If this is your first visit, be sure to check out the FAQ by clicking the link above.
You may have to register before you can post: click the register link above to proceed.
To start viewing messages, select the forum that you want to visit from the selection below.
3-Series (E21, E30)Chat relating to the BMW 3-Series from 1975-1983 and 1984-1991 line. Specific models: BMW 315, BMW 316, BMW 318, BMW 318i, BMW 320/4, BMW 320i, BMW 320/6, BMW 323i, BMW 320i. E30 Family models include: BMW 325e, BMW 325i, BMW 325is, BMW 325ix.
Does anyone sell those little plastic pieces that give our dashes that wonderful orange color in other colors, like blue or green? I'm going to be swapping out my dash, and while I'm at it I hope I can replace these little pieces...
Nope, nobody makes them, it's not possible, since the color is built into the switches and dash buttons. The cluster lights don't have colored films they have full light bars colored amber.
I meant the dash board center controls, they have those little clear orange plastic inserts, I was hoping maybe someone made them in blue or green, but it doesn't sound like it...
Does anyone make aftermarket guage faces, maybe white or electro-luminescent?
Not many people realize this but BMW made the light the dark orange color for a reason. That reason is to make it easier on your eyes while driving at night. The human eye hardly reacts to the orange/red light at night so your eyes don't have to adjust from looking down the dark road to looking down at a white light gauge or vent controls then readjust back to the dark road.
But if you want to ricer up your dash with blue or green lights go for it but the BMW engineers didn't make the lights in their cars orange/red just cause they wanted it looked different than other cars.
Does anyone make aftermarket guage faces, maybe white or electro-luminescent?
Thanks
Yes, you can find them on ebay the 5k tach ones are cheap, but be advised, they are a pain to install and the power supply usually last for about 2 months then cut out.
I have installed several of them, I advise that you spray your needles black becasue the faceplates are white. At night the amber on the white face plates with blue, red numbers and letters looks cool. If you don't have an ebay account, I keep one of the 5k tachs on hand.
Not many people realize this but BMW made the light the dark orange color for a reason. That reason is to make it easier on your eyes while driving at night. The human eye hardly reacts to the orange/red light at night so your eyes don't have to adjust from looking down the dark road to looking down at a white light gauge or vent controls then readjust back to the dark road.
But if you want to ricer up your dash with blue or green lights go for it but the BMW engineers didn't make the lights in their cars orange/red just cause they wanted it looked different than other cars.
*clapping* hands down the best explanation ever...couldn't have summed it up better
@ BMWJNKY, KRAUT: Thanks, I didn't realize the story behind it. Not that I don't appreciate the idea behind it, I just don't like the color much at all. I don't know why, it just bugs me. We'll see...
@ Starmavin: Thanks, I will take a look at them...
EDIT: I've been looking for a while, I can't find it... Do you have a link to the vendor or the page?
For gauge faces, needles, and dash lights. Visit this website, they even make custom gauges and do really good work. I know they have the gauges for the M3, but if you called them they can make it for any car.
That's an interesting site, thanks for the link. They don't carry gauges for my application, but maybe down the road (after I've gotten it performing better) I could look into getting a custom set... CF would be nice.
No problem, their customer service is really good there. I just ordered custom gauges for my dsm. FYI, if you call them I'm almost positive they can make it for your car.
@ Starmavin: Thanks, I will take a look at them...
EDIT: I've been looking for a while, I can't find it... Do you have a link to the vendor or the page?
i cant imagine for the life of me why you would want to do this, i have heard of people with other cars trying to get the amber look like BMW but never the other way around....you are crazy!
AutoForums.com is the premier network of enthusiast-owned
enthusiast-operated automotive communities.
We operate more than 100 automotive forums where our users consult peers for shopping information and advice, and share
experiences and opinions as a community.