Gauge Cluster Color

[kdossantos]

Me again - another question.

I want to change the color of my dash panel from that ugle orange to like an indiglo blue. Can this be done easliy?
Modified by kdossantos at 7:04 PM 11/26/2007

[Andy_V35Sky_350GT]

A few people have done it, do a search, its not exactly easy, you just can't change the LEDS, the actual cluster has film over the top which needs to be sanded back.

[kdossantos]

Please tell me you're kidding

I'm a girl - and will never figure that one out

I guess I'll keep looking.

Thank you

[joe603]

It's not an easy fix..only a few have done it.

[zozoka1212]

Also time consuming.

zozo

[04G356MT]

of said girl....

[k@osx71]

I was considering doing it as well until I read how the others have done it, and decided the orange glow wasn't so ugly after all. They took the entire panel off, sanded off the film, as for the leds, they had to individually solder every single led off from the circuit unit and back on with the blue leds, which was well over 20 tiny little leds... NO THANKS!

[G_whizz]

Yup... HUGE job!! Looks really hawt when when it's done though... I've asked myself since day 1 ... why orange?? Prolly because it's easier on the eyes?? I dunno... baffles me..

[chad1200]

it's much easier to replace your interior lights....





$40 LED replacement bulbs available in white, red, purple, orange, blue, and green. if i can do it, you can!

i'm with you, though. i like Audi's dash lights WAY better than mine. the 07's G lights are great, too.

[kdossantos]

Now that's hot too! But i'm screwed if I needed regular lighting in there...hmm? can't have everything right?

[k@osx71]

Well you can do what I did, I changed the map lights to super white leds, and changed the step/courtesy lights to blue leds. It looks awesome at night, when I use the key fob to open the doors, and the white lights shine up my interior. looks sweet~!

[kdossantos]

So blue lights on the top and brite white LEDs on the doors?

[k@osx71]

well i did it the opposite. Blue lights on the doors when you open, and super bright whites on top so the interior is more visible than stock lights.

[Number1gsxxr]

I've asked myself since day 1 ... why orange?? Prolly because it's easier on the eyes?? I dunno... baffles me..

I personaly believe that infiniti did it to compare to BMW

[slobo7x]

bmw uses more of a red color then orange, but good job infinit(sarcasm off)

I changed mine to red: here is my DIY

*link removed by G_whizz... can't post a link to a competing forum*

I wish I could figure out how to take pictures at night and show you, it just looks amazing..

[risingson]

i also really want mine blue... i hate warm colors, but the orange is growing on my a little.id really like to see some pics of the peoples cars that did this

[G_whizz]

Slobo... although I'm sure your intention was to help other members here

If you would like to cut/paste/post your write up here.. you may do so. But we can' allow links to another forum... I'm sure you can understand!

[slobo7x]

oh ok, sorry.. did not know that.

I have some more editing to do so when I'm done I'll post something here.

Thanks

[whiteblazer01]

Here are some pics of the cluster in blue




Modified by whiteblazer01 at 3:31 PM 1/23/2008

[infinititech1]

yes not very easy to do...

[toddnos]

i think the orange is really nice. wouldnt want to change it.

[itgogitrev]

For anyone that has the link to do that, could you email it to me since it can't be posted here? I would really like to do this and it doesn't really seem like it'd be THAT bad. I changed my cluster in my old MK3 GTI, which wasn't backlit at all. It had 4 small incandescent lights that acted as spotlights to a completely opaque set of gauge faces. I ended up making new faces to mimic the originals out of thin plexiglass and then make plastic shields to outline the numbers and text. It took forever, plus I had to wire and solder in 27 LEDs to make it work. But it was totally worth it when it was done.

email is abeckervwATyahoo.com

[kdossantos]

OMG I want that!!! Is that your car?

[G_whizz]

Why not just copy and paste your write up here with pics?? Did you do the write up?

I'm sure you can understand why NICO wouldn't want someone posting a link to send people to a competing forum??

[CYO44Baseball32]

I want to change my interior loghts too, the door lights and the map lights. If you could tell me how you did and what bulbs you used I would appreciate it. Thank you

[Focusedintntions]

As a heads up....the reason car manufacturers use red/orange incadescent lights is b/c it messes with your night vision the least. In the dark your eyes don't dialate when red light hits them, so in car, it promotes better night vision to help you see down the road. Think of a dark room, they use dim redlight in there, and army flashlights have red filters for this reason too. Ironically from what i can remember, I think blue is one of the worst colors for night vision. b/c of that reason it always bewildered me why audi used blue, it looks cool but not very good for the eyes at night.

[smockers83]

As a heads up....the reason car manufacturers use red/orange incadescent lights is b/c it messes with your night vision the least. In the dark your eyes don't dialate when red light hits them, so in car, it promotes better night vision to help you see down the road. Think of a dark room, they use dim redlight in there, and army flashlights have red filters for this reason too. Ironically from what i can remember, I think blue is one of the worst colors for night vision. b/c of that reason it always bewildered me why audi used blue, it looks cool but not very good for the eyes at night.

Exactly right. Blue is a much more "intense" color than red or orange.

[champagneG35]

As a heads up....the reason car manufacturers use red/orange incadescent lights is b/c it messes with your night vision the least. In the dark your eyes don't dialate when red light hits them, so in car, it promotes better night vision to help you see down the road. Think of a dark room, they use dim redlight in there, and army flashlights have red filters for this reason too. Ironically from what i can remember, I think blue is one of the worst colors for night vision. b/c of that reason it always bewildered me why audi used blue, it looks cool but not very good for the eyes at night.

Exactly right. Blue is a much more "intense" color than red or orange.

+1

[cobugi]

Where did you get your lights and what kind are they?

[cobugi]

Oh I reall

well i did it the opposite. Blue lights on the doors when you open, and super bright whites on top so the interior is more visible than stock lights.

Oh I really like that idea!Do you have pictures? Where did you get your lights and what kind are they?