can the colour of the in dash instrument cluster lights be changed???

mclaren1885 · 18th August 2005, 20:57

hey guys wanted to know if changing the lights in the in dash panel will give a better look to instrument cluster..i mean for eg on my zen if i replace the lights behind the panel from yellow to any other colour..will it be possible,bcoz the dials have a green paint on them..will the change in the lights behind the panel be possible so as to give the kind of glow got from neons or maybe the radium look..will the paint on the dials give the same green look even after changing these lights...if posssible where can i get these lights and how much will it cost..or is it possible to directly fix an instrument panel of some other car directly on2 the zen..the oe cluster sucks and dont know how to make it look more appealing..

v12 · 18th August 2005, 21:10

yes its possible. have changed the yellow color of our qualis to an orangish color.

mclaren1885 · 18th August 2005, 21:39

hey v12..how did u manage that..just put in orange lights in the place of oe 1s is it...any particular make that u know of,and what are the colours available..

revtech · 18th August 2005, 21:54

my bro wanted to do that in the zen some time back but i turned down the idea.so if its possible then where can it be done and how much will it cost.

Rev

sparco · 18th August 2005, 22:28

it doesnt make sense putting these bulbs in the zen because the dial part is greenish not white you can change to orange by putting red bulbs but blue/white wont make any sense... it wont make a difference... it can be done in the indica....my friends done it looks hott... you can only do it if uve got a white dial....
if you need details from where in mumbai to get it pm...
thx
sparco

redrage · 19th August 2005, 12:31

Does anyone know any place in banglore where i could get custom dials and backlighting done?

MustangMan · 19th August 2005, 13:21

To change the colour in the zen, you will first need to change the back (were the numbers are printed) they have a green filter, any light passing through it will change color and will not get desired effect (remember class 10 physics).
New filter will be need to be made, if any one can do this please also let me know too + cost. if made in bulk it might be cheaper. bulb change should not be a problem.

i don't think anyone make these filters/backing sheets, looked on the internet but not found any. esteem you get, search for swift gti and some will crop up.

mclaren1885 · 19th August 2005, 13:31

ya thats exactly what i thought..any coloured light once striking the green dials will not give the desired effect...so is it possible to replace the new zens instrument panel with the older versions bcoz the old zen has got white dials...so the colour change will not be any problem..is it possible to fit indica or corolla panel into the zen bcoz they look quite good..

MustangMan · 20th August 2005, 11:39

the old zen's white dials are misleading......the filters marking the speed etc are green, so a retro fit would be useless.
only way is to change the entire backing, a transparent one would not be good, as the light would come out focused and un even, a white or smoked effect would be ideal so as to get an even glow.

thought about placing the light on the outer side, but would be in effective.. shadows etc....

indica, or corolla panels do look good, but size?? and won't corolla be expensive?

chiragh_bir · 20th August 2005, 17:31

all u need is to find the coloured bulbs which can be fitted instead of original yellow bulbs

mclaren1885 · 20th August 2005, 18:40

hey guys just spoke to my uncle..as i have said in my earlier posts he owns an authorised maruti service station near hebbal flyover...spoke to him regarding this topic and he said its possible to change the colour of the filters that are marked on the dials to any colour of our choice..in fact he said his painter has done that to several cars himself,lucky me i guess..planning to go over on monday and talk to him as to what exactly can be done...
well i need ur inputs as to which colour should i get the filters painted in and which colour lights should i go in for to make it look more than appealing to the eyes...or should i get the filters plain(without any colour) and put lights of any desired colour..
need ur suggestions and also ur choice of colour would certainly help!!!!!

revtech · 21st August 2005, 16:50

hey dude what ever you do keep me informed...i mean keep us informed..

Rev

speed0mania · 22nd August 2005, 00:49

hey i tried doing the same in my 2004 zen but the same filter problem held me back but wonder what would happen if i put a blue bulb behind the green filter !! but dont think it would give ne the req blue glow!!! i had also got this idea of painting the dial from the back using the glass paint.!! but havent tried that yet!!!

mclaren1885 · 22nd August 2005, 01:20

what would happen if u put a blue backlight is as the light passes thru the green filter it changes to a different colour..(dont know which 1 as was very bad at arts)...will be going to my uncles garage 2moro...so will post the details by afternoon on how to go about the whole issue...

deathrow · 22nd August 2005, 09:05

must be a bit off topic but i wanted to know whether digital speedo meters/gauges are available and has anyone tried it....like the one in s2000???

18th August 2005, 20:57	#1
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	can the colour of the in dash instrument cluster lights be changed??? hey guys wanted to know if changing the lights in the in dash panel will give a better look to instrument cluster..i mean for eg on my zen if i replace the lights behind the panel from yellow to any other colour..will it be possible,bcoz the dials have a green paint on them..will the change in the lights behind the panel be possible so as to give the kind of glow got from neons or maybe the radium look..will the paint on the dials give the same green look even after changing these lights...if posssible where can i get these lights and how much will it cost..or is it possible to directly fix an instrument panel of some other car directly on2 the zen..the oe cluster sucks and dont know how to make it look more appealing..
	() Thanks

18th August 2005, 21:10	#2
v12 Distinguished - BHPian Join Date: Feb 2004 Location: Mumbai Posts: 6,739 Thanked: 7,212 Times View My Garage	yes its possible. have changed the yellow color of our qualis to an orangish color.
	() Thanks

18th August 2005, 21:39	#3
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	hey v12..how did u manage that..just put in orange lights in the place of oe 1s is it...any particular make that u know of,and what are the colours available..
	() Thanks

18th August 2005, 21:54	#4
revtech Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,992 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	my bro wanted to do that in the zen some time back but i turned down the idea.so if its possible then where can it be done and how much will it cost. Rev
	() Thanks

18th August 2005, 22:28	#5
sparco BHPian Join Date: Apr 2005 Location: bandra-mumbai Posts: 72 Thanked: 0 Times	it doesnt make sense putting these bulbs in the zen because the dial part is greenish not white you can change to orange by putting red bulbs but blue/white wont make any sense... it wont make a difference... it can be done in the indica....my friends done it looks hott... you can only do it if uve got a white dial.... if you need details from where in mumbai to get it pm... thx sparco
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 12:31	#6
redrage BHPian Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Bengaluru Posts: 553 Thanked: 106 Times	Does anyone know any place in banglore where i could get custom dials and backlighting done?
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 13:21	#7
MustangMan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi/Indore Posts: 231 Thanked: 9 Times	To change the colour in the zen, you will first need to change the back (were the numbers are printed) they have a green filter, any light passing through it will change color and will not get desired effect (remember class 10 physics). New filter will be need to be made, if any one can do this please also let me know too + cost. if made in bulk it might be cheaper. bulb change should not be a problem. i don't think anyone make these filters/backing sheets, looked on the internet but not found any. esteem you get, search for swift gti and some will crop up.
	() Thanks

19th August 2005, 13:31	#8
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	ya thats exactly what i thought..any coloured light once striking the green dials will not give the desired effect...so is it possible to replace the new zens instrument panel with the older versions bcoz the old zen has got white dials...so the colour change will not be any problem..is it possible to fit indica or corolla panel into the zen bcoz they look quite good..
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 11:39	#9
MustangMan BHPian Join Date: Feb 2005 Location: New Delhi/Indore Posts: 231 Thanked: 9 Times	the old zen's white dials are misleading......the filters marking the speed etc are green, so a retro fit would be useless. only way is to change the entire backing, a transparent one would not be good, as the light would come out focused and un even, a white or smoked effect would be ideal so as to get an even glow. thought about placing the light on the outer side, but would be in effective.. shadows etc.... indica, or corolla panels do look good, but size?? and won't corolla be expensive? Last edited by MustangMan : 20th August 2005 at 11:42.
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 17:31	#10
chiragh_bir Senior - BHPian Join Date: Dec 2004 Location: In front of you :P Posts: 1,123 Thanked: 74 Times View My Garage	all u need is to find the coloured bulbs which can be fitted instead of original yellow bulbs
	() Thanks

20th August 2005, 18:40	#11
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	hey guys just spoke to my uncle..as i have said in my earlier posts he owns an authorised maruti service station near hebbal flyover...spoke to him regarding this topic and he said its possible to change the colour of the filters that are marked on the dials to any colour of our choice..in fact he said his painter has done that to several cars himself,lucky me i guess..planning to go over on monday and talk to him as to what exactly can be done... well i need ur inputs as to which colour should i get the filters painted in and which colour lights should i go in for to make it look more than appealing to the eyes...or should i get the filters plain(without any colour) and put lights of any desired colour.. need ur suggestions and also ur choice of colour would certainly help!!!!!
	() Thanks

21st August 2005, 16:50	#12
revtech Senior - BHPian Join Date: Nov 2004 Location: Bombay Posts: 1,992 Thanked: 38 Times View My Garage	hey dude what ever you do keep me informed...i mean keep us informed.. Rev
	() Thanks

22nd August 2005, 00:49	#13
speed0mania BHPian Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: new delhi Posts: 463 Thanked: 7 Times View My Garage	hey i tried doing the same in my 2004 zen but the same filter problem held me back but wonder what would happen if i put a blue bulb behind the green filter !! but dont think it would give ne the req blue glow!!! i had also got this idea of painting the dial from the back using the glass paint.!! but havent tried that yet!!!
	() Thanks

22nd August 2005, 01:20	#14
mclaren1885 BANNED Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: Bangalore (the city of modded cars) !! Posts: 4,820 Thanked: 45 Times View My Garage Infractions: 0/1 (10)	what would happen if u put a blue backlight is as the light passes thru the green filter it changes to a different colour..(dont know which 1 as was very bad at arts)...will be going to my uncles garage 2moro...so will post the details by afternoon on how to go about the whole issue...
	() Thanks

22nd August 2005, 09:05	#15
deathrow Newbie Join Date: Jul 2005 Location: MUMBAI Posts: 7 Thanked: 0 Times	must be a bit off topic but i wanted to know whether digital speedo meters/gauges are available and has anyone tried it....like the one in s2000???
	() Thanks