DIY red M3-style instrument needles

[Jand3rson]

Just got done doing my red needles in my instrument cluster, and they came out really good. I'm cleaning and freshening up my cluster while I have the car in pieces, replacing all the bulbs, SI batteries, and what not, so I decided to have a go at the needles.

I removed the needles with a thin fork, getting the tines of the fork up under the black spindles, and lifting up. You have to pull just about to the point where it feels like you're going to break them, and they pop off. Just if you're going to do it, make sure you take a straight-on shot of your cluster so you know where they go again! Then I just masked off the black parts, and hit each of the needles with 2 coats of Testor's Gloss Bright Red model spray paint. Let them dry for the day, and reinstalled. I think they came out really good!

[PiercedE30]

how'd you do the one for the MPG gauge?

[Jand3rson]

how'd you do the one for the MPG gauge?

A red Sharpie. :D It's not a 100% perfect match, but it's close enough.

[dude8383]

A red Sharpie. :D It's not a 100% perfect match, but it's close enough.

lol i did the same with a 325i cluster thats just sitting in my room.

it came out alright because i used the sharpie on all of the needles.

[Jand3rson]

lol i did the same with a 325i cluster thats just sitting in my room.

it came out alright because i used the sharpie on all of the needles.

I tried that the first time, that's how RCWells did his. They were ok at best, they were very splotchy though, you only get one or two good passes with a Sharpie before the new ink just starts to smear the old ink. I just said fuck it and went with spray paint, much easier to get an even coat.

Oh, and if anyone is wondering, the reason the area where the "CHECK" light is looks wierd is because I had one of those little ///M badges there, to kind of replicate the E30 M3 cluster. What's left there is the residue from the old sticker colored in black with a Sharpie, I'm going to put a new one in there, to make a kind of replica M3 cluster.

[cthulu703]

I believe testors also offers many of their colors in pen form as well.

[AndrewBird]

I believe testors also offers many of their colors in pen form as well.

So they do:

http://www.testors.com/catalog_item.asp?itemNbr=1432

[Jand3rson]

I would probably advise against using the paint pens, because it's still going to be difficult to get an even coat, especially on something so small. The spray paint just takes a couple of quick passes.

[Fanzotti]

Looks cool.

[SA E30]

I used a brush to paint mine... and when I was removing my fuel gauge one... I managed to kink it on the tip... arrg.

I used Tamiya Model paint... can't remember the type of red...

[Court M3]

nice touch

[YAN-3]

nice x2

both the cluster and the DVD collection. Ronin in a white case? ive never seen one with a white case. anywho, looks good.

[trent]

for the best and most even coat I would use an airbrush

[Jand3rson]

nice x2

both the cluster and the DVD collection. Ronin in a white case? ive never seen one with a white case. anywho, looks good.

Dude, it's a 2-disc special edition release, they finally fucking did one. The second disc has a TON of shit on it, I found it at Wal-Mart, of all places. Come to think of it, that's also where I found my 2-disc special edition Event Horizon. :D

[Garageaholic]

Josh, i'm very interested in the red needles. However, I'm skeptical of how they will look at night, whether or not it's going to illuminate the way they do when they're stock white.

Do you have any pics to post of what it looks like at night lit up?