.

 

How long does it take to remove the boards? Any items to pay special attention to? I am not concerned as much with the soldering as I am the removal of the boards.

 

Check the link in my sig and look for the "Replacement Gauge Faces" How-to - removal instructions are in there. It's not too nerve-wracking, actually...

 

I totally love this mod. I sure wish I had the tools and skills to do the soldering part. I'm an avionics tech, but I don't deal with the micro/min repair side of the house.

Anyone following this thread live in Upper New England, and have the requisite skills?

 

i'd like you to do mine....how much? where are you located? and how fast woulf the t/a be/
bob

 

I'm in Georgia, N. Atlanta. The price will vary depending on exactly what you want done, but usually they average around $190. Turn around time also varies, usually about 12 days. I don't do this for a living, so it's all done in my free time.

I can do both gauges at the same time, or if you can't live without the MINI, you can send the gauges sepertely - you can drive your MINI without the tach (and speedo combo if you have a Nav or Chrono), just don't recommend driving it without the center piece (speedo, nav, chrono).

Cheers!
Mike.

 

I reallllly want to do this, but I can't do the soldering work myself, no way.

Where is everyone getting the replacement gauge faces/needles from?

 

Gauge faces are available at:

http://outmotoring.com/out_motoring_..._face_kit.html

You don't need replacement needles, but you CAN change their illumination color by swapping out the colored LED. Replacing the gauge faces is a BREEZE compared to resoldering all the fiddley surface-mount LEDs - it's actually pretty easy once you know how - I have a How-to linked in my sig - check it out.

 

I'm prolly gonna do both - get the face (color TBD) and have the LEDs switched out by someone who knows WTF they're doing

What about the other lamps that automatically glow orange in the cabin...I can't even remember other than the map lights, I need to go turn off the lights in the garage and go sit in the car. I eventually want EVERYTHING that currently glows orange to be blue - climate controls and all. Not sure quite how that's going to work, but if there's someone who wants to take a stab at it and void my warranty, feel free

 

The climate controls are hard to do. They have colored acrylic which makes changing the color very hard...

The cabil lights are easy to do. Just search cabin LED and some threads will pop up. They have links to sites that sell the bulbs and what size and quantity of each bulb you should get.

 

I've seen the insides of the toggle panel and they should be easy for someone with SMT soldering skills. The manual climate controls should also be simple. Auto climate controls I'm not so sure of but an example from essentialmini.co.uk is pictured below.

I haven't heard of anyone changing the color of the stock headunit, but it should also be possible. Most people would change the color by upgrading the headunit (aftermarket), and choosing one that does the color they want. Ian Cull (GBMINI) has actually changed blue and green LEDs in an aftermarket unit to orange. See here and here.

 

ok i'll get back to you .... looks awesome

bob

 

What started this whole thing is a blue head unit

But right now I think I am at a point where I'm out of control and just need to stop. I DO NOT NEED IN-DASH NAV! *deep breath*

 

Suuuuuuuuure you do... suuuuuuuuuuure you do....

 

Yeah, the HU can be changed, as can be the MFSW, Switch Panel, Auto AC, remote clock for '02 models. Manual AC is really, really difficult, since like Inferno said, it uses colored plastic. (Dremeling, hot-gluing, etc etc.)

Needles can NOT be done easily - sure the LEDS can be changed, but the needles are painted orange. I have yet to find a good paint or method to make the needles show up during the day AND catch the light well at night. I e-mailed essentialmini.co.uk two days ago, have yet to get a response.
Once / If I hear from them (I hope I do. I hope they're not going to answer me because they're afraid I'll take their business..) I can start offering the needles as part of a job.

Me.

 

I am bringing this thread back to life

Foxtrot_Xray hasn't been online since June, so does anyone else know how to do this? TIA

 

Well...... I guess not.

 

my son can do this....he's done his car and crotch rocket...whats the going rate. i'll ask him if hes interested
bobbyn

 

I'm here, I'm here. Really. Sorry all, RL crap been going on. I always reply to PMs, and love doing this stuff. Prices had to go up recently due to a few things (prices on LEDs now, since ROHS is required. Like anyone's had issues with LEAD before. Sheesh!), but I'm still doing them and LOVE taking on the jobs. I don't make any money off of them, mostly because I enjoy seeing what colors people enjoy doing. .. That's also why I've told people how to do it here. Noone ever said I was a smart businessman. .Sheesh..

 

Anyone with after market faces and this mod post a pic? I plan to get the blue faces from Cockpit specalties and I want to get white and blue LED's. I have seen some pics of the stock Mini faces with replacement LED's. Just want to see how well the LED's show up on after market faces. Whats the going rate for this mod? Where are you located? The Mini will still run with out the tack but what about the speedo? Please post some pics if you have them and if you can do the LED mod please PM me.

 

bump

 

foxtrot- since you live in ga, thnk i can ride down there for a weekend =] i am so =O. i know this might be a little old of a thread but hey.. i want it bad ! =]

 

I really want this, im driving a Jetta right now and my favorite thing about it is the Blue LED instrument panel. Im getting another MINI soon and i would love to have the same blue gauges. I wish someone did an exchange program.

 

I guess I will be the next one doing this. I just ordered a bunch of the LED's and already took the tach/speedo off the car!

I can't wait....I can't stand orange!!

 

I would love the white numbers with red needle...I had a CTS and I loved the white dials!
I also really like the blue numbers and white needles. Sexy!

*COUGHgroupbuy??*