BMW E46 Dash & Steering Wheel LED Swap

[@deseancarter9643]

Nice job!

[@ГригорийЛапшин-н1ц]

I have found this video because someone resoldered LEDs for blue ones in my car and I want to reverse it. Wonder where this person founded inspiration…

[@HunDemian]

Thank you so much! I am happy to see there is someone else in the world who same "idiot" like me. :D I do the same, just with "ice cold white" LEDs. This part was the last one which missed. Now I can do it. Thanks a lot again for your video mate!

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

Thanks for the comment. It was a long project, but rather easy to do (provided you have experience soldering).

[@DameAndThatGame]

iv just did my steering wheel, but used 3 separate colors, fo some reaosn some of them dont light up now more, any idea why?

[@mindjab]

When I seen solder iron, i immediately felt like a moron and contacted my local custom shop

[@cristopherrivera9823]

Great video👌

[@zsezzs1]

Nice job buddy!

[@francob]

Any links to buy the leds please?

[@RonnieGalloway]

Love it, could you please mail me instructions to replace the heater console orange lights,+ DSC ,Heated, Sport button panel,plus how to dismantle the headlight switch unit. Great Job.

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

Thanks for your comment. I don't have the direct instructions. However, if you haven't tackled it yet, it's fairly easy to pull everything apart and replace the LEDs. For the most part, everything comes apart just like you'd think when you pull it out and look at it. The only LED I couldn't get was the driving light switch on the light control panel. There were also some I elected to not replace (which you can probably see in some of my videos; example, the hazard light and the brights on indicator). A tricky bit with some of the panels is how to remove them. For the light control module, you have to remove the vent to get to the back of it. For the lock/hazard switch though, you can just pull up (it's a bit tough, but if you remove the shifter boot you can just push it up, if I remember correctly). If you get stuck, google 'e46' along with whatever panel you're trying to remove.

[@vladislavs3]

Love it. How did you change lcd colour?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

Had to remove all of the boards, de-solder the old LEDs, then I had to solder on the new color.

[@e39john87]

How did you pop open the locking button I’m having some trouble with mine

[@mistacarp6533]

Excellent vid, i love the look of them. Couple of questions, what type of led's should i be searching for if i was to do this? And does each needle have its own led as i would like to do red needles and blue dials? Thanks

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

These LEDs are SMD (surface mount). I think there were a couple of PTH (pin through hole) LEDs, but almost all of them are SMD. These are "PLCC-2 SMD Blue - Ultra Bright 1210 / 3528 LED" which I purchased from LighthouseLEDs.com. It's been a while since I purchased from them, but IIRC they offered prompt shipping, and I had no issues ordering from them. As for the different colors, you could go with different colors, but you might get some "bleeding." Behind the gauge face there's a plastic diffuser that distributes the light. If you have different colors, I think they'll probably cross over; though, if you were mixing a color and white it *might* work. I would plan to stick to one color, though. You can mix colors when it comes to other switches (such as the HVAC controls), and also for the tell-tell/warning lights.

[@Guetzer]

Good work man! Just wondering if you ever got to flipping the polarised film on the cluster LCD, or figured anything else out so that it doesn't wash out as much?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

I tried flipping it upside down, but if I remember correctly, it made the issue worse. I was thinking that it might need to be rotated 90 degrees instead, but I’d have to find a sheet of it to replace it.

[@Guetzer]

@@GeneralTalkWithBen Oh I see, thanks for the reply!

[@SR-te2db]

Would you happen to know which LEDs are suitable for replacing burnt ones on the brake lights? looking to order a few and re-solder them, but not sure which type of LED to order. Appreciate any help!

[@MrClarck100]

Did you make a video of how you changed the lights on the hvac and the other modules?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

I did not. Sorry. It’s basically the same process; though, you have to get the board out of the controller. The HVAC module’s board comes right out once removing the cover.

[@MrClarck100]

@@GeneralTalkWithBen And all the buttons and the cluster use the same plcc led or are there different ones for other buttons. I know that the window switches use 3mm led, I took one apart the other day.

[@TTO2016]

hay man u got a link to the leds

[@CoisasdeMacho]

I have a question how to calibrate the hands after assembling the panel

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

I just moved the needles to where I needed them to go. Just be gentle when you rotate them.

[@CoisasdeMacho]

@@GeneralTalkWithBen thanks and great job, congrarulations

[@athencruz1275]

How did you make the lcd blue ? On ur dash

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

There are LEDs behind the screen. You can remove the screen to replace them.

[@athencruz1275]

@@GeneralTalkWithBen if you don’t mind can u make a video on it ?

[@jedanlik4468]

Hi, wich LED did you use for light switch? Smd or standard leds?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

The LEDs for the light control module (LCM) also use SMDs, except for the driving light switch. That switch would utilize a standard 3mm PTH (pin through hole) LED. HOWEVER, I was not able to get that LED to work because I couldn't get the switch to come apart enough to get it to work. I"m sure if I worked with it further I could get it, but I'm happy with it just not lighting up (though, the SMDs on the rest of that module work perfectly fine.

[@michaelsilva2502]

hi has the led also changed the fog lights buttons?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

I tried to replace the led on the fog light button, but I couldn’t make it work. That was the only place I had trouble. Everything else worked.

[@e39john87]

How much you think some one would charge to do the same to my e39

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

I’m not entirely sure. I would think around $500 or more. It’s not hard, just tedious.

[@VAn-im9yq]

why bmw don't do that color ?

[@skyflash9905]

Its kinda their preference and cause the orange they use is said to be the best to ur eyes ate night, like it the color that makes ur eye more comfortable

[@monotoxal2258]

can you controol the brightnessS?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

Yes. The dimmer switch controls all of the LEDs in the cabin.

[@jedanlik4468]

Hi, at 7:26 how do you get that efect on climate control display? What color smd's is behind display or you must change the something on the screen? Thanks.

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

You have to disassemble the unit and pull out the board (usually just opening up the plastic box that holds the board). When you do that, you remove the existing SMD LEDs (which are orange; though, BMW calls them "red"). I just soldered on replacement SMD LEDs that were blue. It's not too hard to do--it just takes time.

[@skyflash9905]

​@@GeneralTalkWithBen so u just need to change the leds, and it still shows the number right?

[@youdontknowsamfiscer]

How did you change the color of the text on the LCD screens. mine still display orange text with a blue back light

[@tahoe9813]

There's are two filters that sit on top of the screen. One is a color filter (it looks like orange plastic); the other looks like a "shade." You need to remove the color filter. You might need to take a piece of white paper (like laser printer paper) and put it over the LEDs to diffuse the light a bit. Also, because of the angle of the dash, you may not be able to easily see the digits (the AC screen in the middle isn't like that because your angle is much higher).

[@jorg.e4664]

Where can i get these leds?

[@jorg.e4664]

Also, are the cluster lights the same leds as the center console ?

[@GeneralTalkWithBen]

I think they are the same. There were a few of them that were through hole rather than surface mount.

[@marioturkalj3126]

My temp gauge led went off today.....😖