Instrumental Cluster in BLUE!! *Pics*

[argos]

How do i change my instrumental cluster to ENTIRELY Blue?? i want to replace all the orange.

http://img169.imageshack.us/img169/9707/25066767fullhn8.jpg
http://memimage.cardomain.net/member_images/10/web/2506000-2506999/2506676_6_full.jpg

[WhiteSpeed3]

ask the biz he has done it already

[Gizzmo_jr]

It's a dealer option...

j/k You've gotta take apart the cluster, headunit, etc completely until the PCB (Printed Circuit Board) and remove then replace the red surface mount LED's with blue ones.

[MattC]

wow that looks funky half done! haha

Now, I understand how you would change all the LEDs to be blue, but how to you change the cig lighter to be blue? on my car its powered by a white bulb covered in OJ plastic.

do they sell those fittings in blue?

[Jeff-TheBiz]

Havent done the cluster yet, But I have the LEDs on standby.

Just waiting for a couple of days to work on it



Now, I understand how you would change all the LEDs to be blue, but how to you change the cig lighter to be blue? on my car its powered by a white bulb covered in OJ plastic.

do they sell those fittings in blue?

ANYONE????

Also does anyone know if this part can be found in white? or clear?

[argos]

Havent done the cluster yet, But I have the LEDs on standby.

Just waiting for a couple of days to work on it




ANYONE????

Also does anyone know if this part can be found in white? or clear?

Can you post pics when your done??

Is it possible to get everything lit in blue? (includeing the engine/battery/etc light)??

Thanks!

[McGuyver_3]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/bmw_racing/CIMG1512.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/bmw_racing/CIMG1513.jpg
did this a while ago

[MattC]

IMO. itd be cool to make the needle light bright white against the blue numbers.

[McGuyver_3]

yeah that would be cool and that has been myplan for a while but i dont feel like pulling the cluster apart again. Aligning the as guage was so difficult last time

[argos]

great work McGuyver. How long did it take you to do?

[Zubbie]

Are you gonna change your AC/Heat controls as well??

[McGuyver_3]

great work McGuyver. How long did it take you to do?

Thanks
1)swapping the leds approx (combo with 3) 20-30 mins
2)removing the cluster and breaking it down 20mins
3)running up and downstairs making sure they light up 20-30mins
4)aligning the gas guage up so it would work properly 20-30mins lol


Are you gonna change your AC/Heat controls as well??
Eventually i will just i am holding back with it because it is a pain to do

[Zubbie]

Thanks
1)swapping the leds approx (combo with 3) 20-30 mins
2)removing the cluster and breaking it down 20mins
3)running up and downstairs making sure they light up 20-30mins
4)aligning the gas guage up so it would work properly 20-30mins lol


THATS IT?!?!
It took me almost 8 hours just to do my Headunit and LCD screen



Eventually i will just i am holding back with it because it is a pain to do

Yea I know, I've tried to remove the controls without taking apart the entire dash, but I haven't gotten it. The only way is to disconnect the AC/Heat controls from the front of the car.

[McGuyver_3]

THATS IT?!?!
It took me almost 8 hours just to do my Headunit and LCD screen



Yea I know, I've tried to remove the controls without taking apart the entire dash, but I haven't gotten it. The only way is to disconnect the AC/Heat controls from the front of the car.


Thats not 100% correct there is a way to remove it without taking it out all the way there is a how to on the american boards. I cannot find the link but if i do i will post it here so you can all see

[Tokyo Drift]

I was planning to do this mod too but i think it's a hard work for me
and taking long time to finish. but someday i'll try

[TYLERM7]

are you guys talking about this... http://i33.photobucket.com/albums/d54/autumn_rider_1/CIMG0060.jpg

[-RJ3-]

Wow Tyler, the last I saw your threads it was 12... You've posted alot here!!! You might be as fast as Broli LOL!

btw...Nice work on the 3.

[TYLERM7]

haha well i was kinda bored last night, and its like i said before, ppl are a little more friendly here than other forums, so its not hard to just get carried away talking about crap. thanks for the complement though. i was actually thinking about doing the same thing to my hood!!! does yours go to the roof as well?

[-RJ3-]

yessir!!! Tried the trunk but it doesnt follow the lines.

[Gizzmo_jr]

Tyler, where did you get your 10mm neo-wedge LED's or bulbs? I'm looking for LED ones but at a good price, autolumination's shipping is f***ing stupid.

[TYLERM7]

THAT WAS KINDA WHAT I THOUGHT. BUT THE ROOF FOLLOWS THE HOOD LINES NICELY! my pops own's a sign shop, and i have any kind of vinyl at my conv. so i was gunna wrap my hood like yours in black just to see what it would look like. also thought about wrapping it in carbon fiber. more for looks than performance, but just to see what it would look like. GIZZMO, ill have to post the link later, cuz im at work right now, and the link is saved on my comp. at home. not sure where i got em', but it was like $10 bucks shipped for the 2 led's... not a bad deal

[Gizzmo_jr]

That be great bud, thanks.

[TYLERM7]

no problem man. i get off work around 10 or so EASTERN time so i will try and do it as soon as i get home if i can remember. if i dont, just PM me and ill do it!

[-RJ3-]

LOL!!! Thats what I was going to do this year as well... CF is popular these days, I'm curious how it would look on our cars....

Sign shop!!! nice.. I get my work done at vehiclewrapz...

[TYLERM7]

well my dad and i own a "fastsigns" here in louisville, so i kinda have a few perks tat come with the business! pretty sweet

[TYLERM7]

well gizzmo, i got bad news man. i did actually get them from autolumination... maybe ist cheaper to have them shipped to me in the states. and its more since ur in canada. that is where you are right?

[McGuyver_3]

you can get these lights off of ebay type in 1206

LEDs you need (http://search.ebay.ca/search/search.dll?from=R40&_trksid=m37&satitle=1206&category0=)

[Gizzmo_jr]

Na it's those special twist lock Neo-wedge (8mm/10mm/12mm) bulbs that you can get in LED form. I'll just bite the bullet I suppose on autolumination, unfortunately they seem to be the only good source for a LED converted one, rather then a replacement blue glass bulb.

[TYLERM7]

yea i wouldnt buy anything but LED. and to be honest with you man, i would fork up another $3.00 and buy three LED'S instead of two, incase you loose one, or drop one, or something, b/c it sucks really really bad having to do all that work for nothing! trust me!!!! haha

[silvermist99]

anyone tried white LED like the rx8. I think it'll be easier to read than blue.

http://us.autos1.yimg.com/img.autos.yahoo.com/izp/mazda_rx8_sport_2008_dashboard_instrumentcluster_6 40x480.jpg

[Gizzmo_jr]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/bmw_racing/CIMG2221.jpg
Source (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=101133.msg2126096#msg2126096)

[McGuyver_3]

i wish mine was as sharp as the rx8 one i am jealous now lol

[Hives]

Looks sick. I wish I could do that, but I dont have the patients or time though. Nice work!

[chills96]

How to for instrument cluster & radio
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=31367.0

Apparently there is a way to remove the heat/ac controls and change the color. On the back of the panel that let's the light through is just red/orange paint. People have just sanded it off, and replaced the white bulb with a blue led.

I don't know how, but there is a guide somewhere on m3f

[silvermist99]

new way of doing it.. sand the orange coat off the cluster

http://www.lineusup.com/car/led/38.jpg

source:
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=31367.0

[huyzel]

OMFG... that looks so nice.

[Gizzmo_jr]

bah, that has the newer white needles thou. Looks great.

edit: maybe not

[LockOut]

That looks f'n incredible... if only I had the balls to do that to my own cluster and HU... haha

[McGuyver_3]

damn i have been outdone again that looks amazing

[JiNuWiNe]

new way of doing it.. sand the orange coat off the cluster

http://www.lineusup.com/car/led/38.jpg

source:
http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=31367.0

Would anyone be happy to help me to do that??

[Ogata]

Would anyone be happy to help me to do that??

That would be sick but the lux has the blue lining outside. It would probably be a whole new different category no?

[oni]

Didn't the Biz changed his cluster as well as radio leds to blue?

[mit-gee-mui]

Didn't the Biz changed his cluster as well as radio leds to blue?
http://www.torontomazda3.ca/forum/showthread.php?t=15814&highlight=cluster

[Sean Newman]

Instead of pestering the guys on this board with giving up their weekends, has anyone tried to just take the boards to an electronics store and getting them to do it? If they're pros, I can't see it taking more than two hours so it'll be $100 or so. Anyone tried? I'm all about tinkering but electrical scares me.

[Ogata]

Instead of pestering the guys on this board with giving up their weekends, has anyone tried to just take the boards to an electronics store and getting them to do it? If they're pros, I can't see it taking more than two hours so it'll be $100 or so. Anyone tried? I'm all about tinkering but electrical scares me.

Sounds like a business that someone can do if they know their electronics 101. I myself am not comfortable with a soldering iron though I wish i was.

[RallyPlaya]

That Looks Amazing if Dan (McGuyver Can Do this) im down for it

[x_o_k_x]

http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/bmw_racing/CIMG1512.jpg
http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a190/bmw_racing/CIMG1513.jpg
did this a while ago

whats with the red spot? make it blue/black too. But looks freaking awaesome!

[JiNuWiNe]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind paying someone to do this. Any takers?

[RallyPlaya]

Yeah, I wouldn't mind paying someone to do this. Any takers?

I believe McGuyver Can do this mod pm him

[McGuyver_3]

Hey i have been tipped off by the owner of the cluster posted of how to do it like his. once i get around to disasembeling mine again i will post pics of what my cluster looks like :)

[LockOut]

Hey i have been tipped off by the owner of the cluster posted of how to do it like his. once i get around to disasembeling mine again i will post pics of what my cluster looks like :)
That's awesome! Are you doing the HU/climate controls, too?
I'm very interested in this, including the white needles. Please do post pics so we know how it turns out... And post up a price estimate, too ;) I think you might get a bit of business for this.

[slidxe]

Hey for the ones who have done this mod, i have a question. I was reading up on the walkthrough http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=26798.0 and there appears to be a needle problem? is this an easy fix?

[btown-mazda]

I would definitely be interested in getting someone (*cough*) to do my gauge clusters in that blue/white combo.

[Aceius]

If you guys wanna try it out or something I'm up for the challenge of the soldering and electronics (part of my comp eng. program). Let me know maybe we can meet up or something. I've got a soldering kit and what not.
Give me a shout, and i'll try my best.

-Mike

[M3Nick]

I just finished my head unit last weekend, and waiting for my white LEDs to arrive to finish my instrument cluster... Also looking for some frosted white EL paint for the needles for a unique look... its hard to come by, though.

If anyone is following this guide (http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=26798.0), I would do one slight modification to them:

1. After you sand the red film off the areas of your printed "gauge label" (for lack of a better name) .... DO NOT colour on it directly. You might want to change it later, or you might screw up.

2. Go to Staples / any office place and pick up a package or so TRANSPARENCIES (overhead projector slides) while you're getting the sharpies.

3. Stencil the shape of your "gauge label" onto the transparenc(y/ies), and cut it out.

5. Find a transparent surface light can shine up through (glass table works well) and place your "gauge label" on it with a light behind.

6. With the "gauge label" on the top of the glass table with the light shining up through it, colour the spots you want blue on the transparency sheet.

7. . Find some way to attach it - I'm probably just going to slide it between the white plastic and the PCB and when I remount it to the instrument cluster. Something like this:



LED >>|>> TRANSPARENCY >>|>> GAUGE LABEL >>|>> WHITE PLASTIC >>> (person viewing)


I'll be doing mine soon, I'll be sure to take lots of pics :)

[M3Nick]

I'm probably just going to slide it between the white plastic and the PCB and when I remount it to the instrument cluster.

Between these two pieces, if anyone is unclear...

http://www.lineusup.com/car/cluster/21.jpg


Image is a shameless steal from the how-to.

[McGuyver_3]

I would definitely be interested in getting someone (*cough*) to do my gauge clusters in that blue/white combo.

I will do it for you but it will cost lol it is a game of patience. you use to much heat the saughter destroys the circuit board you use to little heat you have a bad saughter and no contact points. although i have to get my cluster repaired. for some reason 2 of my bulbs are out and i tested them they are good. I do have a used cluster in there from another car so that may be the issue as to why but tilli find out i still wonder haha. I know that the leds i use are ok for the circuit board.

[M3Nick]

McGuyver, when I finish mine, we should swap notes :)

[btown-mazda]

I will do it for you but it will cost lol it is a game of patience. you use to much heat the saughter destroys the circuit board you use to little heat you have a bad saughter and no contact points. although i have to get my cluster repaired. for some reason 2 of my bulbs are out and i tested them they are good. I do have a used cluster in there from another car so that may be the issue as to why but tilli find out i still wonder haha. I know that the leds i use are ok for the circuit board.

Sounds good, I'll hit you up mid-Aug for this project.

[slidxe]

are the circuit boards different on the 2.0 n 2.3?

[McGuyver_3]

the circuit boards do differ from 2.3 to 2.0 because the 2.3 has the blue leds on it for the illumination at the top for the chrome rings the 2.0 doesnt. The auto and the standard are 2 different worlds