I just purchased a 2006 Mini Cooper R50 and the tachometer, speedometer, hvac controller all wont backlight. They all work but no lighting to them at night. The odometer section and computer info display back lights and adjust with the brightness adjuster but not the gauges themselves. I checked what I thought would be the fuses but came up empty handed. Is there a module that could be fried or another set of fuses? Any help would be appreciated. Also I already tried the factory reset and that did not work either.

 

Just throwing it out there; any chance you tried the dimmer button? Press multiple times to play with instrument brightness. Should be the one top and to the left of the speedo (opposite side of the hazards)

Edit: if I understand correctly, the dimmer does adjust some things - but not all. I'm at a loss... Sorry

 

Yes I have tried the brightness adjustment ****. It only changed the odometer reading area and veh info sections. When I adjust that.

 

I think I may have a solution for you, as I was able to replicate your problem this morning.

Have you turned on your headlights yet?
The backlights that are "out" on you are turned on by rotating the left stalk. When in the "off" position only the digital readouts are backlit and dimmable. Turning the stalk one position up will activate all of the gauges' backlights.

Giver a try