uR MB Orange dash

4WDrifter · 24-10-23, 12:38 PM

I know!! Hen’s teeth and needles in haystacks I’ve heard them all.
I’m sure someone has one or knows where there is one that with a little persuasion could be bought.
I’m staring at a hole and would like it to be illuminated in orange.
Any help greatly appreciated.

BackintheFold · 24-10-23, 02:08 PM

Is it an actual dead dash, or just that the bulbs have blown?
I have the proper bulbs if they are the problem.

4WDrifter · 24-10-23, 05:03 PM

I’m not sure. I’ve just brought it home this morning after getting some welding done to the floors/sills/inner wings and boot. I have the bulbs to try but when left it to get the work done there was definitely some light in it but it’s blank now, perhaps the last bulb may have blown?
Is there any sort of thermal switch in it?
I hope to get a look at it tonight but I’m juggling the old picture/ no sound tightrope.
I’m sure you know that oul craic yourself!

Isimmo · 25-10-23, 09:28 AM

http://www.classic-audi.co.uk/forum/...te+knight:tup:

BackintheFold · 25-10-23, 09:35 AM

Uh oh.
I don't like the sound of "welding done and now electronic problems".

I *THINK* if you shine a light at the orange dash you should be able to see if there is a display, then fitting the bulbs will make it come to life if the display works/still works.

I hope you're not using 5w halogen bulbs. They are very/too hot. There's no thermal fuse that I know of.

I've been looking for an orange dash for a while. There is someone with a binful of them but I can't remember who.

AdrianH · 07-11-23, 02:53 PM

I think the general rule with these cars is that if you're having welding done, remove all the the electronic bits first. If that means flat-bedding it to your body work place, so be it. It'll be a lot cheaper and easier than repairing it all when it's been fried.

Isimmo · 07-11-23, 10:58 PM

Agreed.
We disconnected the dash when ours was welded at restoration, but not the ECU, because they needed to move it about. Even with explicit instructions to disconnect the ECU, the ECU came back fried.

Worked in our favour to be fair, as the original one was ‘chipped’ (zena diode mod, haha), but the replacement was unmodified, so it’s a factory set up again.

BackintheFold · 08-11-23, 09:44 AM

I actually have a couple of modified chips for the MB ECU. It needs a stronger spring in the wastegate but adapts the ECU to deal with it.
I have not rolling road tested it, but it certainly adds power (lets say 10% rather than 50%) and does so smoothly!

24-10-23, 02:08 PM	#2
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,174	Is it an actual dead dash, or just that the bulbs have blown? I have the proper bulbs if they are the problem. __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

25-10-23, 09:28 AM	#4
Isimmo Super Moderator Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sissix-by-the-sea Posts: 15,218	http://www.classic-audi.co.uk/forum/...te+knight:tup: __________________ 1985 WR quattro, 1985 20vT RallyRep, 1993 MTM ABY S2 Avant. 2010 S3 Sportback.

25-10-23, 09:35 AM	#5
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,174	Uh oh. I don't like the sound of "welding done and now electronic problems". I THINK if you shine a light at the orange dash you should be able to see if there is a display, then fitting the bulbs will make it come to life if the display works/still works. I hope you're not using 5w halogen bulbs. They are very/too hot. There's no thermal fuse that I know of. I've been looking for an orange dash for a while. There is someone with a binful of them but I can't remember who. __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

07-11-23, 10:58 PM	#7
Isimmo Super Moderator Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Sissix-by-the-sea Posts: 15,218	Agreed. We disconnected the dash when ours was welded at restoration, but not the ECU, because they needed to move it about. Even with explicit instructions to disconnect the ECU, the ECU came back fried. Worked in our favour to be fair, as the original one was ‘chipped’ (zena diode mod, haha), but the replacement was unmodified, so it’s a factory set up again. __________________ 1985 WR quattro, 1985 20vT RallyRep, 1993 MTM ABY S2 Avant. 2010 S3 Sportback.

08-11-23, 09:44 AM	#8
BackintheFold Senior Member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Feb 2019 Location: Near an MB ur Quattro Posts: 1,174	I actually have a couple of modified chips for the MB ECU. It needs a stronger spring in the wastegate but adapts the ECU to deal with it. I have not rolling road tested it, but it certainly adds power (lets say 10% rather than 50%) and does so smoothly! __________________ 2006 A3 (daily drive) 1987 MB ur

24-10-23, 05:03 PM	#3
4WDrifter Grown up member Classic Audi Club Member Join Date: Jun 2013 Location: Northern Ireland Posts: 209	I’m not sure. I’ve just brought it home this morning after getting some welding done to the floors/sills/inner wings and boot. I have the bulbs to try but when left it to get the work done there was definitely some light in it but it’s blank now, perhaps the last bulb may have blown? Is there any sort of thermal switch in it? I hope to get a look at it tonight but I’m juggling the old picture/ no sound tightrope. I’m sure you know that oul craic yourself!

07-11-23, 02:53 PM	#6
AdrianH Grown up member Join Date: Jan 2014 Posts: 218	I think the general rule with these cars is that if you're having welding done, remove all the the electronic bits first. If that means flat-bedding it to your body work place, so be it. It'll be a lot cheaper and easier than repairing it all when it's been fried.