Yellow Instrument Lights / Grey Face Gauge - The Unofficial BMW M5 Messageboard (m5board.com)

a_ok2me · 7th February 2005, 07:28

Has anyone bothered to change the yellow speedometer/tachometer lights? They don't match all the other reddish orange lights. It's annoying. I assume they're just colored caps that you could simply remove and replace, just like in my Toyota. The lights on my 528i matches with every other light. It's nice. Then I jump in the M5 and the yellow doesn't look like it belongs there.

Just a comment: The grey face gauge doesn't contrast too well against the white numbers either. When the sun shines on it, you can't even read the numbers.

bayerischemotor · 7th February 2005, 13:50

I have thought about the exact same thing! Let me know if you find an answer, or if anyone out there in cyberspace have an answer please let us know.

mottati · 8th February 2005, 08:02

this is one of the things that disappointed me about the gray faced cluster, when my original black one was replaced... The original 00 black cluster is typical bmw red.
Mike

a_ok2me · 8th February 2005, 08:11

Quote:

Originally Posted by mottati

this is one of the things that disappointed me about the gray faced cluster, when my original black one was replaced... The original 00 black cluster is typical bmw red.
Mike

Wow, I might try to order one of those if they still make them. Of course, I'll have the dealer do everything even though I could do it myself. I'd hate to mess with the warranty especially with all those pixel stories like yours.

Amir M5 · 8th February 2005, 08:59

Quote:

Originally Posted by a_ok2me

Wow, I might try to order one of those if they still make them. Of course, I'll have the dealer do everything even though I could do it myself. I'd hate to mess with the warranty especially with all those pixel stories like yours.

Unfortunately they're no longer available. I had the pixels go out on my black faced gauges and it was replaced with grey faces. I specifically asked for the black face replacement and was told it is no longer available. I have gotten used to the grey faces though.

gsfent · 8th February 2005, 10:45

Quote:

Originally Posted by mottati

this is one of the things that disappointed me about the gray faced cluster, when my original black one was replaced... The original 00 black cluster is typical bmw red.
Mike

I wonder if the only differences are the bulbs. Any change in part numbers for the bulbs between 00 instrument cluster and 01 and later?
Regards,
Jerry

pkarmouche · 8th February 2005, 20:06

Now that you mention it, I think I'd prefer orange illumination over the yellow too.

While we are on the subject, does anyone have insight on how difficult it is to replace the plastic clear cover over the instrument cluster? Mine has a hairline scratch that you can see when the light hits it "just so". Hopefully it's a relatively inexpensive part that can be easily replaced.

Thanks,

Paul

fvicente · 8th February 2005, 20:16

Quote:

Originally Posted by pkarmouche

Now that you mention it, I think I'd prefer orange illumination over the yellow too.

While we are on the subject, does anyone have insight on how difficult it is to replace the plastic clear cover over the instrument cluster? Mine has a hairline scratch that you can see when the light hits it "just so". Hopefully it's a relatively inexpensive part that can be easily replaced.

Thanks,

Paul

the lighting is provided via LEDs for the gauges and bulbs for the Info display. You'd have to do some soldering to change them out.

the front glass is not available separately. If plastic polish doesn't work, do what I did: get an inop cluster from ebay and swap the halves out. That part is easy.

I bought an M5 black cluster with some segments missing from the display and just used the front half on my regular 540 cluster so I could have the chrome rings. I haven't swapped the needles over, thinking I might leave them as is.

atomic80 · 8th February 2005, 20:22

This is a phenomen that I've noticed in a variety of different M5's. Some seem to have orange while others have yellow. I seem to have orange in mine.

ttboyvanc · 8th February 2005, 21:07

I just bought a grey faced disply from someone who had it but an LCD was out, I'm just going to swap my lcd's into it, shouldn't be too much hassle, so I might have a black face available ina bit if anyone is interested.