Styling New dash lights

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Styling New dash lights

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I read on here a bit about changing the backlights of the dials to blue and thought id give it a go, a lot of people said it wasnt worth it or dont bother but as long as you have a steady hand and soldering experiance its not that bad

anyway, here are some pictures:

DSC00645.jpg


DSC00646.jpg


DSC00647.jpg


The indicator light is also blue


DSCF1558.jpg



If anyone wants to ask anything about this (if you want to try it yourself or just want some info) feel free :)
 
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I agree they look fab! I have got blue interior and they would look sweet. (y)

Mikejt please let us know where did you get the lights from? The cost of the lights? How long did it take you to do the job mate?

Does anyone know people in the Midlands area who can do this job for me? Im in Birmingham. I can travel. :)

Cheers


 
I got the LED's from here: www.crazyLEDs.co.uk

They do a kit for £10 but if you know what you are doind you can just buy the LED's seperatly for about 40p each (plus £1.50 P+P in both cases)The correct LED's for these are the PLCC-2 SMD LED's

If i remember correctly, for the model without the rev counter, there are 3 LED's for the speedo, 1 LED for the Fuel guage and 4 for the LCD display and 5 or 6 for the centre controls (depending if you have the button on the right or if it is a blank)

I left the needles orange but you can change them to red if you wish (dont know what effect that will have)

The main things you have to be careful of are:

1) the clips on the instrument cluster dont snap when dis-assembling

2) you dont force the PCB (there are metal clips in the middle, you need to push the middle of them with a small screwdriver so they are in line with the slot on the PCB, this will be obvious when you are removing the PCB)

3) you dont over-heat the new LED's

4) you take note of which side the flat corner is on and ensure the new LED is the same way


CrazyLEDs.co.uk also do a fitting service by post (£40)

Hope this helps, anything else, just ask :slayer:
 
How an earth do you remove the dashboard and the board for the switches (city button etc) so I can post it to that website for a fitting service.

Kind Regards
 
How an earth do you remove the dashboard and the board for the switches (city button etc) so I can post it to that website for a fitting service.

Kind Regards

I will add pictures tomorrow if you need them but basically:

-In both footwells there is a piece of plastic trim near the cup holders, remove the bolt using an allen key (either 4 or 5mm) and remove the trim (driver and passenger side)

-under the ashtray are also 2 bolts (same allen key) remove these

-using a small flat head screwdriver, prise the top of the centre console away from its housing (under the city steering, electric window, fog light buttons)

-when you pull this back, you will see 2 crosshead screws holding the buttons in place, unscrew these, take it out and unplug


To take the centre console completely out of the way you need to take off the handbrake/gearstick surround and lift it so it is above the cup holders, this will give you enough space to remove the centre console (remember to disconnect the cigarette lighter socket)
 
How an earth do you remove the dashboard and the board for the switches (city button etc) so I can post it to that website for a fitting service.

Kind Regards

Sorry, i forgot about the dash

-4 alan bolts... 2 on the top, 2 on the bottom (of the black trim)

-remove the black trim, revealing more allen bolts, remove these and it should come out easily (you may need to lower your steering collumn first, then unplug it and play around untill you get it past the steering wheel)
 
Thanks mate. I must say you done a good job :slayer:

Any more pictures giving us all guidance would be appreciated.
 
Removing Centre console

1) Remove the 2 screws from the trim in the footwells (passenger and driver side):

DSC00655.jpg


2) Remove the 2 screws from below the ashtray in the centre console:

DSC00656.jpg


3) Prise the centre console away from its housing at the top (labeled "1") then you can pull gently on the sides (labeled "2")

DSC00657.jpg


4) Behind the centre console, you will see 2 screws holding the switch facia in place (sorry i havnt got a picture but this will be obvious) remove these, disconnect the wiring connectors from the back and put to one side.
(If you need more space after removing the centre console please see further down for "Removing handbrake/gearstick surround")



Removing Instrument cluster


1) remove the black plastic trim by un-doing the 4 screws arrowed in the pictures below:

DSC00658.jpg


DSC00659.jpg


DSC00660.jpg


2) You will then see more screws holding the cluster in place (again, no pictures but this will be obvious) remove those and pull the cluster back a bit

3) get your hand around the back and disconnect the wiring connector

4) fiddle around until you get it past the steering wheel


Removing handbrake/gearstick surround (If required)

1) pull up the gearstick cover to reveal 2 screws (+ head) as shown:

DSC00661.jpg


2) undo the 2 screws shown above

3) prise off the coin holder tray from where the arrows indicate and put the trim to one side:

DSC00665.jpg


4) undo the 2 hexagon nuts using an appropriate socket bit:

DSC00666.jpg


5) remove the rear ashtray (pulls out):

DSC00662.jpg


6) undo the screw from where arrowed:

DSC00663.jpg


7) remove that piece of trim and undo the final nut:

DSC00664.jpg


8) move both front seats as far back as they go and lift the gearstick/handbrake surround up (just above the cupholders will allow you to remove the centre console)
 
You are one smart dude. Thanks mate! (y)
thanks ;)
one more thing, those buttons need to be removed (ones for headlight adjustment, clock and trip computer)

to do this, push them towards the outside of the dash (to get the clips on the outside clear) and push the clips on the inside with a screwdriver

remember which one goes were as 1 set is longer and you need to get the top/bottom correct aswel otherwide they will not sit flush

The images below show the 3 screws that need to be removed and also the 4 buttons:

DSC00668.jpg


DSC00667.jpg
 
Wish I'd found this thread about an hour ago...just taken apart my spare console to check out the leds to check which ones needed, knew smd but more than that was unsure, just spent like an hour searching for the right ones online by comparing photos to the real thing :rolleyes: v v helpful thread tho, cheers mate (y)

can't wait to get started on mine now :D
 
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yes it will work, that is the speedo the kit is designed for (if you have a rev counter you will need to have a look how many LED's you need and order accordingly as there wont be enough in that kit)

if you dont need instructions you can just buy the LED's seperate

(you will need 1 for the fuel guage, 3 for the speedometer and 4 for the LCD display, you might be better off ordering a few extra in case you mess one up like i did... i got too much solder around the contact and it wouldnt go down flat so i used another one)

if you want to do your switch panel you will need 6 if you have the front fog switch and 5 if you do not (the electric window ones are a little tricky)

if you want, i could do a switch panel for you with the front fog switch for £20 posted, or you could do it yourself?
 
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neither, it is the SMD PLCC-2 LED's

http://www.crazyleds.co.uk/crazyled...v-led-light-bulbs-volt-led-light-bu-c-57.html

as you can see from the 1st pic in this thread, they are very small!

also, do not spend more than a few seconds at a time with the soldering iron and try to do it with as little trys as possible

also note that there is a small "groove" in one corner, this needs to be in the identical position to the one coming off (so take note before you de-solder the old ones as i forgot once and had to plug the pcb into the car and try the LED both ways to make sure.... very anoying!!)

hope this has helped :)
 
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