eastendr
New member
Below is an x-post that I put on Titanic.
It is a brief review of Darren's (Flamingeye) LED illumination kit for 944 instrument clusters.
I've now installed kits in both my 944's and you can see them at Jamsport on Saturday. Darren will be there with some different colour kits as well.
It's not often that something REALLY useful and well made comes along from a UK source for the 944, so this has really impressed me !
On another modification front, I have now fitted the 'Flamingeye' LED illumination kit to the instrument cluster. Again, last night was the first proper test.
For those who don't know about this kit (on the 944 section of the PCGB forum and built by Darren / Flamingeye), it replaces the 3 plastic bits and bulbs that illuminate the main instrument cluster at night. Both my 944's have suffered dull illumination over the years. The original plastic parts are vacuum coated with a silver covering to help transmit more light betwen the bulb and the gauges, but over time the plastic begins to crack and yellow, and become much less efficient etc. leading to dull illumination. I had modified both mine by fitting brighter (5w) bulbs and trying to repair the silver coating. Although this had improved things, the bulbs started to go intermittent and the end result was never as good as on a 'modern' car.
Enter the flamingeye kit. This is produced to an exceptionally high quality. It comprises new illuminators and cables. You remove the original 'triangular' silver covered plastic parts. I did this by prising out from under the melted plastic rivets with a small screwdriver. The original parts will then come away cleanly. Ther 3 new moulded modules are then fitted in their places, and held firmly by the double sided tape that is already cut to shape and stuck to the modules. Couldn't be easier !
The new modules contain their own illumination in the form of an array of LED's that are available in a number of colours, and can be specified when you order the kit. I bought a 'neon' blue kit with high UV content. I have seen some of the other colours as well - including red.
To power these LED's, each module has a short trailing cable. The kit is supplied with bayonet adaptors that replace the original bulbs (to get the power from the circuit board), that connect to the trailing cables. That's all there is to installation - except obviously for removing and refitting the instrument cluster. TIP - get a removable steering wheel !!
In use the entire instrument display is so much clearer. The LED's give an extremely uniform 'glow' of light that almost makes the gauges appear to be backlit. The UV content maked the red needles glow. There is no mistaking the clearer display. The instrument cluster now looks like it was designed and built yesterday !
A gathering around the car at R11 last night in the dark bought about universal acclaim (even from some 996 / boxter drivers) about how clear / modern the new display was. John Simms was last seen looking for some Kleenex LMAO.
A very worthwhile modification to any 944 owner. No, I'm not on commission, just extremely impressed by the quality and presentation of the kit, and pleased to have solved a long term 'niggle' with my 944's.
** Update ** John Sims has ordered a set as well ....
Rick.
Edited by John Sims to spell name correctly - and because I can, might just as well do something as a Moderator. [
]
It is a brief review of Darren's (Flamingeye) LED illumination kit for 944 instrument clusters.
I've now installed kits in both my 944's and you can see them at Jamsport on Saturday. Darren will be there with some different colour kits as well.
It's not often that something REALLY useful and well made comes along from a UK source for the 944, so this has really impressed me !
On another modification front, I have now fitted the 'Flamingeye' LED illumination kit to the instrument cluster. Again, last night was the first proper test.
For those who don't know about this kit (on the 944 section of the PCGB forum and built by Darren / Flamingeye), it replaces the 3 plastic bits and bulbs that illuminate the main instrument cluster at night. Both my 944's have suffered dull illumination over the years. The original plastic parts are vacuum coated with a silver covering to help transmit more light betwen the bulb and the gauges, but over time the plastic begins to crack and yellow, and become much less efficient etc. leading to dull illumination. I had modified both mine by fitting brighter (5w) bulbs and trying to repair the silver coating. Although this had improved things, the bulbs started to go intermittent and the end result was never as good as on a 'modern' car.
Enter the flamingeye kit. This is produced to an exceptionally high quality. It comprises new illuminators and cables. You remove the original 'triangular' silver covered plastic parts. I did this by prising out from under the melted plastic rivets with a small screwdriver. The original parts will then come away cleanly. Ther 3 new moulded modules are then fitted in their places, and held firmly by the double sided tape that is already cut to shape and stuck to the modules. Couldn't be easier !
The new modules contain their own illumination in the form of an array of LED's that are available in a number of colours, and can be specified when you order the kit. I bought a 'neon' blue kit with high UV content. I have seen some of the other colours as well - including red.
To power these LED's, each module has a short trailing cable. The kit is supplied with bayonet adaptors that replace the original bulbs (to get the power from the circuit board), that connect to the trailing cables. That's all there is to installation - except obviously for removing and refitting the instrument cluster. TIP - get a removable steering wheel !!
In use the entire instrument display is so much clearer. The LED's give an extremely uniform 'glow' of light that almost makes the gauges appear to be backlit. The UV content maked the red needles glow. There is no mistaking the clearer display. The instrument cluster now looks like it was designed and built yesterday !
A gathering around the car at R11 last night in the dark bought about universal acclaim (even from some 996 / boxter drivers) about how clear / modern the new display was. John Simms was last seen looking for some Kleenex LMAO.
A very worthwhile modification to any 944 owner. No, I'm not on commission, just extremely impressed by the quality and presentation of the kit, and pleased to have solved a long term 'niggle' with my 944's.
** Update ** John Sims has ordered a set as well ....
Rick.
Edited by John Sims to spell name correctly - and because I can, might just as well do something as a Moderator. [
] 
