My first build: Kobra

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I have updated the photo to include names to each connection, as it may help in case someone wanted to have a go themselves ...

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Originally Posted by Piguin

Maybe blue and white wouldn't be ideal on the top 'shelf' of the new dashboard due to reflections in the windscreen?

It's a good point, I hadn't considered this. Thanks. I will later the faux leather in situe and test to see whether this may be a problem. Cheers

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Originally Posted by DaveP

Very interesting approach which is, after sleeping on it, very logical.

What are doing about the lcd display for mileage / service intervals etc ?

Dave

Early bird as well, Dave? I am just about to head to the garage after my coffee

The LCD is still available and fully functional. I did have a quick peak at seeing whether I could dettach the LCD and extend it, so I could have it recessed behind a flap in the new dash, but sadly not. It will be accessible behind the dash in case needed. But my new GPS speedometer has adjustable mileage, so it will show the total mileage of my car. As for service info - I am not that bothered. I also have a OBD2 MX Link fitted, so I can view all data (issues, monitoring, logs, etc.) from my phone.

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Cut the dash panel today using 6mm MDF.

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I started marking up all the dimensions and cutouts. Also made the glovebox.

[casamolino]

Good morning for the first time since i have replaced the Z3 instrument panel with separate warning lights and instruments the MOT station this year failed my car on no ABS light , Geoff .

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Hi Geoff, do you mean this one? I can add it if needed by MOT stations. Many thanks.

[casamolino]

Yes that`s the one , wiring looks good , are you buying new gauges or making your own? Geoff .

[clinkadink]

Ok, thanks, I will add that one too. That makes 12 lights in total.

I have been buying cheap 52mm gauges, but replacing the workings with BMW bits. They end up looking the same as the retro 52mm gauges, but still using German tech.

[casamolino]

Hi that is what i have done on both my SWBs , although the main difference between the two is that on my second car i decided to have the small Veglia dials with the indicator needles pointing downwards , this meant i could not think of a way of using the standard Z3 fuel and water guages , i decided to fit the Z3 fuel gauge within the large Veglia speedo (courtesy of a Alfa 105 series car) , for the water gauge i used a non-modified Veglia water unit but attached to a seperate sender unit fitted into the top hose , all the best with the dash , Geoff .

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Those veglia gauges look the business! Ingenious putting the fuel gauge inside the speedo. Is that the original Z3 needle that i can see?

I believe you can change the direction of the stepper motor on the back of a dashboard gauge by reversing the polarity on the coil. Then, just rotate the stepper motor 90 degrees anti-clockwise on the back of the dial.



More info here.

All the best.
Chris.

[casamolino]

Afternoon Chris yes that is the original Z3 fuel needle , have you tried the reverse polarity mod yet ? Geoff .

[clinkadink]

Hi Geoff, no, but the science stacks up. I will have a go and post back the results. Cheers, Chris.

[Paul L]

clinkadink - Nice work Chris.

I thought your computer mock ups of the dash were impressive.

But the skills required to make this dash in reality are equally high tech.

Good luck, Paul.

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Thanks Paul. Its been fun, and that's the main thing. Although tonight I hit a snag. The GPS Speedo I purchased to replace the Z3 speedo, was meant to have adjustable mileage. It hasn't. There is a grommet which when removed should reveal a momentary switch. But its isn't there. I have stripped it down to see if I can bridge the connections on the gauge's PCB, just to set the mileage ... alas no. I've already wrote a disgruntled message to the ebay seller.

I now have 2 choices ...

1. Purchase another GPS unit and hope the 'adjustable mileage' button is present and it works (although the last one took a couple of weeks to arrive)
2. Buy an old Smiths speedo, fit the Z3 workings in that. But this would mean I would have to display the original Z3 LCD somewhere (probably too big to insert inside the speedo, width/height wise). Also, this involves extending approximately 40 pins from the PCB to the new dash It can be done, but it's more work. I might be able to use an old 40 pin IDE ribbon cable out of a PC.

Either way, there's no going back now

I'll sleep on it (if that's possible in this heat) and see what tomorrow brings.

[JoeB]

It is a pain to remove the LCD from the original cluster but it can be done! I have mounted the original LCD display in my dash behind a piece of clear acrylic with some limo tint film applied to it. I have put in a push button to bring on the display back light. This way it is not on display all the time but can be seen if required.

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Thanks Joe. Good to know it can be done. I like the idea of connecting the 2 bulbs at back to a switch, to display the LCD as and when required. Good tip!

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The weather has cooled enough for me to get back in the garage. I decided to go ahead and remove the Z3 LCD display from the instrument cluster's PCB. Its a 32 pin connector, highlighted in red below.

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I desoldered each of the 32 pins, and removed the LCD connector. Heads up to anyone else doing this, take care of the pins, they have a tendancy to pop off the white plastic mount and launch themselves in random directions. I marked the first and last pin on each side of the white plastic mount with black pen, so I knew where to reinsert the pins if they came loose (which they did).

Photo below shows the connector removed, along side the LCD, rear coloured filter, and housing. Tomorrow, i'll wire up the extension cable (circa 30cm) between the PCB board and the LCD connector, allowing me to flush fit it to the dash.

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Today I extended the LCD, 32 wires x 400mm. The board is looking a little chaotic