dim, moved out of view, or saved differently for another key or driver profile. Polarized sunglasses can also hide it. If every setting is right and the HUD stays blank, flickers, shows vertical lines or turns itself off, BMW has published dealer fixes for many models, mostly software updates.
This guide is for BMW’s factory HUD (option code 610). For a plug-in aftermarket unit, see the aftermarket HUD troubleshooting guide.
Check these first
- Is it switched on? Older BMWs have a HUD button; newer ones use the iDrive menu (paths below).
- Right key or driver profile? BMW stores HUD on/off, brightness and height per key or profile. If it works for another driver but not for you, check your profile before suspecting a fault.
- Brightness: raise the base brightness in the menu. With the headlights on, the instrument lighting dimmer also dims the HUD, so turn it up.
- Height: the image is only fully visible from a limited zone around your eyes. Sit in your normal position and adjust the height.
- Sunglasses: BMW’s manuals list “sunglasses with certain polarization filters” among the things that reduce visibility.
- Nothing on the HUD cover in front of the instrument cluster (dash mats, phone mounts, papers).
- Let the car sleep: switch off, lock it, wait several minutes and restart. Several BMW bulletins note the HUD returns after the car goes to sleep.
BMW’s owner’s manuals list these visibility factors: certain sitting positions, objects on the HUD cover, polarized sunglasses, wet roads and unfavourable light. (Source: e.g. the 2016 X5 (F15) owner’s manual.)
How to turn on and adjust the HUD, by iDrive generation
E60 5 Series, E63 6 Series, E70 X5, E71 X6 (about 2004–2014)
- On/off: press the HUD button in the group of buttons next to the light switch.
- What it shows: Menu > Settings > Display settings > Head-Up Display, then select the information.
- Brightness and position: Menu > Settings > Display settings > Head-Up Display > Brightness / Position, then turn the controller.
- Settings are stored for the key (remote) in use.
(Sources: 2007 X5 (E70) and 2007 5 Series (E60) owner’s manuals.)
F-series: F10 5 Series, F15 X5, F25 X3, F30 3 Series and others (about 2010–2018)
- On/off: F10 5 Series and the 2013 X5 use a button (on the F10, in the driver-assistance buttons left of the steering wheel). Most others: Settings > Head-Up Display > Head-Up Display.
- Settings > Head-Up Display then Displayed information, Brightness, Height and, on many models, Rotation (for a tilted image).
- Settings are stored for the driver profile in use.
(Sources: 2016 5 Series (F10), 2016 3 Series (F30) owner’s manuals.)
iDrive 6 on G-series (for example the 2016 7 Series G11)
My Vehicle > System settings > Displays > Head-Up Display, then on/off, display mode (Standard, Reduced, Individual) and Brightness.
BMW Operating System 7 (about 2019–2022)
- CAR > Settings > Displays > Head-up display, then on/off, Height, Brightness and Rotation.
- HUD height can also be saved to the seat memory buttons (press SET, then 1 or 2).
(Source: BMW USA FAQ.)
BMW Operating System 8 and newer (about 2022 on)
Apps menu > Vehicle > Displays > Head-up display to switch it on and configure it. What it shows can also be changed with the display button and thumbwheel on the right of the steering wheel. On the newest systems (Operating System 9 and the Neue Klasse), the layout may differ: look under Vehicle / Displays, or search for “Head-up display” in the menu.
Problem by problem
| What you see | Likely cause | What to do |
|---|---|---|
| No HUD at all | Switched off, other profile/key, or image out of view | HUD button or menu; check profile; adjust height |
| Faint in daylight | Low brightness, instrument dimmer turned down, polarized sunglasses, sun glare | Raise brightness and the dimmer wheel; try without sunglasses; try Rotation on cars that have it |
| Works for one driver, not another | Settings stored per key/profile | Adjust and save for each profile |
| Tilted image | Rotation setting | Settings > Head-Up Display > Rotation (F-series, OS7); on E70-era cars, dealer adjustment |
| Double, blurred or distorted image | Non-HUD or out-of-spec windshield, often after replacement | Glass shop or dealer; settings can’t fix wrong glass |
| Vertical lines in the image | HUD unit fault on many F-series built before March 2017 | Dealer (bulletin SI B62 16 16) |
| HUD switches off by itself | Known software issue on several G-series models | Let the car sleep and restart; dealer reprogramming (SI B62 05 18) |
| Speed shows “—” | Missing speed signal, fault stored | Dealer diagnosis |
Known BMW bulletins by model
These BMW North America service bulletins are filed with NHTSA. Many say “Do not replace parts”: the fix is software. We found no HUD-specific safety recall.
- 3 Series / 4 Series F30–F34, built to July 2014: “The Head-up Display is inoperative”. Fix: instrument cluster software update (SI B62 02 14). F30 built to Nov 2015 with a rattle or noise from the HUD: HUD replacement (SI B62 11 15).
- X5 F15 / X6 F16 and i8: HUD “no longer visible” at its lowest position, fixed by software (SI B62 05 16). F15 built to July 2014: HUD height not saved per key, fixed by software (SI B62 03 14).
- F10 5 Series, F01 7 Series, F06/F12/F13 6 Series, F25 X3, F26 X4 and others, built to 1 March 2017: vertical lines in the HUD, fixed by replacing the HUD (SI B62 16 16). F10 M5 / F12 M6 built to July 2013: incomplete M View, fixed by software (SI B62 01 14).
- G01 X3, G02 X4, G30 5 Series, G32 6 GT, G12 7 Series, F90 M5: HUD may switch off intermittently; it returns after the car sleeps and restarts. Repeated cases get a software update (SI B62 05 18).
E60 and E70: we found no BMW bulletin specific to their HUDs. Owners commonly report the image gradually fading on older units; with all settings correct, that points to an ageing HUD unit, which BMW replaces as a complete assembly. On the E70, BMW’s technical training material describes a built-in HUD self-test (hold the HUD button for about 15 seconds) that dealers and specialists use to check the display.
Check open recalls for your VIN at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Windshield replacement and double images
BMW’s manuals say: “The windshield is part of the system… A film in the windshield prevents double images from being displayed.” The HUD reflects off both the inner and outer surfaces of the glass; a HUD windshield has a tapered (wedge-shaped) interlayer that lines the two reflections up into one image. With standard glass you get a double image that no HUD setting can fix. BMW recommends having the special windshield replaced by a dealer or a qualified shop working to BMW procedures.
- When booking a replacement, tell the shop the car has a factory HUD and ask for HUD-compatible glass.
- Afterwards, check that the image is single and sharp. If not, go back to the installer.
- F-series and newer cars have a Rotation setting for a slightly tilted image; on E70-era cars, rotation and distortion correction are done with BMW diagnostic equipment.
- If the car has a windshield camera (lane departure or collision warning), ask about camera calibration too.
More in our HUD windshield replacement guide.
Which BMWs have a factory HUD?
BMW first offered a HUD on the E60 5 Series in 2004. It has since been available, usually as an option, on the 6 Series (E63, F06/F12/F13), X5 (E70, F15, G05), X6 (E71, F16), 7 Series (F01, G11/G12), 5 Series (F10, G30), X3 (F25, G01), X4, 3 and 4 Series (from the F30, the first 3 Series with a HUD), M3/M4, i8, X1/X2 (some compact models use a small pop-up screen instead of the windshield), iX and later models. If there’s no HUD opening on the dash in front of the instrument cluster, the car wasn’t fitted with one. See the BMW HUD retrofit guide if yours didn’t come with one, and our 2026 factory HUD database.
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Frequently asked questions
Why is my BMW head-up display not working?
Most often it is switched off, set too dim (with headlights on, the instrument dimmer also dims it), moved out of view, or saved differently for another key or driver profile. Polarized sunglasses can hide it. If all settings are correct, let the car go to sleep and restart; BMW has software fixes for HUD faults on many models.
How do I turn on the heads-up display in my BMW?
Older models (E60, E70, E71, F10): press the HUD button near the light switch or left of the steering wheel. F-series: Settings > Head-Up Display. Operating System 7: CAR > Settings > Displays > Head-up display. Operating System 8 and newer: Apps menu > Vehicle > Displays > Head-up display.
Why does my BMW HUD work for my partner but not for me?
BMW stores HUD settings per key or driver profile. Switch it on and set brightness and height while your own profile or key is active.
Why are there vertical lines in my BMW HUD?
On many F-series BMWs built before March 2017 (including the F10 5 Series and F25 X3), BMW bulletin SI B62 16 16 identifies vertical lines as a HUD failure fixed by replacing the HUD unit.
Why is my BMW HUD doubled after a windshield replacement?
The new windshield is probably not a HUD windshield. HUD glass has a wedge-shaped film that lines up the two reflections; standard glass shows a double image that no setting can fix.