12-24-2018, 01:09 AM | #1 |
Lieutenant Colonel
300
Rep 1,771
Posts
Drives: AW E92 M3/AW F87 M2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Irvine,CA
iTrader: (11)
Garage List 2016 BMW F87 M2 Coupe [10.00]
2014 BMW F20 M135i [9.00] 2011 BMW F10 5 series [9.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 Coupe [10.00] |
A buddy of mine and I decided to go with a cost effective way to make the cluster white and stay lit without turning on the headlights. We simply just replaced the LED bulbs on the backside of the circuit board, and the result came out very satisfying. Check out the video below to see how it plays out.
Update 12/29: After going through with my buddy again I finally figured out why my cluster can stay lit the whole time. He connected one of the terminals on the bulbs to the power source that's used to power on the onboard computer, thus making the cluster lit the whole time.
__________________
E92/// M3 Coupe 6MT Alpine White/Fox Red ----- My US car
F87/// M2 Coupe DCT Alpine White/Black ----- My ride in Asia Last edited by S65B40; 12-27-2018 at 07:50 AM.. |
12-27-2018, 02:14 AM | #2 |
Colonel
3179
Rep 2,577
Posts |
Looks great! Modern yet classic.
I'm assuming the info in the middle bottom section is still orange like the gear indicator shows P in orange now? I would be even better if all of them turn into white.
__________________
Lemania 2320
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-27-2018, 02:37 AM | #3 |
Second Lieutenant
108
Rep 234
Posts
Drives: 325i Manual, M2 LBB DCT
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: CA
|
Nice! Why do they stay lit?
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-27-2018, 04:29 AM | #4 | |
Lieutenant Colonel
300
Rep 1,771
Posts
Drives: AW E92 M3/AW F87 M2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Irvine,CA
iTrader: (11)
Garage List 2016 BMW F87 M2 Coupe [10.00]
2014 BMW F20 M135i [9.00] 2011 BMW F10 5 series [9.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 Coupe [10.00] |
Quote:
The LCD section turns orange only when you turn on the headlights, but I believe it can be coded to stay white the whole time.
__________________
E92/// M3 Coupe 6MT Alpine White/Fox Red ----- My US car
F87/// M2 Coupe DCT Alpine White/Black ----- My ride in Asia |
|
Appreciate
0
|
12-27-2018, 04:30 AM | #5 |
Lieutenant Colonel
300
Rep 1,771
Posts
Drives: AW E92 M3/AW F87 M2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Irvine,CA
iTrader: (11)
Garage List 2016 BMW F87 M2 Coupe [10.00]
2014 BMW F20 M135i [9.00] 2011 BMW F10 5 series [9.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 Coupe [10.00] |
After switching out the leds they stay lit all the time when you power on, off when you shut the power off, with no codings necessary.
__________________
E92/// M3 Coupe 6MT Alpine White/Fox Red ----- My US car
F87/// M2 Coupe DCT Alpine White/Black ----- My ride in Asia |
Appreciate
0
|
12-28-2018, 10:59 PM | #6 |
Lieutenant Colonel
300
Rep 1,771
Posts
Drives: AW E92 M3/AW F87 M2
Join Date: Jan 2008
Location: Irvine,CA
iTrader: (11)
Garage List 2016 BMW F87 M2 Coupe [10.00]
2014 BMW F20 M135i [9.00] 2011 BMW F10 5 series [9.00] 2008 BMW E92 M3 Coupe [10.00] |
Update 12/29:
After going through with my buddy again I finally figured out why my cluster can stay lit the whole time. He connected one of the terminals on the bulbs to the power source that's used to power on the onboard computer, thus making the cluster lit the whole time.
__________________
E92/// M3 Coupe 6MT Alpine White/Fox Red ----- My US car
F87/// M2 Coupe DCT Alpine White/Black ----- My ride in Asia |
Appreciate
0
|
02-20-2019, 10:49 AM | #8 | |
Lieutenant
928
Rep 483
Posts |
Quote:
|
|
Appreciate
0
|
02-25-2019, 07:44 PM | #9 |
BimmerPost Supporting Vendor
24183
Rep 190,777
Posts |
Nice
__________________
Check out our current sale by clicking on this link!
https://x-ph.com/sale/ Phone number 702-494-9435 |
Appreciate
0
|
02-26-2019, 11:56 PM | #10 | ||
"The Midas Touch"
519
Rep 1,055
Posts
Drives: F87 LBB ///M2
Join Date: Aug 2007
Location: Seattle, WA
|
Quote:
|
||
Appreciate
0
|
02-27-2019, 04:34 AM | #11 |
Major General
7334
Rep 7,297
Posts |
Such a tease .
If I buy a pre-LCI M2 I will take it apart and let you guys know. If someone had pics of the PCB I could give some recommendations maybe. You're going to want to look for (probably) an orange/yellow cased tantalum capacitor and probe the positive terminal to find a non-switched voltage. I don't know what they run the LEDs off normally, probably something low like 3.3V or 5V. I also don't know if they drive them with a fancy IC via PWM or just a resistor in series with a switched voltage. Sounds like the OP just changed the LED supply to a voltage that always on and is not switched when the cluster illuminates. I'd probably try something more elegant but that works as long as the supply you tap can handle that additional current draw. Seems like it can or it probably would have been an issue. Will probably need a decent soldering iron, magnification, hook-up wire, and a scalpel or x-acto knife. Last edited by chris719; 02-27-2019 at 04:40 AM.. |
Appreciate
0
|
Post Reply |
Bookmarks |
|
|