Shifter knob LED mod. Please help me change color.

jdamore · 11-04-2014, 11:54 AM

I'm going through swapping all the amber LEDs throughout the interior..

I'm stuck on accessing the led in the shifter! Anyone know how to get in there?

I'm on the fence about replacing the knob with the weighted M5 knob so if you know how to get in that, I'll take the info!

Thanks!

thekurgan · 11-04-2014, 01:34 PM

I "think" you can peel the top off the knob, it has some soft glue to hold it in there, but I'm unsure of the bulb itself.

jdamore · 11-04-2014, 07:57 PM

Thanks for your help thekurgan!
I tried getting a finger nail under the top but it was tight. I just don't want to destroy it with a knife or something if it's not even the correct way to access the led.

Kisenwether · 11-04-2014, 08:12 PM

just pry the logo off the top, its just double sided tape, just did the led swap to a weighted zhp knob

jdamore · 11-04-2014, 08:22 PM

Great! Thanks!

Have any pictures?

jdamore · 11-08-2014, 05:15 PM

It was a lot easier than I thought!

I slowly pried off the top being careful not to scratch the underside or damage the leather.

The LEDs in here are an 0603 surface mount footprint.

I only had size 1208 LEDs but I am freakishly good at soldering and made it fit.

Works!

The crappy camera on my Galaxy S4 doesn't do a justice. The blue is deep and rich and not greenish like in the photo. Very happy with it!

s85e90 · 11-08-2014, 05:40 PM

Nice work. Post more pics of the entire dash.

jdamore · 11-08-2014, 05:54 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by s85e90

Nice work. Post more pics of the entire dash.

Thank you! I have been taking pictures of everything as I take it apart. I am going to start a new thread explaining my whole experience soon! Its really difficult to get a good picture though. Keep an eye out!

whats77inaname · 11-08-2014, 09:24 PM

I'm following this with keen interesting. Last year I was thinking about making the switch

http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=899305

and I got bagged on a lot w/everything from it looks like a VW to orange is better on the eyes for night driving. And then the i8 comes out, and BMW does this:

11-04-2014, 11:54 AM	#1
jdamore Captain 436 Rep 856 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (4)	Shifter knob LED mod. Please help me change color. I'm going through swapping all the amber LEDs throughout the interior.. I'm stuck on accessing the led in the shifter! Anyone know how to get in there? I'm on the fence about replacing the knob with the weighted M5 knob so if you know how to get in that, I'll take the info! Thanks! __________________ -- 08 JB e92 6MT ///M3 ESS VT2-625 --
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11-04-2014, 01:34 PM	#2
thekurgan Bad Lieutenant 233 Rep 3,517 Posts Drives: E90M3 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Sacramento iTrader: (0) Garage List 2008 BMW M3 [0.00]	I "think" you can peel the top off the knob, it has some soft glue to hold it in there, but I'm unsure of the bulb itself. __________________ 02 E39M5 \| TiAg/Schwartz \| Tubi Rumore \| Ultimate Ti Pedals \| E60 SSK \| Jim Blanton 3.45 40/100% \| Coby Alcantara \| StrongStrut STB
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11-04-2014, 07:57 PM	#3
jdamore Captain 436 Rep 856 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (4)	Thanks for your help thekurgan! I tried getting a finger nail under the top but it was tight. I just don't want to destroy it with a knife or something if it's not even the correct way to access the led. __________________ -- 08 JB e92 6MT ///M3 ESS VT2-625 --
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11-04-2014, 08:12 PM	#4
Kisenwether Lieutenant 197 Rep 573 Posts Drives: Limerock Grey M3 / Hellrot 1M Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Albuquerque NM iTrader: (4)	just pry the logo off the top, its just double sided tape, just did the led swap to a weighted zhp knob
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11-04-2014, 08:22 PM	#5
jdamore Captain 436 Rep 856 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (4)	Great! Thanks! Have any pictures? __________________ -- 08 JB e92 6MT ///M3 ESS VT2-625 --
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11-08-2014, 05:15 PM	#6
jdamore Captain 436 Rep 856 Posts Drives: 2008 e92 M3 Join Date: May 2013 Location: New Jersey iTrader: (4)	It was a lot easier than I thought! I slowly pried off the top being careful not to scratch the underside or damage the leather. The LEDs in here are an 0603 surface mount footprint. I only had size 1208 LEDs but I am freakishly good at soldering and made it fit. Works! The crappy camera on my Galaxy S4 doesn't do a justice. The blue is deep and rich and not greenish like in the photo. Very happy with it! __________________ -- 08 JB e92 6MT ///M3 ESS VT2-625 -- Last edited by jdamore; 11-08-2014 at 11:11 PM..
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11-08-2014, 05:40 PM	#7
s85e90 Brigadier General 193 Rep 3,633 Posts Drives: black e90 Join Date: Jan 2014 Location: everywhere iTrader: (2)	Nice work. Post more pics of the entire dash.
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11-08-2014, 09:24 PM	#9
whats77inaname Banned 833 Rep 3,387 Posts Drives: when at all possible Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: Tx iTrader: (25)	I'm following this with keen interesting. Last year I was thinking about making the switch http://www.m3post.com/forums/showthread.php?t=899305 and I got bagged on a lot w/everything from it looks like a VW to orange is better on the eyes for night driving. And then the i8 comes out, and BMW does this: Last edited by whats77inaname; 11-08-2014 at 09:31 PM..
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