Dash LEDs
Author
Discussion

icb

Original Poster:

782 posts

298 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
Without changing the dash has anyone come up with something to replace horrible, plasticky LED screen with indicators etc on. Can't see them when they are on, and not really necessary anyway. IMHO

Ballistic Banana

14,706 posts

296 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
Ian, see the dashboard thread about a week back theres a nice one on there in ali or stainless, i would be interested in one like that to, if a few of us would like em prehaps we could get some made?

BB

simpo two

92,694 posts

294 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
A quick fix is simply to remove the dark plastic strip and admire the big round lights underneath. If you don't like how it looks or get tired of it, just put the strip back!

antonyj

5,254 posts

310 months

Saturday 1st May 2004
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
Ian, see the dashboard thread about a week back theres a nice one on there in ali or stainless, i would be interested in one like that to, if a few of us would like em prehaps we could get some made?

BB

Banana , I was thinking along the same lines.
Locally there is a company called "modern engraving".
I wondered if they could help,I think the starting point could be someone who is a CAD guy.If they drew up a design and someone maybe approached a company about making some???????

icb

Original Poster:

782 posts

298 months

Sunday 2nd May 2004
quotequote all
I'd certainly be interested in having one made up as you say. I asked Leven but their stock item has LEDs still in. Perhaps the guy who wrote makes them for Leven could do it, but still sell thru leven. I think he wrote something on here the other week. Thanks for replies.

leventech

207 posts

299 months

Tuesday 4th May 2004
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We are very happy to make 'specials'. Please contact us direct preferably by telephone on Tel:01268 281611 so that we can talk through what people are looking for.

Simon

DustyC

12,822 posts

283 months

Tuesday 4th May 2004
quotequote all
Ballistic Banana said:
Ian, see the dashboard thread about a week back theres a nice one on there in ali or stainless, i would be interested in one like that to, if a few of us would like em prehaps we could get some made?

BB

DustyC said:
Im really impressed by those buttons too.
Where did they and the indicator light panel come from?

I do believe you mean these.
Best dash ever IMO.
I'd be up for getting a new indicator light panel too. Currnet one is a bit crap.

luca brazzi said:
Here's Marino's carbon fibre dash:





LB

jam1et

1,536 posts

281 months

Tuesday 4th May 2004
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Ditto,I'd love a dash set like that.

Tried contacting Marino via PH?

simpo two

92,694 posts

294 months

Tuesday 4th May 2004
quotequote all
That looks nice. Trouble is that with an ally dash, the whole thing would then be silver, which IMHO is a bit much.

Toffer

1,528 posts

290 months

Tuesday 4th May 2004
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Being a bit of a traditionalist I will stick with the walnut and invisible lights and hope that I don't get any woodworm!

marino

185 posts

281 months

Wednesday 5th May 2004
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Dusty, sorry I haven't been around for a while.

The dash is pure carbon fibre, not veneer, therefore I had to use different buttons/lamps as I didn't want to bond a bracket. The dash is not polished, it is just stock 2mm carbon fibre, it does not reflect sunlight like the wood veneer.

The aluminium lamp display I designed myself and is fixed using the buttons either side. The LED's are glued into the aluminium block, terminated onto some breadboard with a series resistor (value depends on LED colour) and have leads to the wire loom.

The buttons are Farnell supplied and come in 3 parts - bezel, switch and button cover. I managed to source button covers with windows and use standard bulbs to illuminate. Each button cost around £20 each!

The heater control panel has been replaced as well.

By designing the layout without the button fixing restrictions I could make it a little more logical.

I mentioned when I originally posted the pic's that I would produce more if anybody wanted them, but I had no response. Unfortunately, the Farnell buttons and aluminium lamp display are difficult/not possible to install on the standard dash, unless the bonded lamp brackets are removed.

It all cost quite a bit to develop but I worked out a price of around £250 ex VAT (£300 inc. ie no profit) for a kit of bits.

Dave.


Edited to add; It also depends on the colour of the interior and exterior. I did consider painting the metal dash the same colour as the bodywork.

>> Edited by marino on Wednesday 5th May 00:46

DustyC

12,822 posts

283 months

Wednesday 5th May 2004
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Thanks for the response marino. Sounds like a good price for the perfect dash!
Im still trying to decide what colour/material would go well with magnolia leather/cosmos blue paint.

antonyj

5,254 posts

310 months

Wednesday 5th May 2004
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Marino , I may well be interested in one too.