The 75 and ZT Owners Club Forums - LED illuminated steering wheel controls

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[B]NOW TAKING ORDERS!
ORDER DEADLINE WEDNESDAY 31ST MARCH. /B]

This will most likely be a one time batch due to minimum order quantities required.

Some of you may remember a couple of years ago neilbaker86 done an amazing job of making some LED backlit steering wheel control switches redesigned new switch PCBs to incorporate surface-mounted LEDs, far better than anything I would have been able to make myself.

I had a play with factory steering control switches trying to squeeze in some pre wired LEDs but never achieved a finish anywhere near as good as what Neil has achieved with his custom made switches.

This here are properly made PCBs with LEDs which is how they would have come from the factory if it was a factory fitted option.

I contacted Neil earlier this month as I wanted to order 3 sets for my own cars, unfortunately he doesn't have enough sets left but is happy to make more if there's enough interest to do another batch (ideally needs 20-30 sets as components are purchased in bulk). As Neil is only a member on here and doesn't have access to a wider audience on facebook, I've agreed with Neil to help get more exposure for him by advertising the next batch for him on facebook, and has agreed me to manage it on here for him as well. I've had interest in just over 20 sets so far.

Currently LED colours amber (to match the factory dash lighting), blue and white have been trialed and tested and are successful. LED colours Green and Red are being tested in the coming weeks and should hopefully be available as an option as well.

There are 2 kits available, audio kit for those without cruise control and audio + cruise kit for this with cruise control.

Neil has put many hours into writing up really clear fitting instructions for these accompanied with videos on youtube to guide you through the trickier parts.

His instructions are available to view here:
Audio-only
Audio & Cruise

Fitting is pretty straight forward, requires removal of the steering wheel air bag (held in with 2 torx screws), removing the old PCBs from the steering controls, fitting the new PCBs and fitting the wiring pins to the rotary coupler plug for the new PCBs and taking a sidelight feed from the sidelight wire on the light switch module. Fitting takes around 1 – 2 hours tops and only basic tools are required to fit them.

The audio-only option is a direct replacement illuminated switch PCB and associated wiring (5 wires with pre-crimped terminals), including a single wire with a pre-crimped terminal to fit into a spare pin of the clock-spring, the other end of which will need to be spliced into the illumination circuit in the vehicle (tap-splice included).

The cruise-control kit will be TWO replacement illuminated switch PCBs) and associated wiring (11 wires with terminals pre-crimped), a small 'interconnect' PCB to be housed inside the steering wheel (which basically is there to act as a junction box to ease & neaten installation, and split the illumination supply and ground connections in to two for both sets of switches).

PRICES:
Audio-only: £55 including free shipping in the UK.
Cruise + audio: £89 including free shipping in the UK.

These can be shipped internationally; shipping outside of the UK is £10.
I will be offering a fitting service for these in Thurrock Essex for £60 if you’d like to have them fitted for you

DELIVERY TIME:
These kits will be made to order on a first come first served basis and get them shipped out in that order. As these kits are hand made to order, shipping time will be around 4-6 weeks after the order deadline date depending on how many kits need to be made.

If you’d be interested in a set of these please let myself and Neil know below by stating whether you’d need a audio only kit or cruise + audio kit in the comments below and the LED colour choice you’d require. I'll then send the order and payment details via PM.

Neil put many hours into this project, firstly to design the PCBs and then the time he's put into the wiring side of things for those who have cruise control (due to no extra pins being available for the lighting in the steering rotary coupler). Then on top put many hours into writing up the detailed fitting instructions with supporting videos. Don't know how many ordered in the first batch 2 years ago but would be good to see more owners benefit from his hard work.

All credit goes out to Neil for making this mod possible, 100% of the work put in has been his, I'm just helping get more exposure for a 2nd batch and get his work out to more owners.

Many thanks
Rick