first mods - interior

installed my Carbon fiber instrument surround today. was a little worried there for a bit when i had the back plugs all out, the pod upsidedown on the dash and staring at the mess in front of me. in the end it really was an easy mod and glad i tried it myself.. So i have stitched Carrera 4s floormats; cf surround; aluminium rings; and thourgh you can't see it well, i put Xenon bulbs from Bimmian in the upper reading/map lights and on the door lights. i really like the look of the blue on the black leather interior. it looks great and i will try a photo again.

Looks awesome!

Nice Job!

I'd like to see pics of the interior bulbs if you get a chance. Very nice so far!

When you are ready for the CF ignition and hazard let me know.

Gota get those gauge faces. Are they white or aluminum?

the gauges are part of the alu package. i was going to swap them out for black but i think i will keep them. they also look good at night.

actually we swapped emails on those a month or 2 ago; i think i even phoned? anyway i am thinking hard about those 2 options; i am not sure if i want to loose the disappearing look of the stock hazard surround. i am sold on the ignition one though. BTW, how do i swap out my core part? mail it to you later and get a rebate, or just promise to semd it after i get the carbon fibre version?

i will try at night - i also had them in my M3 and they are a really nice change to the normal lights: hey they match the xenon headlight colour to the "T".

Great job! I wish I had the guts to do that. Currently pondering AS side vents....but I have 2 left hands

I heard side vents are pretty easy. If you change those than the defroster panels go nicely with them!!!

They are pretty easy. I did both. The driver's side is a bit of a booger with the light switch assembly but managed to still be pretty easy.

Already have the AS defroster vent..

Nice..

Can you do the defroster panel without removing the whole dash? Seems to be what people are suggesting but i can't believe it? I got a nice leather covered defroster on Ebay a few weeks back.

Much more difficuly to do without removing the vents since the "grove" into eachother ever so slightly. I did both at the same time. It can be done though......if you start at the center by taking off the alarm cover (think it's called the rosette--piece in the middle with the smoked plastic in the center) then you can remove the defroster panel from the center ending at the vent and then reverse to install. They (defroster vents) are held in by clips so they just pry out.

i may give that a try - i don't think it would be fun getting that one 1/2 done only, but at least you could drive the car to get it finished if you had to. Thanks LVD - and all i can say is try the xenon interior bulbs. you will like them. the small set at Bimmian is $54 or so. they have 8 or more bulbs, but you need 5 for the 996 and the rest will not work in the car. Give them to someone with an M3!

Yes you can. You do have to pull the A pillar covers off tho 'cause the defroster has metal hooks that lock in place when you replace the A pillar cover. Just grab each one and yank like h*ll straight out!

Did you have any pics of them in your car?

More details, please. Which locations, how easy to change, difference in lighting, does the dimming function work etc...

Good question Lee....."does the dimming function work" I would like to know that as well. Come one, your killin us over here....PICS PLEASE!!!

the 2 map lights and door lights are just the plug in bulbs; same voltage and wattage if i remember correctly. the larger over head is a dual cap type of bulb that again just pushes into the socket. The owners manual shows you how to remove the map light roof fixture. Dimming and all functions are unaffected. The only problem is that these bulbs can burn hot and fry. My 1st round on the M3 lost 2 of about 16 bulbs in a day or so. Replaced and never had an issue again. It seems that if they are going to fry, it is right away or normal life span.

I ordered the LED set for the wife's Bimmer. She really wants under-car lighting (odd for a mid-40's white suburbanite techie) but it is, alas, unlawful in OR... I'll surprise her with the cool interior lights to go with the (semi-unlawful) clear corners I promised her and ordered at the same time.

these are some lousy shots - almost embarrassed to show but anyway. I can't get a wider shot yet but at least you can get a feel for the colour.

here is the link - it looks like they remedied the heat and burnout issue by using LED. the 10 bulb set for an E46 cab should work. - $50 they give great shots of the before after look. www.bimmian.info

odd for a mid-40's white suburbanite techie from da hood!!! You better hope she doesnt see the mid 40's thing Lee

Yeah. Her age is a secret. I won't tell her

Are these gauge faces white or aluminum?

Jeff - Toward the bottom of page 1 on this thread he mentioned that they were part of the Aluminum package. I also have Aluminum gauges (but no pics), first owner ordered the car that way. Easy to read both day and night FYI

cpa4s Are those alum rings around the guages stock? I am considering purchasing some of the one's Brandywine had on Ebay but want a stock look. I also have the white guage faces, which I really like, but the rings around the guages are black. Thanks, Kris

CPA4S: what's the procedure for getting the overhead light/reading light assembly open (wife doesn't want the interior lights, so they go in my car... darn!)

unclip the black lenses and there are torx screws underneath

looks great

If it's anything like a Cab, there are screws behind the plastic light covers (not the reading light) which just pop out pretty easy. Coupe coould be similar???

Thanks. looks about the same. Another cuppa (or 2), and I'll wander outside and check it out.

OK. They are in. It was not necessary to remove the alien eyes. The light fixture pops out when you lever it out with a small screwdriver on the front side. Light color is novel and maybe OK. The LEDs provide much less illumination. I'll know tonite whether there is actually enough to be useful.

in the uppers i will probably keep the xenon, but i think i will put LED in the door because you can't turn them off and i think heat will be an issue. With black interior it looks amazing imo!!! looks novel - come on it matches the headlights and you know how good those xenon's look when you see a car coming at you.

I just got my set of bulbs from Bimmian. Sorry to say, I didn't like them. The color is good, but I think the OEM bulbs give more light. I just returned them for a refund. John

Definitely the worst mod decision to date. Fortunately, not expensive and reversible

I just took them out. If anyone is interested, I have a complete LED set for an E46 BMW coupe.

I'll take them! You have a PM.