[Dr.Sommer]

I just completed an Interior mod which was a little bit delicate - I had to dismantle the dashboard. But i am very happy with the result, I think it gives the cockpit a very sporty touch.


I have painted the needles with a red permanent marker. If this is done carefully, it looks truly OEM, like on the M-Car Dashes.

What is needed:
1 Set of Torx nuts/bits/screwdrivers
1 Edding 500 permanent markers or similar
1 Bottle of
-Make Yourself familiar with the Service Menu on the cluster, to be able to run the Display self test - quite simple, here is a link

How to remove the gauge cluster:
1 Move the steering wheel down as far as possible
2 Pull it towards You fully - Now there is sufficient space to remove the cluster - it is not necessary to remove the steering wheel!
3 Remove the 2 torx screws on top of the cluster
4 Tilt the upper side of the cluster out of the dash to reveal the connector
5 Open the safety latch on the connector, but leave the connector in place
6 Press and hold the odometer reset button and insert the key fob
7 Select menu 2.00 by pressing the reset button repeatedly
8 Start the KI test
9 When the needles point to 12 o`clock position, pull the connector out
10 Now all 4 needles are in a position, where they can be reached with the pen from all sides.
11 Move the cluster out between the steering wheel and the dashboard.

Now the cluster lays on your kitchen table, ready for dismantling:

1 Remove all 4 torx screws on the rear of the cluster
2 Open carefully the plastic hooks around the cluster (hooks) Funny side note: In this drawing, You can see the variable Redline Components, which were intended for the E90 - F*ucking Cost Controllers!
3 Remove the gauge bezel (part #1)
4 Now it should look like this, but with the needles in 12 o`clock position - i did not have the correct picture

When You start painting the needles, bear in mind to:

- Paint not only the top surface, but also the side surface of each needle (bottom surface is coulored white )
- put a sheet of paper under the needles, to prevent painting the dial
- Move the pen only in ONE direction, from the center of the needle to the end
- After the first layer of paint, let it dry and do a second or even third layer until it looks good
- Don`t start another layer when the paint is still wet, this will mess up the finish and You will see dark spots when the dashboard lighting is on
- Avoid leaving fingerprints anywhere inside the gauges/dials/displays

Assemble everything back together, insert the dashboard connector into the cluster and run the KI test to re-calibrate the needles to their zero-positions.

good Luck!

[NJjustin]

very cool...but now if you ever get caught speeding...the "sorry officer I didnt realize how fast I was going" is never going to work with those bright ass heck red needles. lol

[shragon]

crazy large pics!

looks good! did you actually replace the needles or use something to color them in? on my last bmw i did this by using a red permanent marker, and it worked fairly well. how hard was it to take apart?

[18LLC]

sorry, but i forget what color is the original, can anyone tell me please?

[shragon]

Originally Posted by 18LLC

sorry, but i forget what color is the original, can anyone tell me please?

white

[txusa03]

Originally Posted by 18LLC

sorry, but i forget what color is the original, can anyone tell me please?

LOL, i was like what did he do. It helps if you give us some background and a before shot. Sorry doc, too much info to retain in my head, plus i am getting old so i figure i lost a few memory cell so i don't keep track of what my needle looks like. as long as you enjoyed it, hats off to ya

edit: i def dig the M steering wheel

[18LLC]

Originally Posted by shragon

white

really? like lexus? i will check it tonight. thx!

[shragon]

Originally Posted by 18LLC

really? like lexus? i will check it tonight. thx!

it's white during the day, and lights up amber at night.

[LEDZEP]

Wow, that's a lot of work just for red needles! But nice job. BTW - we have almost the exact same mileage... I have 18167.

[just4kickz]

i wish the lights in the interior wer blue not red =(

[canucklion]

then you should've gotten a VW, not a BMW, red interior is one of BMW's signature characterics, akin to the 4-eyed headlights, Hofmeister kink...etc

Originally Posted by just4kickz

i wish the lights in the interior wer blue not red =(

[E24]

Originally Posted by canucklion

then you should've gotten a VW, not a BMW, red interior is one of BMW's signature characterics, akin to the 4-eyed headlights, Hofmeister kink...etc

Right on the mark!

[E90Boy]

nice

[RodyP]

post a diy, i want this too, but don't know how

[BMW320i]

nice job sommer, i have the same question in mind, did u paint them or replaced them??

[Paul330d]

Wow, great write-up. I like the red needles a lot, but I'm not sure I would dare do all the above.

I'm curious as to how you appear to have got a gloss finish on the needles just by using a marker pen. From the pix, I assumed you had used gloss modelling paint.

[Dr.Sommer]

Originally Posted by Paul330d

I'm curious as to how you appear to have got a gloss finish on the needles just by using a marker pen. From the pix, I assumed you had used gloss modelling paint.

The edding 500 contains paint which is gloss AND transparent. The surface of the needle is also high-gloss. The secret is only, to paint 2 or 3 thin layers and painting always in one direction.

best regards - Dr.Sommer

[saloon]

And yes I know this is 2yrs old... Still Post pics, LOL

[PaulBailey@ltbmw]

^
Hahahah this thread is 2.5 years old

[choopy]

WTF, No pics!!???
Sounds like something I want to do, just not myself. I would love to see pics..

[mmm def]

yeahh i want to see, get those pics back up.

[veightkiller]

yeah i dont see any pic's!