BMW red instrument lighting

[Dutchman]

For those with any post '93 R series BMW's, I've had lots of enquiries regarding my red instrument lighting, which is a lot less of a distraction at night than the original bright white lighting.

www.pbase.com/iamge/999258

The main instrument bulbs, two in each clock, can either be replaced by red BMW auto bulbs, from any current BMW car-the fitment is identical except they are red or you can simply paint a little nail varnish over the bulbs until the desired hue is achieved.

I've also done the same with the fog light switch bulb, so that glows red as well.

As far as the R.I.D. (Rider Information Display) is concerned I took a couple of hours yesterday to completely dismantle this instrument to see if I could illuminate that red as well.

Big problemo............

This is lit by four ORANGE LED's soldered directly onto the PCB which is at the heart of the R.I.D. These in turn provide uniform backlighting via a small perspex prism.

First of all I tried colouring the LED's, but this simply reduced the light too much to be effective.

I removed the colouring from the LED's and coloured the prism instead-no better.

As far as I can see there are only two ways to colour the R.I.D to match the other instruments:

Apply a thin clear red plastic foil/tape to the outside face of the instrument.

Obtain bright red LED's and solder them in place of the orange one's, a lot of work for the required result.

Alternatively you just say, what the fuck, and get on with your life........

[Chopperman]

Did the same on my DR650. it uses those 3w plug in bulbs. local auto parts store has amber, red and green. I like the red glow but the redline doesn't show up (duh red light on red marking) but I long ago memorized how the bike feels and sounds at redline.

[Chopperman]

Did the dame on my DR650. it uses those 3w plug in bulbs. local auto parts store has amber, red and green. I like the red glow but the redline doesn't show up (duh red light on red marking) but I long ago memorized how the bike feels and sounds at redline.

[fish]

Originally posted by Dutchman


www.pbase.com/iamge/999258

you mean http://www.pbase.com/image/999258 ?

[Dutchman]

Originally posted by fish
you mean http://www.pbase.com/image/999258 ?

..........................you're much too sharp for me Fischmeister......sorry about the typo.............:

[Beemer-Biker]

Here is a stupid/novice/moron question, but since I do not know the answer, here goes.
How does one remove the bulbs in the speedo/tach to change them? I have had the dash of my R1150RT off, had the nuts off of the back of the speedo and tach, but couldn't see where to remove the bulbs to change them to red.
Help!
TIA
:

[Dutchman]

Once you have removed the instruments from their mountings in the dash you will see two grey rubber bulb holders push fitted into the white back of each clock.

Pull firmly away from the clock back and each bulb holder contains one capless clear bulb which you then paint red!