Overhead console button LED project

[Donny Carlson]

If somebody's done this, tell me and I'll shut the :censor: up.

I was over on LED Supply's website, and based on what I read there, installing three 5mm LEDs next to the unlit buttons for the homelink system or for the map lights is doable and not terribly difficult. The hardest part is figuring out what resistance is needed to drop power down from 13 v with the number of LED's, and of course you'll need to remove that part of the overhead console for drilling holes. The LED's have holders, and you can tie them in to the car's power system. I emailed them for some advice (I don't know nothing about birthin no LED's), so let's see. It may be worth buying one of the trim pieces to experiment.

[valleyman]

I for one am not telling you to do anything except to go for it. Why? Because I want to poach off your idea after you succeed.

[Donny Carlson]

I for one am not telling you to do anything except to go for it. Why? Because I want to poach off your idea after you succeed.
They answered the email I sent them and told me what I needed to do this project. It's pretty easy. I think I better order the trim piece, though, for the prototype. I don't want to screw up the one in my car :shake:

Stay tuned.

[Constable]

This is going to be a great mod. Noone can EVER find the map lights in my car. I even have trouble finding them. It's pure silliness that they are not illuminated from the factory.

[vegasmarauder]

I'm working on that very thing. I have the mini LED's and resistor. Working on the engineering to make it an easy do-it-yourself install. Will work on it some more this weekend. By the way, you can't get ANY of the overhead console parts individually. The overhead console comes in one assembly only (I wanted some spares to work with). I got a tan one from a Marquis for my rainy day CVPI and a MM one for the nephews CVPI. Between the two should be able to work it out, but anyone that has tried anything before let me know and maybe I can use to smooth out the conversions. I'll do the whole tech article when it's done.

[Donny Carlson]

I'm working on that very thing. I have the mini LED's and resistor. Working on the engineering to make it an easy do-it-yourself install. Will work on it some more this weekend. By the way, you can't get ANY of the overhead console parts individually. The overhead console comes in one assembly only (I wanted some spares to work with). I got a tan one from a Marquis for my rainy day CVPI and a MM one for the nephews CVPI. Between the two should be able to work it out, but anyone that has tried anything before let me know and maybe I can use to smooth out the conversions. I'll do the whole tech article when it's done.
Looks like you're several steps ahead of me. Go for it. BTW, what color LEDS are you using?

You think that parted out MM that was on this board could yield up an overhead console on the cheap?

[gpfarrell]

I was rumbling down the PA turnpike last night. Had a buddy that owns a Lexus riding in the front seat... he really liked the car, but neither of us could find the map light buttons. We joked that Lexus would have lit them up.

Our BMW has some very subtle lighting somewhere up around the dome light... casts a very gentle glow all over the console. I owned the car for a few months before I noticed that I wasn't in the dark... just started thinking about adding that to our MM this last night!

I think if you light the buttons you'll get a bit of glow everywhere... can't wait to see how this turns out!

[vegasmarauder]

Using green. Trying to make it like the factory should have.....