How to change instrument cluster lights to 8P S3 style** with pics**

[S3 Nattie]

Ok, I want to change my lights on my dials to the white, like the new S3 and TT. Does anyone know what bulbs I will need for them and how do you remove them.

Thanks Nathan

UPDATE See here for completed pictures http://www.audi-sport.net/vb/showth...8P-S3-style**-with-pics**&p=961874#post961874

 

[Imteyaz]

I don't think it's straightforward changing them as the use sandwich type LED's AFAIK.

If you are any good at soldering then maybe it's possible but it's certainly not as simple as replacing a few bulbs.

 

[HTC]

Surface mount LEDs like you find on mobile phones etc. If you are good with a soldering iron then I'm sure it's possible. Not for the faint hearted though.

 

[Dani_B19]

The lights are white anyways, its the dial matt's that are red. I want todo it but no where seems to seel the dial matt's.

 

[S3 Nattie]

I didnt think it would be a straight swap with these. If the bulbs are white I might scrap off the red stuff at the back, is that possible.

 

[MURRAYS444]

I was trying to get that sorted today as my ESP and ABS lights are coming on but are very faint I was told by a specialist that they would send the entire instrument cluster away to be fixed by another specialist does anyone know if this is right he also said that if the ABS light wasn’t coming up on the dash when starting the car it was an MOT failure is this right but can you fix this yourself???

 

[Westy]

Would it not be easier to find dials from another vag car that are the colour you want?

 

[S3 Nattie]

I see what you mean but to do a DIS repair you have to take the dials off dont you. I done it on a previous car and just srcapped the red stuff on the back off.

Dials from others cars wont be calibrated

 

[Westy]

No I mean just swap over the dial discs not the whole dis and needles.

 

[RyanS3TT]

this thread is intresting, Nattie, if you give this a go can you post up pictures because i might try sounds like a worth while mod.. for free

<<Ryan

 

[Lemon S3]

I've changed all the interior leds on an astra from yellow to blue and it was a painstaking and fiddly job (a lot of soldering envolved) and took about 2 days but it did look good.

 

[S3 Nattie]

Westle - I mean 60mph on a new S3 or TT dials aint in the same place as where it is on our S3 so dont think you could just swap the discs, do you get me.

Well on my previous car it was dead easy to change the bulbs over or take the backing off the back of the dials. I had white Lockwood dials and chrome outer rims, looked pretty good.

Im going to have a go at repairing my DIS soon so will have a look to see if I can do something with the dials.

 

[Westy]

Ah yes, I see what you mean now.

Well let us know what you do Nattie and get some photos up if you do it.

 

[ssbnreso]

Well had a go at this today!

Clocks out

Before taking out had a look at the led's these are RED not WHITE

Thought i'd do the clock first in case it went pear shaped!

Scraped the orange off with a stanley blade (really easy)
Then used a marker to apply white paint

Marker

Then put all back together

Reassembled

Close up picture of clock

Will get some photo's tonight when it's dark to see what it looks like,

Not sure what it will look like with red light behind?

If you try changing the led's i'm assuming you would lose all or the red numbers etc

Any comments more than welcome:icon_thumright:

 

[RyanS3TT]

Looks good ssbnreso.. Looking forward to seeing them when its dark.

<<Ryan

 

[Westy]

Looks much better mate. Luckily the S3 already has white needles

 

[ssbnreso]

Looks good ssbnreso.. Looking forward to seeing them when its dark.

<<Ryan

Have a feeling they might be pink

 

[S3 Nattie]

How does it look at the back for taking the dials out or the bulbs

 

[ssbnreso]

How does it look at the back for taking the dials out or the bulbs

Easy if your into micro soldering!

Looks like it would be a bit of a mare!

 

[A3Tom]

Hmmm, mine are really light blue (almost white) as standard?.

 

[ssbnreso]

Heres the nicght time photo's Remember only done the clock:

compared to day time:

As you can see no differance between the needles at night!

As i said in previous post led's are red hence even with a white needle the red light just reflects off the white needle.

The only way to get a white needle at night would be to change the led's and as the needles don't have there own individual led's you would need to change them all and then if you wanted coloured numbers and markings you would need some sort of coloured film on the back of the clocks IMO

Going to do the rest of the needles today (I like the daytime effect anyway) and will have a closer look at the led's and get some phots up.

 

[S3 Nattie]

Thanks a lot for that info, very useful. Do you know where I maybe be able to get white LED's for this.

 

[ssbnreso]

Took the rest of the dials off and had a closer look at the led's:

The speedo, rev counter, fuel and temp gauges have their own led's:

Only the clock doesn't:

but it would be quite easy to make a shroud for these two led's

You can get the led's from the net ot maplin but what sort they are i've no idea?

If anybody could tell me what type of led's they are i would be temted to give it a go!

 

[MURRAYS444]

My esp abs and my imobiliser light are very low and there is a place in england that fix the unit if u don't mind not having ur car for a week!!!

 

[ssbnreso]

Ordered a couple of led's from here:

http://www.phenoptix.com/shop/index.php

Will try changing a couple mid week :icon_thumright:

 

[S3 Nattie]

Have you got a link for the exact bulbs you ordered as I dont know which ones to get

 

[Lemon S3]

Not the greatest of photoshops as it took me 30 seconds but this is to give you an idea of what it will look like when done.

 

[ssbnreso]

Have you got a link for the exact bulbs you ordered as I dont know which ones to get

ordered these ones

http://www.phenoptix.com/shop/3mm-dome-c-21_35_36.html

Not sure if there correct but for the price it was worth a punt!

Will let you know when they come

 

[ssbnreso]

Not the greatest of photoshops as it took me 30 seconds but this is to give you an idea of what it will look like when done.

Ordered blue ones

thought i'd go for a reversed golf look!

 

[MURRAYS444]

Mate your dials look sweet great mod for not much money!!!

 

[S3 Nattie]

Well S3's come like that standard, red dials with whhite needles. Hopefully its possible without to much effort to change the dials to white

 

[Khufu]

go the whole hog while your at it : http://www.impconcepts.com/audis4boostgaugeforsale.htm

 

[ssbnreso]

go the whole hog while your at it : http://www.impconcepts.com/audis4boostgaugeforsale.htm

Or even this http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1Wnu7OFZ0hQ

Think i'll just try changing the colour first! lol

 

[Lemon S3]

Well S3's come like that standard, red dials with whhite needles. Hopefully its possible without to much effort to change the dials to white

Yeh I have no idea why I done that photoshop when I could of just taken a photo of my own dials lol.

 

[Westy]

Your DIS is mullered!

 

[ssbnreso]

ordered these ones

http://www.phenoptix.com/shop/3mm-dome-c-21_35_36.html

Not sure if there correct but for the price it was worth a punt!

Will let you know when they come

They came, they were wrong

But found these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360220886994&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Think these are definetly the ones (fingers crossed)

Should come tomorrow, if so will fit on thursday!

 

[Lemon S3]

Your DIS is mullered!

Oh that's really good to what it's normally like as it was cold, when it's warm it's unreadable.

They came, they were wrong

But found these:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360220886994&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

Think these are definetly the ones (fingers crossed)

Should come tomorrow, if so will fit on thursday!

I'm pretty sure you want these
http://www.phenoptix.com/shop/plcc2-leds-c-21_30_38.html

 

[sulaiman]

Get some facelift clocks they have white illumination as standard....and you'll get a digital clock and date display.

 

[ssbnreso]

Well finally got the right led's!

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=360227326526&ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT

and finally got round to fitting them

Removed pod and then dismantelled it:

Needles removed

White plastic surround just clips off:

When i got it all apart it bcame obvious that only the rev counter and speedo have thier own individual led's for the needles

Just changed these four as the others would have also changed the coulour of the face, anyway whats the two most important dials!

Really quite easy to change led's used this as a guide:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dotVYFoORUk

Used my 20 yr old soldering iron not a flash one like his!

this is the result (daylight):

Looks better in the flesh!

Think photo shows how bright white the two dials are compared to the others

Will get a night time photo tonight!

Not a bad mod for £2.50:icon_thumright:

 

[Westy]

Nice work