Where can I find the surface mount LEDS that are used in the BMW cluster?!

jEEliX · 12-06-2005, 10:40 PM

Hey, Ive made a few posts in this forum, and talked to a lot of people about the problem I have. When I bought the car the check engine light was busted out of the cluster by the damn retards at the shop they took it too just so they could sell me the car. All it had was a faulty spark plug wire which I had fixed. Anyways I have to get it working in order to pass emissions, I already failed once because of it. It is obviously a surface mount LED and I just want to make sure I get what I need. Tonight I ordered one that I am worried may be too big, but it is very hard to tell. Here is the link to it, I had to buy 250 of them!!

http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/smd-plcc/dstr0009.pdf

I think that no matter what I can cut the barrier around where it mounts, but then the problem will be actualy sautering it to the board... I hope it works out for me, or Im screwed. Anyone know if it would be possible to take the window washer fluid one out and re use it in place of the CEL if they dont fit? I hope that actual size comparison is a crock of ish.

All I want to know is how to detatch the electrical board from the plastic! I dont want to break anything pulling the hell out of the needles either.

Pictures:

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7783/clusterf3yd.jpg

http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3286/cluster2om.jpg

Canuck328i · 12-07-2005, 07:47 AM

So manu electronic items these days have SMD LEDs in them. If you still need to find one that fits, try old cell phones, VCR front panels, lighted remote controls, etc etc.

As for removing them, there are a few different methods. You need a very fine tipped soldering iron set at around 600 to 700F, and you need to get one end loosethen try to get the other side quickly to knock the component off the board. Be careful not to overheat it though.

Mark

travisbickle · 12-07-2005, 11:01 AM

Hmm, what a sucky predicament. The depths that some will sink to in order to pull the wool over someone's eyes is amazing.

Anyway, what color is the LED? Regardless, I don't think I'd try to stick a surface mount LED back on there. There looks to be enough room in that cavity to install a standard round can-type 5mm LED with leads. You could try to take out the busted LED or simply bridge the old LED with leads of the new, making sure you have your polarity correct.

Check out Radio Shack. They've got assorted colors for about three bucks each. Sell the "lifetime" supply you bought on eBay. :p

jEEliX · 12-07-2005, 06:04 PM

LOL I didnt buy them on ebay, I bought them from LED tronics! Anyways I have some exciting pictures to upload soon!

BTW: LED color doesnt matter regardless, but I would think the CEL would be red correct? I just want to get it working, and dont care if it lights up pink lol.

jEEliX · 12-07-2005, 06:21 PM

Here they are.

jEEliX · 12-07-2005, 06:23 PM

travisbickle · 12-07-2005, 07:04 PM

No, I meant SELL that assload of LEDs you bought on eBay...

Anyway, that doesn't look so bad. You should be able to get that off using a fine pencil tipped soldering iron and a solder sucker. You'll have to be really carefull not to lift the pad off the PCB. Another way you might be able to remove the bad SMD is to use one of those crackpipe torches used to glaze the top of creme brule. Soldering the new one on should be a piece of cake.

Man, wtf were those morons thinking? As if the check engine light doesn't normally POST when you firt turn on the ignition...

jEEliX · 12-07-2005, 07:30 PM

Ohhhh ok, my bad, thats a good idea BTW!

LOL no kidding, I noticed it right when I recieved the car. But by then it was too late.

fmzip · 12-07-2005, 07:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jEEliX

Ohhhh ok, my bad, thats a good idea BTW!

LOL no kidding, I noticed it right when I recieved the car. But by then it was too late.

No torches! My company assembles printed circuit boards. just take a very fine tip soldering iron and get a pair of tweezers...Hit it with the soldering iron and lift with tweezers. Make sure you have a magnifying glass and make sure you don't let the solder splash anywhere. One little splash and you could have a short and not know where to look. Cover the rest of the printed circuit board with paper and masking tape in any area which you aren't working on. Also, work on this in a static free enviroment, stay away from carpets!

You can look at www.digikey.com for parts. Your best bet would have been to turn the ignigtion on and with a meter measure the voltage at the LED to determine what you need. Measure the size of that LED with calipers if you have one.

Look here for LEDS
http://dkc3.digikey.com/PDF/T053/SectO.pdf

12-06-2005, 10:40 PM	#1
jEEliX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 965 My Ride: 2000 323i View My Garage	Where can I find the surface mount LEDS that are used in the BMW cluster?! Hey, Ive made a few posts in this forum, and talked to a lot of people about the problem I have. When I bought the car the check engine light was busted out of the cluster by the damn retards at the shop they took it too just so they could sell me the car. All it had was a faulty spark plug wire which I had fixed. Anyways I have to get it working in order to pass emissions, I already failed once because of it. It is obviously a surface mount LED and I just want to make sure I get what I need. Tonight I ordered one that I am worried may be too big, but it is very hard to tell. Here is the link to it, I had to buy 250 of them!! http://www.ledtronics.com/ds/smd-plcc/dstr0009.pdf I think that no matter what I can cut the barrier around where it mounts, but then the problem will be actualy sautering it to the board... I hope it works out for me, or Im screwed. Anyone know if it would be possible to take the window washer fluid one out and re use it in place of the CEL if they dont fit? I hope that actual size comparison is a crock of ish. All I want to know is how to detatch the electrical board from the plastic! I dont want to break anything pulling the hell out of the needles either. Pictures: http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/7783/clusterf3yd.jpg http://img220.imageshack.us/img220/3286/cluster2om.jpg Last edited by jEEliX; 12-06-2005 at 11:08 PM.

12-07-2005, 11:01 AM	#3
travisbickle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NoVA Posts: 162 My Ride: '03 Jet Black M3 View My Garage	Hmm, what a sucky predicament. The depths that some will sink to in order to pull the wool over someone's eyes is amazing. Anyway, what color is the LED? Regardless, I don't think I'd try to stick a surface mount LED back on there. There looks to be enough room in that cavity to install a standard round can-type 5mm LED with leads. You could try to take out the busted LED or simply bridge the old LED with leads of the new, making sure you have your polarity correct. Check out Radio Shack. They've got assorted colors for about three bucks each. Sell the "lifetime" supply you bought on eBay. :p __________________ '03.5 M3\|Jet Black\|Cinnamon\|Nav\|HK Removal\|BBS LM 19s\|TCK D/A Coilovers 400F/500R\|TCK Camber Plates\|TCK Rear LCAs\|Powerflex RTABs\|TMS Subframe Reinforcement\|Borla Cat Back\|AA Stage 1 Gen 2 SC\|Mach V Motorsports TLC '05 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Quad 4X4\|5.4L Hemi [The wife's ride]

12-07-2005, 06:23 PM	#6
jEEliX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 965 My Ride: 2000 323i View My Garage	Closeup of the broken one

12-07-2005, 07:04 PM	#7
travisbickle Registered User Join Date: Nov 2005 Location: NoVA Posts: 162 My Ride: '03 Jet Black M3 View My Garage	No, I meant SELL that assload of LEDs you bought on eBay... Anyway, that doesn't look so bad. You should be able to get that off using a fine pencil tipped soldering iron and a solder sucker. You'll have to be really carefull not to lift the pad off the PCB. Another way you might be able to remove the bad SMD is to use one of those crackpipe torches used to glaze the top of creme brule. Soldering the new one on should be a piece of cake. Man, wtf were those morons thinking? As if the check engine light doesn't normally POST when you firt turn on the ignition... __________________ '03.5 M3\|Jet Black\|Cinnamon\|Nav\|HK Removal\|BBS LM 19s\|TCK D/A Coilovers 400F/500R\|TCK Camber Plates\|TCK Rear LCAs\|Powerflex RTABs\|TMS Subframe Reinforcement\|Borla Cat Back\|AA Stage 1 Gen 2 SC\|Mach V Motorsports TLC '05 Dodge Ram 1500 SLT Quad 4X4\|5.4L Hemi [The wife's ride]

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12-07-2005, 07:47 AM	#2
Canuck328i Registered User Join Date: Jan 2004 Location: Happyland, Ontario, Canada Posts: 1,173 My Ride: 09 Altima Cpe View My Garage	So manu electronic items these days have SMD LEDs in them. If you still need to find one that fits, try old cell phones, VCR front panels, lighted remote controls, etc etc. As for removing them, there are a few different methods. You need a very fine tipped soldering iron set at around 600 to 700F, and you need to get one end loosethen try to get the other side quickly to knock the component off the board. Be careful not to overheat it though. Mark

12-07-2005, 06:04 PM	#4
jEEliX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 965 My Ride: 2000 323i View My Garage	LOL I didnt buy them on ebay, I bought them from LED tronics! Anyways I have some exciting pictures to upload soon! BTW: LED color doesnt matter regardless, but I would think the CEL would be red correct? I just want to get it working, and dont care if it lights up pink lol.

12-07-2005, 06:21 PM	#5
jEEliX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 965 My Ride: 2000 323i View My Garage	Here they are.

12-07-2005, 07:30 PM	#8
jEEliX Registered User Join Date: Aug 2004 Location: Arizona Posts: 965 My Ride: 2000 323i View My Garage	Ohhhh ok, my bad, thats a good idea BTW! LOL no kidding, I noticed it right when I recieved the car. But by then it was too late.