Hi all if possible is it easy/hard to change the dial led's? Any guides kicking around anywhere or has anyone done this.

I've done it to a couple of Octavia's now. It is quite time consuming and the surface mount LEDs are really small. If your capable with a soldering iron it won't be too difficult. I've not had a chance to put a guide together though, but if you need any help drop me a pm

Here's a few pics from my brothers octavia

I want to do mine white. But I'd need to buy some decent soldering kit for a start

I'd gladly change yours Rob

wanna do mine ill pay 

That looks awesome dark_hero, I must say I quite fancy having ago at it one of these days, not sure what colours I would go for though :S maybe a nice blue for needles and purple for rest of display hmmmm so unsure.... Is there any legal requirements for colours???? Where would be the best place to get led's for the job from? my big fingers a soldering iron and small led's could be fun but painfull :|

Edited 5 November, 201312 yr by ricREDvrs

I can't think of any legal issues. I have blue LEDs in my Fabia and have done another Fabia in red.

I get my LEDs from crazyleds.co.uk

You need a combination of these http://www.crazyleds.co.uk/PLCC-2-3528.html and these http://www.crazyleds.co.uk/3mm-LEDs.html

First link worked second didn't. Roughly how many do you think is required? I've just read gee-mans thread and I think what you did looks amazing, the white works really well. Changed my mind to do dials in white. Not sure about the rest blue looks good but don't want to look like im copying what you did.. :S i think the blue and red in your brothers looks good exactly what my old a3 was... Hmmmmmm but the white and blue...

Edited 5 November, 201312 yr by ricREDvrs

Hmm not sure why it didn't work. It is the 3mm led. I'd get at least 50 SMDs and 25 3mm LEDs. My brothers was purple, but the photos came out as blue. It looks really good White does look quite classy. The standard green was rarer boring

Purple blue still looks cooler than as you said standard boring green. 50 man that's alot :( can see why its so time consuming... But well worth it. I think blue and red is the way forward. Hmmmmmm but white and blue sounds nice :S choices choices..

Edited 5 November, 201312 yr by ricREDvrs

50 will probably cover all the switches too :-)

I'd gladly change yours Rob

 

Pop around at the weekend?

 

I'm a novice solderer - I've soldered wires together and that's about it and my soldering iron is a cheapy one.

What equipment is needed to do a job like this properly?

I borrow a soldering iron from work. Think it cost £120. So long as it has a narrow tip you'll be ok. Also some flux cored solder will be good as it flows easier. The LEDs themselves only cost £15-£20 and it's just the time it takes.

I'll try to get some photos and do a little write up from the next car I do

I'm gonna do it

White LEDs ordered

Im going to do it aswell. Which led's are for dials so I don't order the wrong ones. I want to do dials and climate control blue and all switches red look forward to reading the write up

or maybe white dials, red switches, blue displays? :S

Awesome good luck guys

Watch out when you take apart the asr, heated window and fuel switches. They have a little spring inside to make the switch work.

Also handy to have a little volt meter to test the LEDs on the board.

When you do the main dials get some masking tape and mark where the needles sit, as you need to take them off

If some one is going to attempt this again could they do I diy and post it step by step on here then hopefully sticky it

Thanks

Ah right its now sounding abit more daunting with springs and tape :|