Um, well, judging by the fact that this thread was viewed 186 times and no one posted, I guess this is a long shot.... but....

I got an email from Speedhut, and they will produce the dash gauges for the Elise if they get 25 pre-orders, plus they need to be supplied with the stock gauge cluster. I have the opportunity to get a junkyard cluster for $315 to provide to Speedhut. However, they need 25 pre-orders before they begin tooling. If anyone is interested in getting on board with this, chime in...

Here are some samples of their reverse-glow dials (from various vehicles, obviously):

 

Goldfive,

If you drop the idea, please tell me where to buy the $315 cluster. Mine is stone dead (after 5K miles) so I need one badly. I can't get my car insected without one that works. THe dealer refused to warrantee it because I couldn't get the car there for a day or two after the expiration due to hospitalization.

 

I am interested in upgrading the gauge cluster, but I expect much higher quality than what I see in your pictures if I'm going to do it.

 

Why in the world (other than the rice effect) would you want blue dash lights. Nothing like picking the hardest color to focus on in the dark as well as being the color that will degrade your night vision... :shrug:

 

Why in the world (other than the rice effect) would you want blue dash lights. Nothing like picking the hardest color to focus on in the dark as well as being the color that will degrade your night vision... :shrug:

It's the young people these days, Tim. They're just never satisfied. :shrug:

 

I am working on a replacement instrument cluster graphic. I have the tools, materials and the graphic "eye" to do this myself.

About the original instruments cluster:

I don't like the fonts. I don't care about the orange background, and I would not change that (the backlight of the LCD display is orange anyways), but I'm tired of that "sea" of uneven orange glow. I will go with reverse graphics, to a certain extend, but not completely because the needles are not lit. I don't like the pictograms (symbols). And there is nothing that graphically represent the second cam "area".

 

This is my first shot at it:

 

Next step is to test it with a cheap transparency, make ajustments, and then print a hi-res flexible Lexan. Pictograms will be semi-opaque from layers of "etchlook" and smoke vinyl applied on the reverse side.

 

Clopi how hard was it to get the cluster apart? I've heard mumbling about how you have to cut the glass to get it apart.

I simply want to go back to the original Euro Elise cluster look.

 

Clopi how hard was it to get the cluster apart? I've heard mumbling about how you have to cut the glass to get it apart.

I simply want to go back to the original Euro Elise cluster look.

It is very easy. You take the complete cluster out of the car (10 minutes and 10 screws to remove). The protective plastic face is slightly glued with a rubber adhesive. You have to insert a sharp knife on the edge, and gently pull it away. You then carefully pull the needles out, the 2 small plastic bushings, et voilà !

 

speedo failure



Can you pls help? I own an Elise Mk111S K-Eng. and lately the speedo needle froze at 0. Also, the tripster and mileage counter stopped functioning. Could all this be because reset button was pushed when car was in motion? I did try the following: 1) Open driver's door. 2) Press and hold reset button. 3) Turn on ignition.
All that did not solve anything.
Your help will be appreciated.
Norman
P.S. I can be contacted on: npanpa@maltanet.net

 

I am no big fan of the stock gauges for sure... its that blaaa 70's pale yellow, just kinda lame, the grapics themselves (other than the whole thing looking very cheap and cheesy) are not that bad... i guess if it was fairly inexpensive - say ~80 bucks i would upgrade it to something a little more quality looking and (personally) would like a red/dark orange/magenta color type a little blue is o.k. but i don't like blue all over... i guess i would say this "if it looks like a BMW gauge pack, then i would do it" but it doesn't bother me enough to spend much on it, and honestly, it is way down on the list...

 

This is my first shot at it:

good work - keep us posted... but wow - YOUR car is really fast

second cam goes higher than that (to tranisent rev limiter)

i guess the glass lays flat on the stencile and there is no way to do something a little more 3D?

 

Thanks, this is good information.

It is very easy. You take the complete cluster out of the car (10 minutes and six screws to remove). The protective plastic face is slightly glued with a rubber adhesive. You have to insert a shap knife on the edge, and gently pull it away. You then carefully pull the needles out, the 2 small plastic bushings, et voilà !

I would be interested in your original insert if you will not use it any more. Please PM me if you are interested in selling this.

 

I guess I'm going to have to get an older Euro cluster from UK/Europe, and steal the blue electroluminescent panel and whatever else it is using for lighting (notice the lighting is super uneven in the pictures). Of course I won't be able to use the graphic insert itself because the numbers won't match. That's where you could come in Clopi. What tools/materials are necessary to do this?

 

I guess I'm going to have to get an older Euro cluster from UK/Europe, and steal the blue electroluminescent panel and whatever else it is using for lighting (notice the lighting is super uneven in the pictures). Of course I won't be able to use the graphic insert itself because the numbers won't match. That's where you could come in Clopi. What tools/materials are necessary to do this?

Tools: Scanner, vectorial graphic software that support layers, like Adobe Illustrator (no pixels here), and hi-res commercial printer that can print on backlit substrate, or silkscreen installation (I have both at my company).

Material: flexible lexan textured on one side only (like the one we use for industrial keybords).

And the hardest to get: time. Lots of it.

 

(notice the lighting is super uneven in the pictures).

That one looks like it is lit from the front. Someone here did a front lit mod a while ago. Do a search on "Instrument cluster". It looked like this. A little weird looking because of the orange LCD, IMO.

 

Rather than improve the look, I'd rather improve the function and have electronic guages that are accurate.

 

Rather than improve the look, I'd rather improve the function and have electronic guages that are accurate.

now there's an idea! :up:

 

Rather than improve the look, I'd rather improve the function and have electronic guages that are accurate.

Go for it ! I'm buying.

 

That one looks like it is lit from the front. Someone here did a front lit mod a while ago. Do a search on "Instrument cluster". It looked like this. A little weird looking because of the orange LCD, IMO.

His cluster looks almost exactly like what I want for lighting. I just want to find a way to diffuse the light about 2x as much. Some sort of little translucent "lenses" I guess. Too bad he likes to go a year without posting, or I would ask him what blue LEDs he is using. I need to somehow rig up a way to power them with the proper voltage, and I don't have any electrical experience. This is where my dad could have really helped, if he were still around.

I am going to PM you about this project.

 

:up: Figure out a way to cram a Valentine 1 display in there and then you will have something.

 

How much would we be looking at for this order cost wise?

 

Guys -

I just PMed clopi2000 about building a cluster to almost exactly duplicate the look of the Stack cluster. I feel this is the most tasteful way to modify the existing cluster. If anyone would like to help me offset the cost of acquiring a real Stack cluster to use as a reference, please let me know.

Thanks

 

Tools: Scanner, vectorial graphic software that support layers, like Adobe Illustrator (no pixels here), and hi-res commercial printer that can print on backlit substrate, or silkscreen installation (I have both at my company).

Material: flexible lexan textured on one side only (like the one we use for industrial keybords).

And the hardest to get: time. Lots of it.

I have one of those industrial printers if you need any help. Ive not tried printing on lexan, but Im sure it would be no problem with hot solvent inks.

 

I want blue lights! I love the look of VW instrument panels. The blue is so much cooler. The orange lights are ultra lame. Maybe it would be easier to preorder if we knew what they were selling for. At $300 I'm out. At under $100 I'm in.

 

the Speedhut EL overlays go for $99 or so plus $8 shipping. Here is the response I got from Speedhut regarding the run of Elise gauge overlays:

"We don't currently offer EL-Glo Dial Kit's or Bezels for your dash. If
you are interested in becoming a Group Leader for your cluster, please
read the info below:

The Group Leader sends a cluster to begin the Pre Order. Please don't
use a personal dash cluster (we don't send clusters back). We recommend
a cluster from a junkyard (it does NOT have to be in working condition.
However, it does need to have everything intact - i.e., needles, cover
etc).

Please send the Cluster via Ground, Mail (or another inexpensive
method). Please make sure it is INSURED for your protection! *Remember
to add your contact information in the package.

Once the cluster has been received the Pre Order will be added to our
Model Development Program with the sender listed as the Group Leader.
The Group Leader's email will be listed on the site for questions. We
will be in contact with the Group Leader throughout the process.

Once we receive 25 Pre Orders we will begin tooling. The Group leader
will get their Custom Dial kit for FREE. We offer incentive discounts
for the entire Group. *Free Text, Free Standard Graphics, Free Standard
Logo's.

*We can add the Km/h version at No additional cost.

The price for our Custom Gauge Kit's are generally around $99.95 + $8.00 US S&H per Pre Order."----------------------

Here is a link to a generic dial template where buyers can custom design their own dials (its for a Porsche 928, but it gives you an idea of the process)-- Make sure you scroll down to the bottom to use the interactive design tool:

http://www.speedhut.com/el_detail.asp?catagory=PORSCHE&auto_number=253&bhcp=1