What's this light for?
 

I've had my 2012 Z for 3 years and never noticed the very small LED in the panel containing the map lights. See the pic. It's at about the 3-o'clock position and stands alone. There is no mention of it in the owners manual. It's probably something stupid, but I'm curious.

That is the ambient light led :ugh2:

Its on the wrong side also.

It's for being able to see the shifter i thinkz

It's to see the shifter

Ambient light. Set the mood for sexy time.

Yep it's ambient lighting. Helps to see the shifter and it's reddish orange because that color has less effect on your eyes' adjusted night vision. BMW does the same thing.

Context clues....

I thought it was booger storage, short term

2009 7at touring
AAM 2.5 true dual exhaust
AAM de test pipes
Z1 headers
AAM 2.75 cold air intake r-line
motodyne m370 manifold
whiteline f/r sway bars
swift lowering springs
quaife LSD
Z1 34 row oil cooler
Z1 brake rotor and pad upgrade
Tune via hills garage
best 1/4 12.841 at 108.7mph 3540lbs with me in it

LOL at being able to see the shifter comment. I guess I need a light in the footwell to see the brake and gas pedal .

I think the idea is so that if you had someone that wasn't used to driving your car (like a valet), they could see where the reverse gear is at when it's dark outside. I'm coming from a M3 and I'm still getting used to reverse being on the opposite side. I'm sure a valet would have the same issue if he'd never driven a 370 before

I never notice that, I have a manual, don't know If it's there but I'll chek tonight, eventhough I know where my gears are and no valet will ever touch my car are you kidding !:shakes head:

Haha I knew that was coming. Same here just trying to brainstorm why else Nissan thought it was nice to have ambient cabin lighting like that.

I thought that LED was for a passenger to check out a map without opening the lights in the car. :driving:

some places you dont have an option NOT to let the valet take the car. i had to watch a guy literally just back my car into a spot. it was ten feet but he wouldnt let me do it myself.

I figured
 

I arrived at the light being there to supply just enough light to prevent me having to grope around in the dark to locate the map light switches. It gives me a bit of spatial awareness, so to speak. The map switches are just to the left of it. Locate this light, then it's easy to locate the map light switches without diverting your eyes from the road. Simple. That's what I use it for.
It seems so dim I can't see it being adequate to help anyone see the shifter pattern.

104

Seems ridiculous to even need to see the shift gate in the first place. If you have to look at the stick while the map lights are off to figure out the pattern then you should not be on a public road :p

You got that right. That's one thing they told me when I learned how to drive to never look at the shifter when shifting otherwise there won't be a next gear !