Well rather forking up an arm or leg just for led light replacements. I was curious about just buying the template to see how that would do with stock oem bulbs ine the gauge cluster. So spent $29.95. And if it didn't work I just be out of $30 and some precious time wasted.
Got it in yesterday.


So then I started my research and looking at the service manual on how to get to the gauge cluster. I read this and that I had to lower the steering column. So I was like, yeah sure I am going to avoid that. Way too much work. Lol. Ok I am lazy to a certain point!
Anyways, so I get lucky and ge the dash trim off withou dropping the colum.


Then I figured it out!
Take the steering colum cover off, then remover the two brackets on the top of the gauge cluster. Then unplug tilt on it's back. And bam!,

Removed the trim, then the face carefully,.

Got o the LCD board:

Lifted it and there it was.. The oem template. Easy to remove.

Slid in the new template:

Put everything back the reverse order ..done!
Here is the obvious stock look. Before shot:

After shot! Which IMO is totally bad ass and acceptable! First shot just cluster on and second when light turned on. I love it!



Couldn't start the car yet. Cause it was around 5am. So can't wait till day light to see how this looks during the day now!

 

is it blue and purple? or is it all blue just the camera playing a trick?

either way good job and if you like it thats all that matters!

 

Looks good

 

how did take the dash trim off without dropping the colum? I thought there was no way around it.

 

This would work great to change them out to all red with it. I did something similar and works great for red, even green looks pretty good. Blue will turn a little purple as you can tell but still looks good!

 

you can its not hard taking it off its just a pita putting it back on.

 

I did it absolutley not once dropping the colum. Just got to have small asain hand! Lmao! And patience. Nothing broke. Little ingenuity!
No it's not one bit purple. It's blue my camera just sucks. Even the shot of the stock looks green. And we all know ther is no green in the rpms!

 

That actually came out nice! I think I may try this.
Thanks.

 

You can lower the steering column a little bit by loosening 2 nuts under the steering wheel, takes literally like 30 seconds and it you can pull the steering wheel down more and it's A LOT easier to pull the whole bezel out. I've taken mine out tons of times and lowering the column a bit is the easiest part. Just throwing that out there, it does look pretty good though.

 

I do agree with you. If you want to play it safe and if your not use to taking dashes apart. Do lower the colum.
I do plan to order these led bulb replacements I saw online. The sell every color and even have bulbs that are 30% than stock. That way I am not cutting up my cluster. Will post that when they come in.