LED Lamp in Dome Light to Illuminate the Stick Shift?
 

I haven't driven the Z out at night much, and if I had, the wife's with me which adds all sorts of distractions.

So much so that tonight I took it out for a quick loner spin before I parked it in the garage and noticed a red light on my fist while I driving in the darker portion of the highway.

Finally realized it was coming from the dome light area - a little LED lamp. Is this just to illuminate the shift area? Or something else?

It's kind of a mood/ambient light that illuminates the shifter area. Most newer cars have it.

Hmmmm... never noticed it in other cars. Of course, didn't notice it in the Z until three weeks after I bought it.

BMW has had it in their cars for a while. Since mid-90s, starting with the 5 series I believe.

The one in my G emits white light.

Audi's have had it for some time also. German cars had it first!

i've always wondered what exactly it's supposed to do

I've got a 2008 Audi A3 Ambition (manual) and I don't have this, so it's either an option or it's only on the A4 > and higher models.

I read somewhere that its called a "map light", in case for some reason your passenger wanted to look at a old school map when youve lost your way. This helps you not turn on the ultra bright interior lights which can be annoying when driving. Anyone else hear it being called that?

Oh my, is this what this whole topic is about? I completely misunderstood what was meant by this "gear knob light". It's just to read a book or a map. If wolf is correct then yeah I indeed have this in my A3 but it's not like anything original or exciting. All European cars have this, even the shittiest Renault :icon14:

The Japanese engineers designed it specifically to sooth your mood so that, if someone ever parked a little too close to you, you would just shrug it off and move on. :p

yeah f'in right! that sh1t really grinds my gears...

Not the map lights. Those you turn on next to the rear view mirror, and they're bright, white lights. Perfect to read a map to.

This is a very small, off-center in the dome to the right, red LED which softly illuminates the shifter. You can't read a map by it (or at least, I can't without my "bat-vision" engaged).

I'm gonna have to check the buds' 335i and see if he's got it...

Both of my previous Audi A4s had not one but two of these red/orange LEDs. They make a nice improvement on seeing radio buttons, etc at night.

Yep, red and yellow light is much easier on your eyes. Back when I used to fly I'd use a small clip on red flashlight to read my checklists and maps.

The higher models have them (trickle down from A8 options). They are not map lights.
Also: All the LED panels bulbs that we are getting for our cars, now they are standard fair on the new AUDI's coming out for the interior courtesy lighting!
Been training on the new A8... ;)