Look what i did (all blue)!

I changed all the LED's , even in the km-display and the radio-display, so it is possible , but a hell of a job!
Enjoy!








Greetings Marc

Too bad you didn't take pictures and document the change on a step-by-step basis. I am sure many members would like to get rid of the "garish" orange color.

Great job and it looks really nice.

I agree the blue looks a lot better than the orange - very nice

Sorry, but step by step is difficult , because i wanted first to do the rpm-km/u-temp-fuel combo (don't know the right word) and nothing else.But after doing that, i felt the need to do also all the rest. (I mean all: the radiocontrols on the steeringwheel , the switchs for the headlight (up-down) , the switchs (7) for the windows. After that , like you can see in the pictures : the radio and the radio/ac/computer display (this was the most complicated to mod).
All i can suggest is : very small solder iron, lots of time, lots of smal led's.

For the rpm/km/u... combo i guess +- 20 led's SMD 1206 (3.2mm-1.6mm-1.1mm)

For the radio +-30 SMD1206 led's and 10 SMD PLCC3021 led's(3mm-2mm-1.4mm)these 3021led's are for the illumination effect when you turn the radio up-down.(i also changed the serie-resistors because the radio was not illuminated enough for me in comparing to the orther lights)

For the AC-combo +-10 SMD1206 led's and 2 ordinary 5mm led's (with resistors)

For the radio/ac/computer display 6 ordinary 5mm led's (very difficult to change them, you have to break some plastic parts and bend over the wires that go to the glass screen WITHOUT damage to the glass screen!)

Also some of the original plastics are covered with a orange film (like the 2control knobs for the ac / 2contol knobs for the radio and a plastic decoration on the radio(illumination effect if you press any button or up-down) , so all this orange film need to be removed, i did this by sanding it with a very fine sandingpaper.

If you still feel the need to do this mod: patience is the key and i bit of good luck.
Greetings Marc

Hi, I really like what you did. Very nice job. Can you tell me how you managed to change the name on the display from hello to Donna? I was under the impresion that couldn't be changed

That is very nice! Well done!

The word DONNA on the display is just the RDS-radio channel it was on.
Don't know how to change the HELLO word.Sorry

Greetings Marc

http://www.mazda3forums.com/index.php?topic=31367.0 :D

you could change my led if u want.

Props man! That must have been one big project. You did good!

why does it say "DONNA" on the radio??
is it like, a MP3 sorta thing??
cuz mine only says Hello.....lol

quote:

ORIGINAL: bonhomme

The word DONNA on the display is just the RDS-radio channel it was on.
Don't know how to change the HELLO word.Sorry

Greetings Marc

Yep, it was.

As far as I know, there is no way to change the display.

That's awesome. How long did it take you and how much did it cost? Was it a pretty involved process?

i just placed an order for blue leds from mouser electronics.  i will be changing all the radio / climate controls to blue, as well as the instrument cluster this upcoming weekend.  i will try my best to create a how-to guide with pictures and details and will post after the work is done.

wish me luck!

[edit] the part numbers for the leds i am going to use are:

Blue - Small (model 805)
Part #: 638-172BHC-AN1P23T
There are 33 of these in the head unit.  I ordered 40 to account for error.

Blue - Large (model 1206)
Part #: 638-152BHC-AN1P22T
There are 10 of these in the head unit and 21 of these in the gauge cluster.  Again, I ordered 40 to account for error.

White - Large (model 1206)
Part #: 696-SML-LX1206UWW
White LEDs will be used for the six lights, three on each side of the volume control knob, which light up when adjusting the volume.  I ordered 10 of these to account for error.

Not saying you shouldn't document everything and make a walkthrough, but there is already a pretty good one HERE

Wow what a task... good job!  I wish I had the patience to do something like that...

There is a case of beer in it for you if you can do mine . THAT ROCKS