S1 dash warning lights
Discussion
can see why you want to change it yes 
Ive only seen them on here but RHD sold out https://www.scimitar-tvrcentre.nl/tvr/tvr-s-vanaf-... now whether a new batch could be knocked up might be worth enquiring if so id gladly put my name down for one..
Steve
Ive only seen them on here but RHD sold out https://www.scimitar-tvrcentre.nl/tvr/tvr-s-vanaf-... now whether a new batch could be knocked up might be worth enquiring if so id gladly put my name down for one..
Steve
The 'bad' one looks non-standard. It looks as if it may be a DIY effort. To be fair, I suspect it's far more visible that the OEM warning lights, and the appearance is no worse than the other parts we can see in that picture.
To get back to a standard appearance I think you'd need to unstick that panel from the dashboard, replace those lamps with shallow ones that will fit behind a cover, and then cut your own cover from a piece of smoked plastic and stick it in place. None of that sounds particularly difficult although the final appearance will depend on your DIY skills. At least the bar doesn't seem to be set very high there.
To get back to a standard appearance I think you'd need to unstick that panel from the dashboard, replace those lamps with shallow ones that will fit behind a cover, and then cut your own cover from a piece of smoked plastic and stick it in place. None of that sounds particularly difficult although the final appearance will depend on your DIY skills. At least the bar doesn't seem to be set very high there.
You will need to do a bit of research into old threads on this.
The original 'Christmas Tree' is unsatisfactory for at least 4 reasons
The original smoked cover darkens and it becomes damn near impossible to see some of the lights, especially green and blue.
The original turn warning light is totally out of sight, my car once failed because the tester couldnt even find it!
There is no way to get the bulbs out if a bulb fails! The units push in from the front not back so you cannot change a broken bulb or change wattage without taking the plastic off.
There are bulbs in there doing nothing at all. Mine had for example an orange oil light connected to nothing! And that isnt the only one.
I bought a 'new' light cover, a complete waste of time. Unless you are abslutely set on originality for a show car, dont!
Lots of people have changed theirs, in lots of ways; clear plastic over the originals, clear plastic with the originals modified to fit units where the bulbs can be withdrawn for behind (have a look at Car Builder Solutions catalogue), plastic where the bulb holders are inserted through the plastic. The same with alloy or carbon fibre plate, or in my case with dash coloured ambla material with a quick release screw and enough wire to draw the whole lot out easily! I also found I could easily move the turn indicator to between the revcounter and speedo...where I can actually see it! How many times have I seen an S with an indicator left on??
The original 'Christmas Tree' is unsatisfactory for at least 4 reasons
The original smoked cover darkens and it becomes damn near impossible to see some of the lights, especially green and blue.
The original turn warning light is totally out of sight, my car once failed because the tester couldnt even find it!
There is no way to get the bulbs out if a bulb fails! The units push in from the front not back so you cannot change a broken bulb or change wattage without taking the plastic off.
There are bulbs in there doing nothing at all. Mine had for example an orange oil light connected to nothing! And that isnt the only one.
I bought a 'new' light cover, a complete waste of time. Unless you are abslutely set on originality for a show car, dont!
Lots of people have changed theirs, in lots of ways; clear plastic over the originals, clear plastic with the originals modified to fit units where the bulbs can be withdrawn for behind (have a look at Car Builder Solutions catalogue), plastic where the bulb holders are inserted through the plastic. The same with alloy or carbon fibre plate, or in my case with dash coloured ambla material with a quick release screw and enough wire to draw the whole lot out easily! I also found I could easily move the turn indicator to between the revcounter and speedo...where I can actually see it! How many times have I seen an S with an indicator left on??
It's becoming quite common nowadays for things like this to be attached with small magnets, and I imagine it would be relatively simple to arrange for the cover to simply pull off for access to the bulbs.
(They're still hard to see through the cover, but I imagine that could be resolved with bright enough LEDs.)
At the end of the day it's a trade-off between appearance and functionality - the existing DIY lamps probably work quite well.
(They're still hard to see through the cover, but I imagine that could be resolved with bright enough LEDs.)
At the end of the day it's a trade-off between appearance and functionality - the existing DIY lamps probably work quite well.
For what it is worth, this is how mine looks now. I did try black plastic, alloy and black fabric but my friends and I preferred this. Matter of taste I appreciate. 
Note indicator tell tale!
(switch above 'ashtray' was for fan override. Now modified, panel retrimmed, two short switches where the ashtray was, one to provide a fan override and the other to make sure the 'blue' cold start relay (2.8 engine) doesnt come on when it isnt needed...a common problem and causes fuel flooding )
Note indicator tell tale!
(switch above 'ashtray' was for fan override. Now modified, panel retrimmed, two short switches where the ashtray was, one to provide a fan override and the other to make sure the 'blue' cold start relay (2.8 engine) doesnt come on when it isnt needed...a common problem and causes fuel flooding )
Guys,
Thanks for the input, only a couple of posts now and a great response every time. I didn't anticipate this would be as easy as just buying off the shelf, I'm amazed it is possible (even if they are out of stock!) I'll have a look link suggested (need to brush up on my non existent German first) else all fails knock one up myself. I like the idea of getting lights with logos on...mine doesn't have anything on so I don't know what any of them actually do and perhaps with not so many colours which look like some 80's Christmas tree lights!!!
I'll post my results when it's done,
Cheers
J
Thanks for the input, only a couple of posts now and a great response every time. I didn't anticipate this would be as easy as just buying off the shelf, I'm amazed it is possible (even if they are out of stock!) I'll have a look link suggested (need to brush up on my non existent German first) else all fails knock one up myself. I like the idea of getting lights with logos on...mine doesn't have anything on so I don't know what any of them actually do and perhaps with not so many colours which look like some 80's Christmas tree lights!!!
I'll post my results when it's done,
Cheers
J
these are some of the threads I remembered:
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?t=15...
https://www.pistonheads.com/gassing/topic.asp?h=0&...
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