LED Interior Lighting (instrument cluster, etc.)

Justin e36 · 08-03-2004, 11:15 AM

There was a write-up somewhere on the net about soldiering in resistors and LED lights for the interior... I can't find the website now though.. anyone have it bookmarked?

J

ChahalzBMR · 08-03-2004, 12:00 PM

Is this what your looking for?
http://nolimit.to/MYM3/interior_lighting.htm

Justin e36 · 08-03-2004, 12:34 PM

exactly what I've been looking for! ...

going to LED my interior probably next weekend.

... going to make any push-buttons/things that move RED... (i.e. window switches, OBC buttons.... indicator on the speedometer, etc.) And anything that is just for information purposes will be blue.. (i.e. numbers on the speedometer, indicators on the foglight switch, headlight switch, climate control, etc.)

J

SkycityBMW · 08-03-2004, 12:47 PM

Thanks ChahalzBMR . . .

I have a bunch of burnt out bulbs ! ! ! !

ChahalzBMR · 08-03-2004, 12:58 PM

No problem guys! Let us know how it turns out...I still gotta post pics of my car's make-over...just to lazy to post.

Justin e36 · 08-03-2004, 03:13 PM

Skycity.. that link is for converting your bulbs to LEDs w/ resistors... (soldiering it on)...not just replacing bulbs.

SpoolinS6 · 08-04-2004, 12:53 AM

im going to do this to my audi !

Slowered318 · 08-04-2004, 01:28 AM

one problem.. some of the interior guages have orange plastic inserts so unless you make copys of them with clear plastic your gonna have a purple and blue interior.

donno how easy it would be but you could buy some acrlic plastic, cut it to fit where these pieces are and sand it on the exposed side to reflect the light

SpoolinS6 · 08-04-2004, 01:30 AM

ryans right
i just need to replace some of my bulbs etc ima see what i can do :S

Slowered318 · 08-04-2004, 01:33 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by M_powered
ryans right
i just need to replace some of my bulbs etc ima see what i can do :S

well i know how it can be done.. i just don't have the patience to follow through on it. it would take hours with the dremel tool. much easyer just to replace the led's in the CD deck with red ones

and use red model paint.

Justin e36 · 08-04-2004, 07:14 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Slowered318
one problem.. some of the interior guages have orange plastic inserts so unless you make copys of them with clear plastic your gonna have a purple and blue interior.

donno how easy it would be but you could buy some acrlic plastic, cut it to fit where these pieces are and sand it on the exposed side to reflect the light

already did this... cost: $1.29 to change all the plastic orange filters.

this is probably one of the easiest mods you can do to update the look of your interior... the e36 orange display is very dim and patchy compared to the e46's. And besides.. I hate orange.

I think RED with BLUE accents will look best. (i.e. VW interiors)... more red than blue though... too much blue looks tacky I think.

SkycityBMW · 08-04-2004, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by Justin e36
Skycity.. that link is for converting your bulbs to LEDs w/ resistors... (soldiering it on)...not just replacing bulbs.

yeah . . . but they don't have to work in order for the conversion.
. . . . do they . . . .

Looks like a really nice mod.

I'm gonna try it ! !

Thanks Justin ! !

Justin e36 · 08-04-2004, 09:59 AM

Quote:

Originally posted by SkycityBMW
yeah . . . but they don't have to work in order for the conversion.
. . . . do they . . . .

Looks like a really nice mod.

I'm gonna try it ! !

Thanks Justin ! !

True. I'll let you know how my conversion goes... and if you have any questions.. just gimme a shout and I'll walk you through what I did.

I already know the OBC in an out.. headlight switch... did all my window switches... etc. Just have my Climate Control and Guages left.

ChahalzBMR · 08-04-2004, 10:24 AM

Justin - for the headlight switch did you use a relay or just tap into the low beam wires and put a switch inside? I'm asking because I wanna do this mod this weekend. Please let me know the details and any pointers...thanks!!!!

Justin e36 · 08-04-2004, 12:36 PM

Quote:

Originally posted by ChahalzBMR
Justin - for the headlight switch did you use a relay or just tap into the low beam wires and put a switch inside? I'm asking because I wanna do this mod this weekend. Please let me know the details and any pointers...thanks!!!!

You mean for the LED conversion? .. I don't see how/why you'd use a relay... or to tap into the low-beam wires.

The existing bulb in the headlight switch is clear, there is an orange filter that is used to change the color. Replace the filter with a piece of blue, red, or whatever color you want transparent plastic and you're good to go.

I have a feeling you're talking about running an independant low-beam on/off switch though....... ?