Dash LEDs and other WIP lighting mods - WITH PHOTOS...

[randap]

I'm part way through my planned lighting mods on my MC. I now have the following (photos are a little white and don't do it justice):

1) Speedo and rev counter LEDs changed to blue, with red needles



2) Clock LED changed to blue
3) Head unit with blue numbers etc
4) Front footwell blue LED lightbars




5) Main interior light changed to blue LED (interior side lights as OEM)
6) Halo exterior side lights with Osram indicator bulbs

I've also installed two accessory mounting brackets to the rev counter for my OriginB2 and bluetooth phone thingy - picture shows my Parrot bluetooth unit.



I'm now planning the next stage.....

1) Blue LED lightbars under the driver and passenger seats to light up the rear footwells
2) Blue LEDs to accent the vents and door handles (need to work out how to splice into the dash lights rather than interior light)
3) Puddle lights in the doors as per mikeythemini's car at the MINI2 ball (not OEM style)

I have to say, everything looks fan-ruddy-tastic. There are some more photos in my gallery here.

So, thanks have to go to....

Si (cooper_si) at EssentialMINI.co.uk for the dash work. Great service, great coffee and nice lounge (female influence methinks ). Si also did me a MTH ECU remap at the same time.

Mike (mikeythemini) at newministuff. Ordered the accessory brackets and halo lights at 2:30pm on Friday, and I'd received and installed them by 12noon on Sat. Can't fault service like that - it's what keeps me going back to him.

Halfords (surprised me too) for LED lightbars and interior LED bulb.

Fitting the LED lightbars was really easy. Hardest part was finding somewhere to fit them (they are 9in) - in hindsight, 6in bars would probably fit better. Eventually I decided to attach them with heavy duty velco (back up cable tie on driver's side) to the plastic cross beams under the dash next to the OEM lights. Because the ends of the lightbar wires were tinned, I found they fitted very snugly into the holes of the OEM footwell light plug, then I secured them with tape. No splicing required!!!

Fitting the halo sidelights was a bit more tricky. Access is tight, so I'd recommend removing all the front bumper screws (2 Phillips, 1 Torx and 1 10mm hex bolt and one fiddly 9mm hex bolt via the wheel arch - you can leave the middle hex bolt under the bumper), and sliding the top of the bumper forwards over the bumper mount. This gives plenty of access. I found that you could remove the OEM light unit without loosening the bumper, but the halo unit is bigger. I also dropped a screw and my screw driver inside the bumper, since removing and replacing the bottom light cluster mount screw without loosening the bumper is really fiddly

[mattyc]

sounds good

[Redwytch]

Nice!! Its just what I want to do to our EB/B MC, but hubby wont let me yet, says I've spent too much on MINI already, and it voids warranties or some such nonsense! Lol!! Will be interested in seeing the piccies!

[randap]

Go on, take a look......

[Cooper_si]

Awesome pics there Paul.

I best get the steering wheel lights changed to blue too

[mattyc]

Paul, do ou mind if i ask you how much the LED's were to fit?
I'm really tempted to get this done?
Thanks
mattyc

[randap]

Hi Si, don't make me drive down the M42 again............

[jkjn]

that looks crackin. well done

[Baker]

Looks good mate. I'm going to be doing this to a mates car sometime soon hopefully. I'm a bit torn too - I *love* the orange lighting, but I like having things "different", so I dunno if I'll do it to my own or not!!!

Tapping the lighting for the door LED's is really simple, look for a grey/red wire behind the speedo or tacho, thats the lighting wire, tap into that. Other nice touch is that it fades in/out with the rest of the gauge lighting too.

[doona]

Quote: Originally Posted by Baker

Looks good mate. I'm going to be doing this to a mates car sometime soon hopefully.

The Blue interior lights look awesome!!

-Dan

[Baker]

Dan, just wait until you see my butane soldering island, its just fantastic.

[:: Jon ::]

your teasing me... may have to put mine back in now

[Lucky Dave]

Looking good, A word of warning with regard to the colour change of the dash lights...

I know of at least one recent BMW recal/fix which requires the replacement of the dash clocks!! and you will loose all your hard work and cash!! And thats only if BMW dont recycle or inspect your parts!!

You have been warned, BMW are changing my clocks next week.

[randap]

Dave, my car went in for service last week with no problems, so I might not be subject to recall. However, I've spoken to Si who did my LEDs, and he's offered to redo then for free if my clocks are replaced due to recall - what a star!

I dunno what the recall is supposedly for, but unless it's safety related, I'm sure you can refuse? Failing that, I'm not sure how MINI could possibly charge for new clocks.....

[Mini_Power16]

randap how much would you charge me if i wanted my clocks like yours?