Nawww, those are the SMT LED's used for the circuit board. not-so-rednwhitecooper said he had to remove the gels or something like that for the climate control, apparently it's different.

Well, I went back and changed my needles, painted them and then realized that you also have to change the leds under it. I only have 3 whites left so I did the tach, going to do the speedo this week once the others I ordered get here! Also changed the diffuser to a white sheet of paper and it's MUCH brighter! Thanks for that tip!

Clock:


New Tach with Needles!

 

tip = np.

ive changed both styles of climate control sofar. take of photo of the "gel" your talking about... i would be really interested in seeing it if you manage to get him to point it out.

maybe the "gels" he is mentioning are like studio lighting gels.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/File:Many_color_gels.jpg

these are not the same as a diffuser, and are not in our vehicles. they are for changing the color of a white light, or blending. the diffuser("gel") is orange, and the back light is orange, negating any color change effect; making it strictly a diffuser. pop a different backlight color in, and i guess you could call it a gel... or more of a filter in this case.

If you continued to use the stock "diffuser", your color(blue) would be very dim since blue light will not travel well through an orange medium. White, would still be orange, Red would work better than most, Green would most likely be very dim, and overall, anything but orange would suck as a back light.

As we can see, This is an important part to change if your changing back lights, and cannot be gone without since the light would be blinding, uneven, and make the lcd unreadable at night.

pro-tip: make sure you put the lcd's back in correctly, and test before reassemble. (exp. point)

btw, i really like your gauges, they look great.


-Ryan

 

Yeah I understand what your talking about. So when I am doing the climate control, (how many LEDs will I need) I will just change the led and then the diffuser to a thin white paper and that's it? Thanks again! Can't wait to do my other needles!

 

Has anyone been able to change the display on the climate control?

I dont believe it is lcd...

 

the climate control requires alot. if its the auto climate, its like 14 to 18.
8 just behind the LCD.

then 1 for how ever many switches you have on your toggle board. (windows etc..)

yes, i did, and It definitely is. 8 leds just behind that little sucker.


-Ryan

 

I have manual a/c. Wonder how many it is! Want to do it this week!

 

haha... alot less. maybe abou t10/15 leds.

i havent done mine yet either, but im gunna... so well see.


-Ryan

 

I misunderstood not-so-rednwhitecooper, He was talking about the diffuser, my mistake. I finished my needles, will take a picture tonight, they look awesome! Also did the toggle bank. Can the cigarette outlet be changed? Also, are they bulbs or LED's in the manual A/C? Thanks for all the help everyone! This mod has completely changed the interior on the car!

 

Here ya go! Finished the Speedo completely! Used white paint on the gas/temp/tach needles and blue sharpie for the speed. Also did the toggle bank! Then I noticed there were LED's at the bottom of it, going to change those to white, I want to do the cigarette outlet blue on the inside the the ring around it in white if it's possible, if not then just blue!

Speedo:


Toggle Bank:

(Didn't even scratch off the orange paint on the inside, the LED's shine through!)

Other LED's I found!
I noticed that there are two of them facing down that are soldered on but there is an open space in between the two that doesn't have an LED on it, is one supposed to be there? I wish I would have taken a picture!

 

Gumby,

it seems that they are configured a certain way to only use a certain configuration.

also, you can solder plcc-2 leds on thier side. thats what i do.

this seems to be the normal configurations that ive seen.

 

but if you put one in, you may need to put a load resistor in too.

Matt

 

Ian Cull (GBMINI) did a writeup and detailed how-to photo gallery on adding the 3rd LED. Yes, a resistor needs to be installed.

 

Wonder why they left that space open...hmmmm...I am going to solder those on the side! Great idea! Didn't want to order just two of those and I have a lot left! I will also be doing the third LED Mod for sure!!!! And making them brighter! Thanks for the info everyone! This site is great!

 

is it safe to unplug the speedo's circuitry? Outmotorings gauge face plates instructuctions say its not. So do I need to sit and solder in my car? Or can I remove it.. already did the lights in my Tach and they look fab. Really anxious to get the speedo done

 

just don't start the car with it out.

Also, all of you that have done this should think about the InvisiLens change as well. You all know how to take the gauges apart, and the A/R coating really makes the gauges pop!

This is the dual gauge cluster with one lens replaced with the InvisiLens.

rkw here on NAM (Richard Woo) came up with this stuff, it's laser cut for good fit and nice cuts. Richard approached FES to bring it to you all, the greater Mini community. Anyway, I think this would be a perfect mate to the LED mods.

Matt

 

I have that duel setup and I like the way that glass looks may have to pick that up when I get a chance

 

same here. well, I've broken my Tach. Its useless but at least it looks fantastic with the new lights. Doing speedo now. Will post pics when finished.

 

Hey Guys... Im new! :-D

I really wana change the colour of my dials to show blue markers around the clocks with orage numbers (i have the dual gauge) but i dont wana start pulling the leds out of my circuit boards :-S ill break it and ive never done soldering etc

any ideas on what i can do? i wana keep it cheap cos it costs me enough to keep petrol in the car LOL

i thought it would be a simple pull a bulb out, put a new colour bulb back in but i was wrong LMAO.

can i buy new clocks for a good price or will that create probs with ECU computer?

loving all the tips guys n girls. i changed my sidelights the other day with your help

 

Leave it alone. Take it to someone who knows what they are doing.

You're looking at over $1500 bucks in parts to replace if you mess up, not including the labor to code all the new parts.

 

Little LED's.

HVAC LCD, OEM radio and seat heater buttons are all thats left.

 

Looks real nice!!!!

 

cheers Not-so-rednwhite-or-darksilvernwhite-but-electricbluenblackcooper LMAO

That clock looks the dogs blx! im gutted that im not so technical with the circuitry, id love to be able to do that kinda mod to mine. its gona cost me a fortune to have what i want done to mine.

JRoca... your profile pic looks exactly how i want mine. Love the look of those dials.
ill take some pics of my interior shortly ive done a bit to mine so far but no internals other than straight swap bulbs. got blue n black leather so went for blue interior lighting throughout hence why i want the blue clocks. i dont mind the orange console lights cos i think blue n orage go quite well together.

 

Thanks,, mine is still a work in progress, hope to have it all done by the spring.
Good luck on yours !!!

 

 

the blues lookin good guys!!!!!!!