Auto headlight conversion with coming home/ leaving home lights
- Thread starter Birchall
- Start date
Pinkythelabrat
A2OC Donor
That looks spot on mate, really good work
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I must be a bit simple but have tried to go the full Pras and have cut the hole in the light surround and glued my switch and ring in place.
It looks beautiful and works really well but the anchoring pins that hold the central unit in place in the dashboard and secure the whole assembly are a few mm further in than the catches on this reaches. You would need to recess the whole switch and instrument disk a few mm into the facade to get it to lock in place.
it doesn't look good. 3M tape coming up I reckon...
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Keithb
Member
Had the exact same issue with my switch. As you say it sits further inside the mounting hole.
Does anybody else's 'leaving home mode' work a bit randomly? I've only seen it come on once. Coming home mode seems to be consistent but a little bit short. I'm currently trying to work out how to adjust it (using the cryptic instructions
)
Does anybody else's 'leaving home mode' work a bit randomly? I've only seen it come on once. Coming home mode seems to be consistent but a little bit short. I'm currently trying to work out how to adjust it (using the cryptic instructions
)
Pinkythelabrat
A2OC Donor
Sorry - should have added to this thread when mine arrived last week. Thanks Steve. Now the hard part is to arrange an opportunity for the busiest man on the planet (Timmus) to fit this and another few wee jobs into the schedule.
Sounds exciting! What are you planning? If he's coming to you I might ask when and pop by for a mini social!
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murdo
Admin Team
Sounds exciting! What are you planning? If he's coming to you I might ask when and pop by for a mini social!
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Hi Alex. This one is a loosely planned trip to Timmus HQ in Lancaster. As well as the auto headlights I'm planning to have fitted :
DRL in place of the fog lights , there's a faulty sensor on my climate control and the LED screen needs replaced. A Bluetooth module and a charging connection for my Samsung Mobile on the dash to the right of the steering wheel for when I'm using it as navigation . I think that's about it. Oh yes - I've a noisy motor on the drivers door lock.
Pinkythelabrat
A2OC Donor
It's not so far.
I'm just being stubborn trying to do it all myself. Tom sent instructions but I see a 'tail between my legs' drive of shame to Lancaster in my future!
have a braw time.
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steve@cromford
A2OC Donor
I'm going to do mine today but before I start....
Please can someone explain the "cutting" process?
I have a Dremel which I'm sure can do the tidying up around the hole, but I'm not sure it's up to cutting it!
Also, how much roughness will the chrome ring cover? How precise does the cut need to be? Are we talking fractions of mm?!
Thanks
Steve M
Please can someone explain the "cutting" process?
I have a Dremel which I'm sure can do the tidying up around the hole, but I'm not sure it's up to cutting it!
Also, how much roughness will the chrome ring cover? How precise does the cut need to be? Are we talking fractions of mm?!
Thanks
Steve M
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
Hi steve, sorry, I can't help with this I never cut a hole in any of the installs of this.
I don't have the patience and so my "cutting" never looks neat.
I prefervto just leave it as it is. The switch pointing upwards (i.e. In the old "sidelights" position is "Auto" and I just leave it there and never touch it so it just looks fine to me. But I take my hat off to those that do cut a hole and do it neatly.
Steve B
steve@cromford
A2OC Donor
Thanks Steve
Having spent the afternoon on this I cut the hole to the inside of the ring on the back, only to realise I needed to cut to the outside otherwise the new switch doesn't sit flush in the surround, I think I'll go with your suggestion.
My cutting isn't great, though the chrome ring would have covered it. I ended up scratching a lot of paint off the surround.
Good job it was a spare that I practised on!
Regards
Steve M
Having spent the afternoon on this I cut the hole to the inside of the ring on the back, only to realise I needed to cut to the outside otherwise the new switch doesn't sit flush in the surround, I think I'll go with your suggestion.
My cutting isn't great, though the chrome ring would have covered it. I ended up scratching a lot of paint off the surround.
Good job it was a spare that I practised on!
Regards
Steve M
Pinkythelabrat
A2OC Donor
I was a dremel and hot glue gun virgin until this fun mini project. I drew around the outside of the back of the chrome ring with a chalk pen for my cutting line. The 'lip' on the chrome ring means you can off by 3mm or so but put the light low on the switch because it still needs to fit in the 'tube' the mechanism of the old switch fitted into so it's really quite low.
I used a cutting disc (safety goggles) to chew out most of the back of the switch really roughly then used it from behind to work my way round to my chalk line. The side of the disc actually melted the plastic more than cut it but it peeled away quite neatly and a little sanding neatened it up.
The glue gun to add a few 'dabs' of glue to fit it neatly and then I checked it would go in the hole okay (and discovered it doesn't catch the clips anymore) then I put extra glue on and left it to set.
I did need to dab on some black rubber paint to sort the holes in the soft touch and now I'm waiting on some 3m tape to hold it in place. This isn't a how to, just my messy attempt but it works really well and is pretty.
Ps. When you offer it up to check the fit try not to push the connector into the hole and let it drop down so you have to spend 15minutes trying to coax it back out.
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I used a cutting disc (safety goggles) to chew out most of the back of the switch really roughly then used it from behind to work my way round to my chalk line. The side of the disc actually melted the plastic more than cut it but it peeled away quite neatly and a little sanding neatened it up.
The glue gun to add a few 'dabs' of glue to fit it neatly and then I checked it would go in the hole okay (and discovered it doesn't catch the clips anymore) then I put extra glue on and left it to set.
I did need to dab on some black rubber paint to sort the holes in the soft touch and now I'm waiting on some 3m tape to hold it in place. This isn't a how to, just my messy attempt but it works really well and is pretty.
Ps. When you offer it up to check the fit try not to push the connector into the hole and let it drop down so you have to spend 15minutes trying to coax it back out.
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steve@cromford
A2OC Donor
That does look pretty good and thanks for the tips.
I'm tempted to have another go. I just need another switch panel! Anyone got a spare?
I'm tempted to have another go. I just need another switch panel! Anyone got a spare?
Tobecomecarrion
Member
Mine is in and works flawlessly, very easy to install the switch itself, Im still feeling good looking at the orange illumination of the 'auto' position back light.
As others including Brichall have touched the auto switch doesn't protrude from the dash as much as the original A2 switch. I thought by modifying the original surround it would somehow make the switch sit further out. It doesnt, of course, why would it ?
The switch is in the same place modified surround or not if seated correctly slotted into dash it will always sit recessed into the surround.
Just thought id point that out in case anyone else is as stupid as me
I bit off more than I could chew with the surround modification, with some clever masking (to retain the dim and headlight height adjust back lights) a rub down and re-coat of rubberized black I m confident it will look good.
Even at this stage I feel it is an improvement on the before.
My surround ring had a quick rub with a scotch pad and AC-90 to create a brushed finish to blend in with the switch accent and other A2 interior bright work.
To make this better easier next time:
A template for the cutting, a simple paper overlay using the measurements of the most successful cutter to get the enlarged aperture in the correct position.
A brushed trim ring with a deeper back lip to compensate for the reduced protrusion of the switch.
This would allow the new switch to 'lock-in' in the correct position in the dash, would retain the back lit 'auto' surround and allow the trim ring to add a neat dished edge to the modified surround in a finish to match the rest of the interior.
I'm off to upadte my sig with 'Birchall Auto Lights'
As others including Brichall have touched the auto switch doesn't protrude from the dash as much as the original A2 switch. I thought by modifying the original surround it would somehow make the switch sit further out. It doesnt, of course, why would it ?
The switch is in the same place modified surround or not if seated correctly slotted into dash it will always sit recessed into the surround.
Just thought id point that out in case anyone else is as stupid as me
I bit off more than I could chew with the surround modification, with some clever masking (to retain the dim and headlight height adjust back lights) a rub down and re-coat of rubberized black I m confident it will look good.
Even at this stage I feel it is an improvement on the before.
My surround ring had a quick rub with a scotch pad and AC-90 to create a brushed finish to blend in with the switch accent and other A2 interior bright work.
To make this better easier next time:
A template for the cutting, a simple paper overlay using the measurements of the most successful cutter to get the enlarged aperture in the correct position.
A brushed trim ring with a deeper back lip to compensate for the reduced protrusion of the switch.
This would allow the new switch to 'lock-in' in the correct position in the dash, would retain the back lit 'auto' surround and allow the trim ring to add a neat dished edge to the modified surround in a finish to match the rest of the interior.
I'm off to upadte my sig with 'Birchall Auto Lights'
Pras
A2OC Donor
you really don't need a template for this.
you can cut/dremel safely to the outer most ring ( the one straight at the bottom - obviously you continue to make a circle) - if looking at the switch from the back.
Also dremel from the back so there is less chance of damaging the fascia if you slip.
you can cut/dremel safely to the outer most ring ( the one straight at the bottom - obviously you continue to make a circle) - if looking at the switch from the back.
Also dremel from the back so there is less chance of damaging the fascia if you slip.
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
Hi Allan,
I don't have you on the list, when did you make the payment, i will check around that date and see what happened
Steve B
Pinkythelabrat
A2OC Donor
Mine is fitted.
Silly question perhaps but where did others route the sensor cable to get it from the back of the light switch to the A pillar?
I fed mine back down behind the illumination level wheel and it works but it does get in the way of reinserting the switch.
Is there a better bit of trim which is easy to feed it through?
Ps. It looks amazing - thanks again Steve for finding and pioneering this lovely bit of kit.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Silly question perhaps but where did others route the sensor cable to get it from the back of the light switch to the A pillar?
I fed mine back down behind the illumination level wheel and it works but it does get in the way of reinserting the switch.
Is there a better bit of trim which is easy to feed it through?
Ps. It looks amazing - thanks again Steve for finding and pioneering this lovely bit of kit.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
Hi Allan,
I am so sorry, I missed you off the list, I have gone back through all of the PMs and can't find one from you.
But I can see the payment sent on the 11th June.
My mistake, I relied on the PMs for the addresses and didn't spot that you had put your address on the payment.
Please accept my apologies, you will have the first one from thge next delivery, due in the next few days.
Steve B
Birchall
Dick Chown Award 2016
I Feed the wire through the circular "tube" that the headlight switch slides into and then feed it to the right, I just pull away the door seal at the level of the switch and you can easily feed the sensor through the dash edge on the right. You can then feed the wire up through the door seal to the top of the A pillar and then feed it into the gap at the top of the A pillar trim and stick it on the trim at the top so that it points upwards and to the left slightly.
Steve B
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