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    Red gauge needles......

    got bored this past weekend , and did this :D

    parts you need ...

    1.Gf / wife / sister etc... Nail polish lol.
    2. your E30 screw driver (the one from the trunk aka "tool kit")
    3.ricey E-bay special chrome rings ( got mine for free)
    4.glue.
    5.masking tape



    Steps:
    1. take the cluster out.
    2.take the plastic cover off from the cluster (use a screwdriver to pry it out).
    3.mask tape the areas around the speedometer and tachometer,be very carefull with that.
    4. take the nail polish and paint the needles ( as you see i did the tachometer , speedometer , temp gauge , gas gauge , and forgot to do the MPG gauge . yup i am stupid lol.
    5. give it a good 10-15 mint to dry off.
    6.install the ricey ebay chrome rings. make sure you press it down , so it wont get loose or somthing.
    7. glue the plastic cover back on the cluster , give it a good 15-20min to dry off.
    8. re-install the cluster ( should take you 20minutes or so ).
    9. done.

    Finished product :D


    Last edited by bimmer_E30; 10-28-2008, 03:36 PM.
    Originally posted by e30e
    lose the old man bmwcca badge.

    #2
    Ya know, if ya just remove like nine screws in the back, the cluster comes out of the housing and you don't have to pry the plastic off. But I guess you needed to for those chrome rings. While you had it out you coulda installed a 7k tach!

    Looks good, though.
    "Life is hard...it's a lot harder if you're stupid."

    Tom
    72 2002
    87 327i
    88 525i
    88 535i
    03 530i

    Comment


      #3
      Originally posted by h82crash View Post
      Ya know, if ya just remove like nine screws in the back, the cluster comes out of the housing and you don't have to pry the plastic off. But I guess you needed to for those chrome rings. While you had it out you coulda installed a 7k tach!

      Looks good, though.

      i have no idea about installing a 7k tach tho.
      Originally posted by e30e
      lose the old man bmwcca badge.

      Comment


        #4
        Mine are like that too... The red needles look killer at night with the back light on real low. They sorta glow.
        -Chris

        Comment


          #5
          It is a direct swap from an i cluster if your cluster is like 86 or newer. Just have to also swap a chip that is plugged in the front just below the brake failure light. A subtle mod, but kind of adds some cool factor. Your redline won't change, still will rev limit the same.
          "Life is hard...it's a lot harder if you're stupid."

          Tom
          72 2002
          87 327i
          88 525i
          88 535i
          03 530i

          Comment


            #6
            Originally posted by h82crash View Post
            It is a direct swap from an i cluster if your cluster is like 86 or newer. Just have to also swap a chip that is plugged in the front just below the brake failure light. A subtle mod, but kind of adds some cool factor. Your redline won't change, still will rev limit the same.
            well my car is an 85 :sad:
            Originally posted by e30e
            lose the old man bmwcca badge.

            Comment


              #7
              Originally posted by So Live View Post
              Mine are like that too... The red needles look killer at night with the back light on real low. They sorta glow.
              yah i like it. whats the part number for the back lights ??? i am missing like 3 or 2 lights from the cluster.:(
              Originally posted by e30e
              lose the old man bmwcca badge.

              Comment


                #8
                I used model car spay paint and masked of the cluster. The color is racing red.
                Your signature picture has been removed since it contained the Photobucket "upgrade your account" image.

                www.gecoils.com
                My euro 316 project Transaction Feedback

                Comment


                  #9
                  red sharpie!
                  Did mine a while ago, also swapped in the 7k tach to go with my 2.7 swap
                  :P

                  good write up bimmer_e30



                  mtech1/2jzgte/r154/275tire
                  function>form

                  Comment


                    #10
                    Originally posted by dmoney(AB) View Post
                    red sharpie!
                    Did mine a while ago, also swapped in the 7k tach to go with my 2.7 swap
                    :P

                    good write up bimmer_e30
                    thanks man. so do i have to get a pre 87 7k tach to work with my 85 325e?
                    Originally posted by e30e
                    lose the old man bmwcca badge.

                    Comment


                      #11
                      Originally posted by bimmer_E30 View Post
                      thanks man. so do i have to get a pre 87 7k tach to work with my 85 325e?

                      1992 BMW 325iC
                      1978 Chevrolet Monte Carlo
                      1965 Chevrolet Corvair Monza 140hp

                      Comment


                        #12
                        thank you Mr.JasonC;)
                        Originally posted by e30e
                        lose the old man bmwcca badge.

                        Comment


                          #13
                          You know you can remove the needles from the tach/sppedo, right? Just pull straight out with force, but not too much force as you might bend the extremely brittle needles.

                          I've never been a fan of red needles, but I would have done the MPG needle to complement the rest of the needles. Also, the red needles on ///M clusters are not a glossy red.
                          - Trey

                          E90 325i/6 (ZSP, ZPP, ZCW)
                          E36 325i sedan
                          E30 325i sedan
                          Volvo 945T

                          Comment


                            #14
                            Originally posted by TDE30 View Post
                            You know you can remove the needles from the tach/sppedo, right? Just pull straight out with force, but not too much force as you might bend the extremely brittle needles.
                            I did that when I did mine, and I won't do it again. I don't think I got any of them back to their exact original positions. And it's too damn easy to fuck up and ruin them.

                            Comment


                              #15
                              Yeah, if you're working with a tach/speedo and don't mind ruining the face of it, it can be done somewhat easily. But I had a bitch of a time pulling the needle without compromising the face.
                              - Trey

                              E90 325i/6 (ZSP, ZPP, ZCW)
                              E36 325i sedan
                              E30 325i sedan
                              Volvo 945T

                              Comment

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