Has anyone been able to change the color of the light-up display for the dash (speedometer, etc.)... is so, got pics? how-to's?

N.

 

So no one has done this huh?

 

Havent done it but im def interested if it can be done.

 

I think all you need to do is just take it apart and switch the light to get different colors.

 

Im interested too!
Anyone?

 

*bump*

...not enough traffic to this thread... c'mon, I'm sure some of you crazy light people know how to make this happen!!!

N.

 

Are the bezels colored? They look it to me. The light might be white, but the bezel cut-outs are orange. Not sure, but I am interested.

 

I know atleast one person that is looking into doing it, wait and see if he succeeds.

even if he does, this will be a lot of work to do, and noone could really do it for you.

 

this process is very time consuming. i did it with my old eclipse. and the process was pretty hard. for the eclipse i have to pull out the entire interior and change the tiny led bulbs behind every part of the bezel and temp. controls. i went from orangy-red to blue-purple, like in vw's. i know it can be done to an rsx as well so i' sure it can be done for the z, but it'll be difficult. this is one project that i will never do again, i don't think its worth the trouble. but if you ever do it, carefully document where all the screws and parts go and post pics when you're done.

 

Installing the lights are easy versus swapping out gauge faces. Finally! I can post a picture!

I'm currently working on my friend's civic gauge cluster. I only had one Luxeon at the time. I'm currently waiting for a new batch to come in.

Notice the difference in white color. I heard of people using "hiper white" bulbs. They're just blue tinted bulbs. The stock bulbs in this car is covered with a blue membrane to make it look "whiter."

The job? Not cheap. I'm charging him $10 per Luxeon install. For this job, it requires about 6 bulbs to be replaced.

For the 350Z. It IS possible to change the LCD backlighting. As for the gauges, you need to change gauge faces which will require needle removal. I heard it's easier with domestic cars. As for cars like Honda, needle removal is not easy and WILL damage the cluster.

 

Someone please find a pic!

 

Yup, I thought so. We will have to get someone to make replacement bezels. At least the LCD display can be changed too.

 

Wow, never knew there was interest in this in any car other than the S...

Anyway, if more than just a few of you are truly interested, I might be persuaded to make a kit for the Z. I have continually pushed off my dash upgrade kit for the S as other projects have called for my attention, such as footwell lights and lighted windscreen, like in this thread...

https://my350z.com/forum/showthread....threadid=43780

I had a nice setup all planned out for the S...variable color in different portions of the dash (fully user selectable), color changes as VTEC cams kick in, autmoatic brightness adjustment for daytime/nighttime driving, etc. For more details, check out this link on S2ki

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showth...pgrade+cluster

 

even in a kit, Id imagine the most you could do is put together the LEDs, the hard part still remains to open the dash and install them all...

 

It might be possible to mount the Luxeon directly to the plastic screw-in base. That would be the easy part.

The hard part is looping the wire through the holes. It's hard to describe. Maybe a cheap drawing would help.t

 

True, but I think this is going to be a problem with any type of mod like this. What I would provide would be a board with the LEDs installed and programmed and a pigtail coming off of one side. To install, you would follow the included directions to remove the appropriate dash parts, run and tap the appropriate wires, and put it all back together. Definitely not a project for the timid, but from the types of projects I've seen people doing on this board, it dfoesn't sound like there are too many timid people here. Also, you could always pay a local audio installer to do it for you...I suggest that to people who're too timid to even attempt my lighted windscreen install.

Not an ideal situation, but it's probably the best we can do.

 

macgyver, I'd be interested in changing out my lights...I live relatively close to you, how much would you charge?

 

Well, there's no board yet. I'm not interested in spending time taking apart a dash just to replace a few bulbs, I'm talking about a complete solution that will offer more functionality than just a bulb swap would allow. For more info on what I'm talking about, see here...

http://forums.s2ki.com/forums/showth...luster+upgrade

I didn't realize there would be interest in other vehicles since the S uses the LCD and lights in a more complete fashion than most. I don't spend much time around other cars, so I wouldn't have a clue if another vehicle existed that would benefit...if one exists, like the Z, I could be tempted to push the production schedule up a bit.

 

I can be a test car

 

I know this is hard to ask, but it would be interesting to pull the clusters out of a wrecked Z and attempt to dissect it.

It's about $800 for a new cluster. :-/

I won't be the one replacing the gauge faces though. I'll send it off to a professional who can make the faces and install them.

I'll be the one attempting to change out the lights.

Just a thought....