Hi Everyone - I just picked up a certified 21 X-Dynamic HSE tonight with just under 35,000 miles on it and I love it. I’ve been doing a bunch of research and watching videos to try and get answers to my questions, but I haven’t been able to find anyone to have a similar situation to me.

The first question is related to the ambient lighting for the cabin. My car does have the convenience package but only 1 zone of lighting, but it’s so dim I can’t event tell that it’s on. Has anyone else had this problem? I even select the highest brightness setting when selecting a color and it’s extremely dull. I’m not sure if any other settings have an effect on that, but based on some videos I saw, it can be very bright.

My second is about gas mileage. I know the Defender loves gas, but I bought mine about 105 miles from my house and the dealership filled the tank before I left and when I got home, I was down almost 3/8 a tank. The computer said I averaged about 19mpg but those calculations don’t add up. Has anyone else had this problem too?

 

Ambient lighting by nature is dim and accessory. They are not bright. Mine can change to all the colors of the rainbow and it’s just dim everywhere. Overhead lights are the only bright lights.

My P400 averages about 17-19mpg with mixed driving in a really hilly area. So without knowing the path you took, I would reset the trip odometer, & trip mpg and notate the miles over the coming weeks for your area.

Long highway drives with zero stops and I can get into a 20-21avg, but that’s rare.

 

For the ambient light, I see most people have the ability to to set their lights pretty bright, just like the one member here (where I stole a screenshot from his video)

but unfortunately mine is so dim on the highest setting you can’t even tell if it’s on or not (if you can see that faint red hue)

I don’t know if it’s just me or there’s an issue.

As far as the gas mileage, I’m not saying I’m upset with what the mpg is stating, but 3/8 of a 23 gallon tank of gas is about 164 miles, not about 100, so something doesn’t seem right to me. The computer said I was supposed to get 245 miles to a tank of gas, which is about 10-11 mpg but it said I’m averaging 19?

 

As far as mileage goes, it's "learning" at first. It will refuse to acknowledge that it can have over 400 miles in the tank, but after you use it for a while those numbers get more accurate. My MY23.5 D90S was giving almost stupid results at first. After 1000 miles or so it will learn.

19mpg is good, mine gets 17 without wife, 20 with, but I live at 4500' near Mt Mitchell. Highway driving I get 22+

 

I don't have the color ambient lighting, but when you refer to having it on the brightest setting are you referring to on screen where u select colors or are u referring to the little **** under the dash on left side of steering wheel? May want to try that

 

that’s for the dash brightness, not the ambient light

 

For what it's worth, my ambient lights look like the top photo you posted. They are bright and obvious. At the risk of stating the obvious, you do see the inner "pie chart" selector inside the outside wheel where you choose the ambient light color? There are four selectable levels of brightness, and at the lowest level they aren't very bright at all.

 

yea, I have the brightest one selected and it’s still very dim

 

You can go to your local JLR dealership and ask them to give you an overview of your vehicle where they showcase all the stuff it can do. While you’re at it they’ll show you how the ambient light works and then you can play dumb and ask if that’s as bright as it’ll get. They’ll check it out and let you know if it’s something that needs repair or not.

 

When I got my L663 a few years ago it was VERY hard to find accessories and add ons for the Defender. Being a new (experimental?) vehicle and in the wasteland of the pandemic supply problems it was tough. Now, there are a TON of options. One of the earlier folks I relied on was PowerfulUk. Exceptional customer experience and wide set of things to throw your money away at. There are cheaper options, but I like to reward my loyalty so call me crazy. Anyway, I changed out my footwell lights LONG ago. This is the option that they have (Link). Another thing to keep in mind is that the boot is crazy dark. Lots of threads about this option (Link). PowerfulUk has videos on how to install all this and others do as well. Finally, many people upgrade the rear backup lights as well (Link). The original Series (ancestors to Defenders) were notoriously sketchy electrically. Lucas made all their electrics and they were referred to as the "Prince of Darkness". Some things just don't change for Land Rover over time....

Good luck! (And NOT a paid promoter of PowerfulUk...)