Red needles

[m_jermyn]

Thinking of painting my cluster needles red...... However I am a little worried about the needles visibility at night time... So can you see a red needle when driving at night?

Mike

[m4xos]

i think the m3 ones glow, if you have a spare speedo cluster, try it on that first!

[goldysingh]

I've done this and it looks fine in the dark, don't glow but you can see them clearly enough.
I think I saw a website once who do replcement needles..Can't remember the name.

[Spike121]

Just done my cluster and have no problem seeing the needles at night, fitted chrome rings as well

[aj_mckay]

Don't think the M3 ones glow, at least not E30 M3! E36, probably yes.

Search for 'red AND needles' in the search function and look at the thread by cliffybabe

He did this and messed around with all sorts of different lighting options on a cluster of his.

[no2lurch]

Just done my cluster and have no problem seeing the needles at night, fitted chrome rings as well

pic please...

[SUMPCRACKER]

mine show up well in the dark.

[Felix79]

My Alpina dials are a bright orange.

The M3 Cluster I have ( a USA spec) has the red needles and you can see them just find at night.

[Joe-318i]

mine are red, have no problem with seeing them at night, but there on a white background, might change dials back to black

[leeparkes]

I have red needles and you can see them fine at night

[m_jermyn]

Well I guess im going to paint them red then, surprised not one bad comment....

Thanks guys

Mike

[TheHeap]

you should be alright as i bought white dials for a car i had and i painted my needles black with a permenent marker, worked perfectly

[andyclient]

E30 M3 needles don't glow , but no probs at night as mentioned

[jamie323i]

What sort of paint would you use?

Enamel,like in those little pots you get from a model shop?

[StuBeeDoo]

What sort of paint would you use?

Permanent marker (chisel-tip one).
I've done 2 sets. The ones on my white dials I can see fine in the dark, but I haven't tried the black dials in the car yet.

[gooner1]

What about nail varnish? Not like they are going to be rubbing against anything, is it?

[m4xos]

What about nail varnish? Not like they are going to be rubbing against anything, is it?

that sonds like a good idea to me!!

[Rav335uk]

I used my missus red nail polish and it was ok.

[gooner1]

I used my missus red nail polish and it was ok.

Yes, but what did you use on your,e needles Rav?

[Rav335uk]

I used my missus red nail polish and it was ok.

Yes, but what did you use on your,e needles Rav?

[m_jermyn]

I used my missus red nail polish and it was ok.

This is basically exactly what I will be doing

[m4xos]

i must admit, that clockset does look sweet! nice work RAV!!

[Rav335uk]

Cheers M4xos

[Mayze]

I have to admit I had always thought diy red needles would look a bit cheap but that looks the dogs.

Ps I think the reason that people use red marker is the weight of the paint can throw the readings out for your dials.

[StuBeeDoo]

Ps I think the reason that people use red marker is the weight of the paint can throw the readings out for your dials.

Don't know about anyone else, but I did it because it's what the Lockwood website suggested.

[monkey]

StuBeeDoo do you have a pic of your gauges ?

[StuBeeDoo]

StuBeeDoo do you have a pic of your gauges ?

This is the Lockwoods, I'll get a picture of the standard ones later.

[StuBeeDoo]

..... And here's the standard black dials with permanent-markered red needles.

[monkey]

StuBeeDoo you done a good job there the standard black dials look

[StuBeeDoo]

StuBeeDoo you done a good job there the standard black dials look

Thank you.
I'll probably put them in in the next few months. I'm still not sure about the white ones.

[monkey]

StuBeeDoo you done a good job there the standard black dials look

Thank you.
I'll probably put them in in the next few months. I'm still not sure about the white ones.

i didn't know wot to think of the white dials , but didn't want to say anything

[StuBeeDoo]

I'll probably put them in in the next few months.

As you see, they're on 176k. The car is on 173k at the moment.

[m4xos]

i can see it now... red needles in mine during the week