Changing instrument bulbs on a MK11

[robmx5]

Changed my green instrument bulbs today to blue LED's - 20 minute job - took me a few minutes to figure out how to remove the binnacle - and the new bulbs will go in a couple of ways, but only one way will work - so a bit of trial and error there - nery happy with the blue - matches the blue interior of the rest of the car...
First - remove 3 philips screws underneath the instrument binnacle...


Then seperate the top from the bottom part - just clipped together - gentle squeezing will remove top part



Having removed the top part, no need to remove bottom part, you then can remove the binnacle. This is held in by 5 clips - 3 on the top and one each side on the bottom. I found the easist way was to put my thumb behind the bottom left side and gently prise away, then do the same on the right hand side, then gently grab the top of the binnacle and pull it towards you - comes off easily






You should now clearly see four philips screws that hold the instrument panel onto the dash - remove all 4 screws





- lift out the panel and turn it around - hey presto - you can now see the four blue horizontal bulb holders and the one green vertical bulb holder


- just twist each one individually an the holder comes out with the bulb - to remove the bulb just pull it gently - insert new bulb - turn on lights to ensure that it works -if it does'nt remove the bulb and turn it around - they only work one way
THe finished reslut after putting it all back together....



Spideog

[sidewaysreilly]

Nice job.

[leamyj]

Good one Rob. I see that the 10AE speedometer is not driven mechanically as is the mk1, that can often be awkward when removing the cluster on the mk1, seems that yours would be easier. Were you replacing with a bulb or some type of LED, dont know why a bulb would have to be reversed as they usually work either way..DOH!!! Just re-read the first line of your post

John

[franksm]

Nice write-up ! Love the colour scheme.

I guess the various switches would need to be taken apart and have an LED soldered in

[Steve]

Class! Looks great!

[CashelMX5]

Nice one Rob, looks the business. Did you manage to get the footwell lit as well?

[bren]

Rob were any of the origional bulbs 12v 1.2 amp (ther're very small ). I cant get them anywhere, even mx5 parts dont have them. I need some for behind the heater control unit and would gladly buy them from you.

[robmx5]

Bren,

I'm sure the one behind the odometer is what your looking for - which I have - also - I will be replacing the ones behind the heater controls when I figure out how to remove the heater itself - looks like it might be held in like a stereo - meaning I need a two pronged tool to remove it - your welcome to my bulbs free gratis - whenever I can figure out the heater removal issue.

Spideog

[bren]

Thats great thanks. I'll send you an SAE if you pm me your address.I stripped out the centre consol to see what bulbs I needed but could'nt figure out how to take out the heater. really annoyed me, sure someone here knows how to do it. Nice job on the dash by the way.

[mx5ash]

Nice work Rob.
I changed the heater panel lights ages ago. Iirc i didn't remove the heater panel, you can just about get them from behind with it in place.

and frank i changed some of the tiny bulbs in the switches to blue leds however they have a green coating on the inside of the switch itself so doesn't really change the colour as much as i would have liked.